A Melancholy Faith 001

A Melacholy Faith 001

This series is intended for all of my brothers and sisters whose faith is a melancholy faith.  In plain English - it's for those, who like me, suffer from depression.
Our affliction is nothing new and certainly nothing exceptional.  It just is.  And becasue it "is" we need to understand what it means in the context of our faith and how we can have a strong and vibrant (if not a "yeeeee-haaaaa) faith.
It is my prayer that you will be encouraged, comforted and blessed as we walk in this together.  No, not necessarily happy, giddy or relieved - but if that happens that's well and good.  But as nothing can seperate us from the love of God, nothing can seperate us from the providence of God - nor can anything (except our refusal) keep us from being good and useful servants.
Please feel free to write or comment as we go along.  I don't have ll the answers but I know who does.  Also - if you are close to someone who has to deal with melacholy - please don't hesitate to share this with them.
sheepdog.ms@gmail.com

Depression?  Melacholy?  Huh?  

I've chosen to use the word melacholy instead of depression for a could of reasons.  the first is that when we talk about depression, too many people think they know what we're talking about.  Most don't.  For most depression is either just a bad case of the "blues," to be "gotten over," or it is some horrible, dar, deep flaw in one's mind.  It is neither!

The second reason I use the word melacholy is because it is a word we don't use very often and hence most folks have little problem asking for an explanation.

The third reason is that the Puritans of the 17th century "got it."  They knew, understood and appreciated "depression" which they called melacholy.  No, they didn't understand the neuro-chemical aspect of the affliction but they were not too far off.  However - they we very insistant on two things.  Being melacholy did not demonstrate any defect in the believer's faith and that sin made it worse.  They also made it clear that those who suffered melacholy should be understood and their affliction respected kindly and gently.

Now remember I am a Biblical Counselor and not a psychiatrist - so although I work closely with some psych's I in no way have their knowledge and understanding.  I say that because in the course of my own treatment for melacholy I have learned that it can manifest itself in a lot of different shades of blue.  It can be of short duration or long.  It can be cyclical with big dips below the line.  It can be exacerbated and or triggered by people, places, event, occassions and even nothing.

So my approach to melacholy is informed by my work with psych's (I use the abbreviation respectfully) to whom I owe a great deal of thanks.  But my approach is biblical - or threological, or doctrinal - take your pick.  I am concerned with your heart and soul.  I am concerned with your confidence in Christ and your comfortable assurance of your redemption.  I am also concerned with your service to God which, although it may be limited by our affliction, is no less valuable and necessary.

As we journey forward I hope we will keep in mind the words of Paul:

2 Corinthians 1:3-7 ESV
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, [4] who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. [5] For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. [6] If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. [7] Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.

"Comfort"
Comfort is only necessary in affliction.  Ten times Paul uses some form of the term.  It can be "warm fuzzies" but it is actually more solid that that.  Where Paul wrote "who comforts us in all our afflictions," in verse four he uses the form of the word that means, "to call near."  What Paul wants us to see is that in affliction and suffering, God calls us to come near to Him.  

"Comfort"
"so that we may be able to comfort those..."  Same word - same idea.  We are to "call them near" in order to comfort them.

"Comfort" ????
This comfort is grounded upon our salvation not our circumstances.  But it is sooooo
common for our salvation to fade when we are afflicted and/or suffering.  When I drop a heavy weight on my foot, I hardly ever think of heaven.  When afflicted and/or suffering our attention is captive to our affliction and/or suffering.

Here's the tough part.  Is the promise of salvation (which is secure) enough to keep us going even in the midst of affliction and/or suffering?  This is why this word "comfort" also carries the idea of the comforter exhorting and encourageing the one in need of comfort.  If indeed "heaven" is our greatest desire, the secure promise of it should have a comforting value for us.  But, as I said, it is common in affliction/suffering for us to not see and certainly not "feel" it.

"Comfort"
Comfort is not relief but comes with the hope of promised relief.  For us that "relief" may well not come until we are with Him.  Our comfort is our trust in that hope, the assurance we have in Christ.  In is not uncommon for it to be a real battle to be comforted - but that's where comforters and THE Comforter come in.  Those who have grasped the comfort given by the Comforter are obliged to call those in need of comfort to come alongside them and walk together in exhortation and encouragement.

And so - I call you to come alongside me - to call others in need of comfort to come as well - that we might exhort and encourage one another in our afflcition/suffering.

1 Peter 4:6 Evangelizing the dead?

1Pe 4:6  For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.

Is this verse as fascinating for you as it is for me?  The Gospel preached to the dead?  Now, not all the dead but those who died with only the “hope” and “promise” of the Redeemer.  

This clears up a lot for me in terms of those who came before the promise was fulfilled.  

Peter can’t only refer to Jews here but to everyone who had died – everyone.

Now – here’s a twist.  The Gospel/method being preached is obviously God’s chosen means of the offered.  So much so that even the dead were (note the tense in the verse) “preached” to.  How important in God’s plan does that make preaching?  I’d have to say it’s right up there, wouldn’t you?

But how much time, thought, prayer, study and energy (not to mention money) is expended for the preaching of the Gospel?  Think about it.  We donate millions to combat abortion.  We donate millions to fight evolution.  We donate millions to take legal action against those who would limit our right of religious expression.  But where is the money for the Gospel?
Yes, I know it is spent in foreign mission and translation work for discovered people groups; but where else?

Radio and TV preaching/teaching is aimed a lot more at the choir than the pews.  The messages on these shows may mention the Gospel indirectly, but the Gospel, God’s warning and call to men and women to the need and provision of salvation – not so much.  The invitational or confrontational part of the Gospel – the “choose” part is missing.

Perhaps the worship service isn’t the place to present the Gospel – but then why are we encouraged to invite non-believers?  What can a gathering to worship a God they don’t believe in and to express a faith they reject do for them?  Yes, men and women are brought to the Gospel by attending a gathering of believers for worship – but isn’t that a very indirect and perhaps impersonal method?  Have we begun to see an invitation to church as somehow part of evangelism?  

To be honest, I worry about the position I put a non-believer in when I invite them to a gathering to worship a God they reject.  I worry as I see them sing hymns of praise to a God they are in rebellion against.  I cringe as they bow in prayer to a God they refuse.  I worry that they may assume that going to church is a good thing for them – in their non-belief.  

It seems we have come to a place where we are content to only share the Gospel on our terms in our house.  We have, it seems, given up the model we see especially in Acts where the Gospel is presented at every opportunity the Spirit provides.  Yes, I realize that the Gospel was preached in the homes of believers when believers gathered – but the Gospel and not doctrine was preached.

Evangelism has been cut loose from its personal, intimate component and I think I know why.  It’s embarrassing.  What?!?!?!?  Yeah – I said embarrassing.  How so?  Well, it (and we) may be rejected, ridiculed, made to feel stupid, maligned and perhaps sued.  That’s embarrassing.

We fear (and I include myself) have allowed the opposition to silence us – or at least to drive us underground or into our own territory.  The Gospel is three things.  First, it is the Good News; second it is a scandal; and third, it is foolishness

1Co 1:23  but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,
Christ crucified = Good News
Christ crucified = stumbling block = scandal (offense)
Christ crucified = folly, silliness, absurdity

So, instead of boldly risking scandalizing others or appearing absurd, we either just shut up or we try to position our opportunities to our advantage – we play on our court.  Being the “home team,” keeps us safe – but it does not guarantee a “win.”

We’ve tried all sort of gimmicks, programs and events but even with these things, the sounding of the Gospel call has gotten more and more quiet until it is little more than a whisper – a hint.

And yet, the Gospel was preached to the dead.  Not to those in hell not to those in heaven but to those who were wherever dead people were at the time.  God uses the same means with the living and the dead – the Gospel preached.  When did we quit?  Why did we quit?  How can we quit our quittedness?

I have to share that in my tent-making, I have been careful not to wax biblical.  But I am beginning to not really care any more.  Wisdom is wisdom - truth is truth.  It is with no little amount of trepidation I choose to be more open about my true Core Values because it can cause me to lose business and even get sued.  But all they can do is take what I have and lock me away – right?  No, I don’t think I’ll be bursting into a sermon in the middle of a workshop or meeting, but I can talk to how what we believe directly impacts how we live and how we live affects how we live.

the gospel was preached even to those who are dead

We work, play, socialize, etc. with “dead” men and women every day.  Do we care that they are under the condemnation of God?  Are we willing to trust Him and to ask His grace to not only be sensitive to the opportunity but to be willing to take it?  Alistair Begg said something along the order of, “We need to ask God to make the opportunity and then embolden us to take the opportunity to share the Gospel.”  

The Gospel is not your, “How I Came to Jesus,” story.  The Gospel is the presentation of God’s gracious solution to mankind’s horrible condition.  It is the presentation of God’s gracious provision for mankind’s greatest need.  Everything else is explanation and decoration.

Me 081312 - What a blessed day!

Me – 081312  what a blessed day!

Today has been unusual.  God is – well – really really neat ;-}.

I had the privilege today of having two incredible conversations with two believers I had never met.  They were complete strangers and for one reason or another (long story) they came over and asked if they could talk to me. 

One was a young lady with a heart for missions who was interviewing at Bou.  The other was a gentleman who had just seen me in Caribou several times.

The conversations began simply but quite soon focused on the faith and serving God and how people were hungry for that today.  Actually, hungry for it to be simple – vanilla – not complicated – with no agenda other than Him.  The richness of what they shared was a very great blessing to me.  We are a little distant from one another in some ways but regardless we all have a hunger for the church to just be the church and for believes (that would be ourselves first) to grow in Him.

Now I ask – why did God make this happen?  Certainly it was a diversion from my worries and anxiety but it became so much more.  It was like we had not “just” met but rather like we had “known” one another prior to.  There was a commonality between us that seemed to be the “heart” part of the faith.

Not the mushy, gooey, loosy-goosy kind of heart stuff but real “heart for God” stuff.  I was just amazed by them both and blessed.  Their desire to serve Him was very clear and it was also clear he was working in their lives, leading them closer and closer to finding the how of it.

The question remains, “Why was I so blessed.”  The answer I like is, “Cause He wanted to bless you – you needed it.”  Obvious huh? 

But God never does anything that He does doesn’t have a lesson attached to.  I have learned that I have brothers and sisters out there who are yearning to grow in Him.  I learned that some of my desires and hopes are shared by complete strangers.  I’ve learned that there is a need in the really big body for encouragement and open dialogue.  For sharing a little more intimately than we would with someone we know. 

These weren’t what I would call theological or doctrinal discussion but just a conversation between believing people who want and have a need to serve Him and know Him better.  It was all about Him and our hearts and the hopes and dreams He puts in them. 

In both conversations there was sharing of God dealing with us and us dealing with others “right where they are” instead of where we think or even know they should be.  We talked of the mission field in the world and the mission field in the church. 

It was a blessing to talk with like hearted folks – and I am grateful to Him and them (and to David J. – long story).