Book Talk: Christians Get Depressed Too - Chapter Two

Chapter Two - The Complexity 

Summary:

After writing in Chapter One eight reasons why we should study depression, Murray uses Chapter Two to deal with the spirit (attitude) in how depression should be approached. He writes about two principles, with the latter one being written about at length. 

The first principle is to Avoid Dogmatism and Seek Humility. That is, while a preacher must preach the Word boldly, clearly and with authority, using the words, "Thus says the Lord", having this dogmatic attitude is not helpful, especially when the Word of God itself is not always dogmatic. And It is not dogmatic with depression. Instead, humility is needed, which means we need to listen, study and speak with the understanding the complexity of depression. 

The second principle is to Avoid Extremes and Seek Balance. Murray spends a great deal of the chapter on this principle, explaining three extremes that need to be avoided:

1. The Cause is All Physical: the extreme belief that depression has purely physical causes (chemical imbalances) and so it can be corrected by antidepressants, also known as the medical model. Yes, the brain needs chemicals to move our thoughts, and when these chemicals are diminished, the process slows down or stops, and so medication may be required. However, Murray states that to presume that medication is best for everyone is wrong.
2. The Cause is All Spiritual (shown in two forms):

·         depression is caused by demonic possession and thus requires exorcism

Ø  large emphasis on spiritual warfare, with treatment being the deliverance from these demons

 

·         depression is caused by sin, which requires rebuke, repentance and confession

Ø  the Nouthetic Counseling Movement (Jay Adams): people with depression suffer so due to their unforgiven and unaltered sinful behaviour. To be treated means one needs to be rebuked, which should lead to repentance and conversion. Murray writes about strengths and weaknesses to this movement, a strength being that Adams restored the Biblical’s central role in counseling those with depression. Murray found though that this movement was weak in the fact that Adams does not seem to differentiate between typical mood swings and deeper kinds of depression, and this needs to be done in order to know when to encourage someone to repent, or to throw them a light and lifeline

Ø  The Modern Biblical Counseling Movement (Christian Counseling and Education Foundation): this group has dealt with some of the criticism in Adams’ approach (thankfully), however Murray is concerned about the belief still there, that depression is the result of personal sin, which means to treat with medication is not the answer, only repentance is the cure. Would we take this view if someone has a stroke or Alzheimer’s?

Before going into the third extreme, Murray does explain a bit more about the connection of sin and depression. He believes that depression can *sometimes* be caused by sin, however, we should assume that depression is a result of living in a fallen world rather than think that the person has caused depression by personal sin.

3.      The Cause is All Mental (“in his mind”): that depression is fictional and only is something that people with a weak and fragile mind have. Murray clarifies that depression afflicts all types of people of all walks of life, no matter how strong or temperamental one is. No two depressions are alike, and so we must not paint everyone with the same brush

Murray concludes the chapter with encouraging his readers to keep all of this in mind when dealing with someone (or themselves!) who is struggling with depression. Depression is very, very complex and there are no quick fixes.   

My Thoughts:

Phew. While Murray speaks of depression being complex, I found this chapter to be complex! It took me a bit to get through it, as I had to look up some definitions (i.e. dogmatic). But once I read through the chapter, it all came together. However, this chapter is one I will need to read again. I think my favourite part of it was the quote by Charles Spurgeon:

"It is all very well for those who are in robust health and full of spirits to blame those whose lives are sicklied or covered with the pale cast of melancholy, but the (malady) is as real as a gaping wound, and all the more hard to bear because it lies so much in the region of the soul that to the inexperienced it appears to be a mere matter of fancy and diseased imagination. Reader, never ridicule the nervous and hypochondriacal, their pain in real; though much of the (malady) lies in the imagination (thought-processes) it is not imaginary."

Your Thoughts:

Did you make it through the chapter? Did you make it through my review?! What are your thoughts? Do you find yourself thinking some of those extremes? What do you think of Jay Adams' approach?

Prayer Points:

• for clarity and wisdom, understanding that depression is different for everyone
• for those who are stuck in the feelings that they must have depression because their spiritual life is so weak
• that we may be that light and lifeline to someone, using God's Word
• for forgiveness in finding ourselves in one or all those extremes mentioned
• for forgiveness because of lack of humility
• thankfulness for the medicines, counselors, pastors and others that are helping those in need

Next Time:

Next week Thursday, we will look at Chapter Three: The Condition (of Depression - what is it?)

(I have no idea why this blog post has different fonts and not looking uniformed like all my other Book Talk blog posts. While it is absolutely driving me crazy, bothering that need for things to be "just so", I shall have to leave it be, or else this post will never get posted!)