Depression is a growing concern. It plagues young people as adults. And Christians are certainly not immune. For most people, depression can be traced to some difficult circumstances. But some suffer chronically and with no discernible cause (aka clinical depression). Every part of us has been affected by the presence of sin in the world. And many … [Read more...]
Spiritual Malpractice
In 1744, a young David Brainerd set out on horseback into the rugged New York an Pennsylvania wilderness to take the gospel to the native American Indians that were suffering at the hands of the Europeans. The venture was fraught with difficulty and danger and would result in his death in 1747 at the age of 29. Brainerd’s commitment would stir a … [Read more...]
The Church’s True Situation
It is easy for followers of Jesus in our day to be unsettled by the advances of a secular culture. Our freedoms are eroding. We find those who hold to a biblical standard of marriage and sexuality are portrayed as oppressive bigots. But when we are tempted to be depressed or defensive, we should remember what Jesus said about the true situation of … [Read more...]
Causeless Depression
Depression is a condition of general emotional dejection and withdrawal. All of us know what it is to encounter a series of difficult circumstances that have left us feeling down. But Charles Spurgeon, the great British preacher of the 19th century, wrote about a more ambiguous form of depression. He wrote about a type of pervasive sadness that … [Read more...]