Comments on: Preaching the Resurrection to the Mentally Ill http://darkmyroad.org/2009/04/08/preaching-the-resurrection-to-the-mentally-ill/ A Lutheran View of Depression Sat, 06 Mar 2010 14:07:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: der_m http://darkmyroad.org/2009/04/08/preaching-the-resurrection-to-the-mentally-ill/comment-page-1/#comment-7373 der_m Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:25:53 +0000 http://darkmyroad.org/?p=262#comment-7373 Thank you! Teaching is often so abstract and intangible. The application seems trite or convenient. But you've placed the salve squarely over the wound. And "nothing else will ever satisfy." Thank you! Thank you! Teaching is often so abstract and intangible. The application seems trite or convenient.

But you've placed the salve squarely over the wound. And "nothing else will ever satisfy."

Thank you!

]]> By: James Leistico http://darkmyroad.org/2009/04/08/preaching-the-resurrection-to-the-mentally-ill/comment-page-1/#comment-6361 James Leistico Thu, 09 Apr 2009 18:15:13 +0000 http://darkmyroad.org/?p=262#comment-6361 Charles, I did not say that Depression was good. In my original post (before the blog software said I rambled too much and needed to cut out the words), I specifically labeled Depression as evil. A form of death. I should have kept that part of the comment in there so I would not have been misunderstood. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to clarify that I meant no different than what you mean in your response to me - that in the situation of depression, God works good through the evil thing. Charles,
I did not say that Depression was good. In my original post (before the blog software said I rambled too much and needed to cut out the words), I specifically labeled Depression as evil. A form of death. I should have kept that part of the comment in there so I would not have been misunderstood. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to clarify that I meant no different than what you mean in your response to me – that in the situation of depression, God works good through the evil thing.

]]> By: James Leistico http://darkmyroad.org/2009/04/08/preaching-the-resurrection-to-the-mentally-ill/comment-page-1/#comment-6360 James Leistico Thu, 09 Apr 2009 18:14:49 +0000 http://darkmyroad.org/?p=262#comment-6360 Write your comment here... Write your comment here…

]]> By: CharlesLehmann http://darkmyroad.org/2009/04/08/preaching-the-resurrection-to-the-mentally-ill/comment-page-1/#comment-6358 CharlesLehmann Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:20:22 +0000 http://darkmyroad.org/?p=262#comment-6358 The Scriptures tell us that God works all things for good, not that all things are good. I stand by my original comment. It's extremely dangerous for us to pretend that because of God evil things become good. Both in Joseph and Romans 8, God is able to work good through the evil thing. That's because God is good, not because the evil thing is good. The Scriptures tell us that God works all things for good, not that all things are good. I stand by my original comment. It's extremely dangerous for us to pretend that because of God evil things become good. Both in Joseph and Romans 8, God is able to work good through the evil thing. That's because God is good, not because the evil thing is good.

]]> By: James Leistico http://darkmyroad.org/2009/04/08/preaching-the-resurrection-to-the-mentally-ill/comment-page-1/#comment-6357 James Leistico Thu, 09 Apr 2009 13:35:20 +0000 http://darkmyroad.org/?p=262#comment-6357 Charles, et al, the website said my comment got too long, so I had to cut this out and put it in this comment box: Depression shows what is always true for everyone - that we are hopeless, powerless, etc to save ourselves and are in need of God's work to save. It is a relentless preaching of the Law. Except that, as this thread (including your response) points out, it is not relentless. God draws His line in the sand of our graves and says to sin and death (even the death of emotions), "This far and no further. You shall not follow My children beyond this point. I have freed them from your afflictions in the death of my Son who became familiar with their afflictions and carried their sorrows to save them." Charles, et al, the website said my comment got too long, so I had to cut this out and put it in this comment box:

Depression shows what is always true for everyone – that we are hopeless, powerless, etc to save ourselves and are in need of God's work to save. It is a relentless preaching of the Law. Except that, as this thread (including your response) points out, it is not relentless. God draws His line in the sand of our graves and says to sin and death (even the death of emotions), "This far and no further. You shall not follow My children beyond this point. I have freed them from your afflictions in the death of my Son who became familiar with their afflictions and carried their sorrows to save them."

]]> By: James Leistico http://darkmyroad.org/2009/04/08/preaching-the-resurrection-to-the-mentally-ill/comment-page-1/#comment-6356 James Leistico Thu, 09 Apr 2009 13:33:36 +0000 http://darkmyroad.org/?p=262#comment-6356 Charles, I would like to provide a slight correction to your first sentence. Let's follow in the mindset of Joseph. Being sold into slavery and depression are but two examples of what was intended for evil by our own flesh/devil/world being worked by God for good - though these are greatly eclipsed by this Friday's events. And because God after three days can not only undo the greatest evil - the murder of His Son - but also turn it into the source of eternal good for the whole world, then certainly He can, when His time is right, not only undo depression for its victim, but turn it into blessing - and blessing intended for more than just the victim. I speak from the experience of seeing someone yesterday benefit from my past suffering. All this is to say, we can actually call the situation of the clinically depressed a good thing, but only as God has promised to work this evil thing for good. Charles, I would like to provide a slight correction to your first sentence. Let's follow in the mindset of Joseph. Being sold into slavery and depression are but two examples of what was intended for evil by our own flesh/devil/world being worked by God for good – though these are greatly eclipsed by this Friday's events. And because God after three days can not only undo the greatest evil – the murder of His Son – but also turn it into the source of eternal good for the whole world, then certainly He can, when His time is right, not only undo depression for its victim, but turn it into blessing – and blessing intended for more than just the victim. I speak from the experience of seeing someone yesterday benefit from my past suffering.
All this is to say, we can actually call the situation of the clinically depressed a good thing, but only as God has promised to work this evil thing for good.

]]> By: sjk http://darkmyroad.org/2009/04/08/preaching-the-resurrection-to-the-mentally-ill/comment-page-1/#comment-6354 sjk Thu, 09 Apr 2009 04:24:13 +0000 http://darkmyroad.org/?p=262#comment-6354 Amen! Christ crucified and risen...the one constant, true and unwavering hope for those who suffer! Amen! Christ crucified and risen…the one constant, true and unwavering hope for those who suffer!

]]> By: Megan Davis http://darkmyroad.org/2009/04/08/preaching-the-resurrection-to-the-mentally-ill/comment-page-1/#comment-6351 Megan Davis Thu, 09 Apr 2009 03:19:55 +0000 http://darkmyroad.org/?p=262#comment-6351 As one who has gone through depression I thank you. It is a gift to the heavy laden to hear on Good Friday that their sins, the ones that Satan tells them through their disease could never be forgiven, are on that cross crucified with Christ. Sins can lay heavy on the depressed, they can see the corrupting touch of sin in everything they do. What a blessing to have that acknowledged in the pulpit. To have a preacher who uses the law then points to the Gospel, which is not a feeling in their heart, but Christ. Who is real, who died, and who is Risen. I have gone through two major depressive episodes in my life, once before my baptism, and once after. It was terrible both times, but as a Christian there was some comfort. Every Sunday, when I could get myself and the kids out the door, I saw a little glimmer of hope. I not only saw it but tasted and heard it. I thank the Lord for preaching that had me look, not to myself and my feelings for a hope I would have never found, but to Christ on the Cross. As one who has gone through depression I thank you.

It is a gift to the heavy laden to hear on Good Friday that their sins, the ones that Satan tells them through their disease could never be forgiven, are on that cross crucified with Christ. Sins can lay heavy on the depressed, they can see the corrupting touch of sin in everything they do. What a blessing to have that acknowledged in the pulpit. To have a preacher who uses the law then points to the Gospel, which is not a feeling in their heart, but Christ. Who is real, who died, and who is Risen.

I have gone through two major depressive episodes in my life, once before my baptism, and once after. It was terrible both times, but as a Christian there was some comfort. Every Sunday, when I could get myself and the kids out the door, I saw a little glimmer of hope. I not only saw it but tasted and heard it. I thank the Lord for preaching that had me look, not to myself and my feelings for a hope I would have never found, but to Christ on the Cross.

]]> By: Shane Cota http://darkmyroad.org/2009/04/08/preaching-the-resurrection-to-the-mentally-ill/comment-page-1/#comment-6348 Shane Cota Wed, 08 Apr 2009 22:54:54 +0000 http://darkmyroad.org/?p=262#comment-6348 This was a very inspiring post. Thank you. This was a very inspiring post. Thank you.

]]> By: CharlesLehmann http://darkmyroad.org/2009/04/08/preaching-the-resurrection-to-the-mentally-ill/comment-page-1/#comment-6344 CharlesLehmann Wed, 08 Apr 2009 18:17:14 +0000 http://darkmyroad.org/?p=262#comment-6344 Thanks for this wonderful insight. We dare not call the situation of the clinically depressed a good thing. We acknowledge the great suffering that it entails and proclaim that Christ has answered it in the cross definitively. We proclaim that because Christ's tomb is empty all tombs will be empty. We proclaim that because Christ's body (and mind!) is perfect all those who trust Him will receive incorruptible bodies. Again. Thanks. Thanks for this wonderful insight.

We dare not call the situation of the clinically depressed a good thing. We acknowledge the great suffering that it entails and proclaim that Christ has answered it in the cross definitively. We proclaim that because Christ's tomb is empty all tombs will be empty. We proclaim that because Christ's body (and mind!) is perfect all those who trust Him will receive incorruptible bodies.

Again. Thanks.

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