Is depression sin?
It is certainly a challenging inquiry and a daunting task to respond in such a fashion that it covers all the possibilities without being disparaging or insensitive. I have myself suffered at times with depression so I have a good idea of how debilitating it can be. For this reason, I consider some of my answers correct and accurate through personal experience as I understand those experiences. I wanted to pass this question by, but I could not shake off the feeling that it deserved a biblical response. I hope mine will be of some value.
Any response should be prefaced by saying that science has just scratched the surface of understanding the biology of life and the workings of the human creation. The entrance into microbiology as dispelled the belief of life being a simple mixture of chemical elements and the complex existence of biological machines with coded information controlling their operation has emerged. That is to say, life is not simple. My perspective will be viewed from my faith in the God of the Bible and what it says.
Is depression in and of itself sin? This remains to be discovered although sin is the cause as it is the cause of all man’s suffering and distresses. How is this manifested in our everyday lives? God created man in a state of physical perfection but with the fall sin enter and death by sin as well as the corruption of life’s systems.
Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
The physical became corrupted. It is a known fact that with every new generation additional mutations develop within our DNA and/or genes, etc. Each is a loss of information, a corruption of the code of life. If man continues on course without any supernatural intervention he will simply become extinct in a couple of thousand years +/-. (Are humans genetically loaded for extinction?)
To today’s science, what this corruption causes, what ailments, diseases, malady’s, can be attributed to this is unknown. So our first point is that depression could be solely or partly strictly a physical ailment out of our control. If this is the case then it can be said to be a consequence of sin but not sin in and of itself.
However, research has shown that an individual’s environment, physical activities or mental state can influence the condition of one’s physical and mental health. Some of the symptoms used to diagnose clinical depression are:
- Feelings of sadness, tearfulness, emptiness or hopelessness
- Anxiety, agitation or restlessness
- Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixating on past failures or self-blame
There are several others, however, they would seem to me to stem from these.
These symptoms are in a large part controllable. Although, we do have a question of chicken or egg, which comes first. Are these symptoms triggering a physical response leading to depression or is a physical condition triggering these symptoms and depression?
There is also a spiritual aspect to this question. We have an enemy that would like nothing better than for all of us to be depressed and dysfunctional to the point of uselessness or suicide. The sooner we are dead the better as far as he is concerned; the less chance of finding Christ Jesus and the saving grace of God. And, he is a he, a being created by God and given the ability to mess with the minds of men. Especially those that have rejected the grace and mercy of God. We do not have to delve further into this but know that this too is within our control.
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
The question was not about solutions but definitions. Is depression sin? In and of itself as all man’s troubles, it is the result of sin and the fall. However, your sins may very well be a contributory factor. We are created; our individual value is only that which our creator affords us. If we reject his outreach to us, his mercy, grace, and care, in the end, we will be valueless. Upon turning to him, recognizing him, trusting that he only desires good for us, and accepting his truth of all things, we are afforded great value. Living our lives as he directs, being mindful of the things he instructs us to be mindful of, and knowing him can go a long way in removing the symptoms of depression and depression itself. Not to turn to him is sin and depression may be just one reward in response.
John 3:17-18 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Will trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God allow you to escape all your physical ailments—No. But, knowing him will give you the hope and ability to keep a sound mind if focused on him to control any and all factors outside of physical corruption that might be contributing to them.
There is more to living a life in Christ than just believing on him. If you have trusted in him and are suffering from depression, again, outside of physical corruption, learn of him, his word, and obeying his voice will go far in controlling it.
I can only pray that this response has some semblance of truth in accordance with God’s word and that it will help someone somewhere.
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