The Need for Theology in the Fight for Hope
In a world filled with grief and tragedy, the gospel promises hope for the hurting. Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Mt. 5:3 ESV) [1]. Yet many faithful Christians wrestle daily with the fact that this hope does not coincide with their reality. Regularly, faithful believers find themselves battling emotions of despair, anguish, and suffering. It seems as if the gospel they were called to believe has fallen short of the promises it has sought to secure. Particularly, this is the case for those who battle depression.
Depression puts Christians in opposition to God and makes theology appear useless because it does not provide the desired answers and the healing desperately needed. What is not realized, however, is that during such times, theology is the glue that holds us together when our beliefs seem to be in paradox with the reality at hand. It sets a framework for perseverance in the midst of apparent defeat. Therefore, what purpose does theology serve when, as a result of depression, we are confronted by issues of suffering, guilt, and unbelief? How does it help us to understand the results of sin and the reason for our suffering? How does it help us cope with the guilt we experience when we fall prey to the flesh in our fight for hope? Finally, how does it address unbelief and feelings of defeat that come with the overwhelming despair of depression?
The Cause of Suffering: Depression and the Problem of Pain
Suffering constantly plagues the melancholy who become frustrated by the prolonged sorrow they experience. Ultimately the reason for suffering goes back to the Fall of Man. The creation account makes clear that “God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good” (Gen. 1:31). However, after Adam and Eve had eaten the forbidden fruit, God tells them, “You have done this” (Gen. 3:14). He explains that Adam’s sin has corrupted the world for all humanity.
The experience of pain is the consequence of such sin. “In pain” Eve would bring forth children (Gen. 3:16). The text does not simply imply a biological change as much as it describes the consequence of bearing children into a broken world. Her pain would be multiplied by the fact that her children would live in a corrupt world. Labor pains remind the woman of this corruption. Again, “in pain” God tells Adam that he would now toil the ground (Gen. 3:17). The ground that so willingly lent food would now turn against them. It would bring forth “thorns and thistles” and cause them “pain” as they work for the food they desire. What once was joyous for them is now burdensome.
Genesis 3 informs God’s children that they will not live peacefully in this broken and maimed world. Rather, they would experience the “pain” that results from the Fall [2]. Those battling depression should not be surprised by their struggles for it is a part of the “pain” humanity experiences. Reassurance comes by knowing that this was not God’s intent. Though God intended paradise for his creation, man’s sin brought corruption into the world. The wounded can rest in knowing that God has made provision to restore their bodies and deliver them from despair. Enmity is placed between the serpent and the woman’s seed (Gen. 3:15), for her seed shall crush Satan’s head. This happened at the cross. God does not expect us to cope with the burdens we bare, but rather made Christ bare the burdens we could not handle.
The Purpose of Sanctification: Depression and Problem of Guilt
Guilt also has devastating effects on the spiritual life of the broken. Endless agony causes them to search for some form of escape. Often, escape is found through various forms of sin, such as drug and alcohol abuse or sexual addiction of various kinds. Although temporary, this pleasure provides relief from their current situation.
However, when ecstasy resides, waves of guilt quickly follow. Gary Chapman states, “Guilt and depression so often occur together that it is difficult to determine which comes first and leads to the other. Often a vicious cycle emerges in which guilt causes depression, which causes more guilt, and the cycle continues” [3]. Hence, there is a war on two fronts that has significant effects on their view of sanctification. Guilt burdens them to strive harder for holiness. However, when the pursuit fails, hopelessness and guilt follow once more.
Recurring guilt often strips sanctification of its grace. Union with Christ guarantees the results of our sanctification. Wounded followers need reminding of God’s continual grace when confronted by the darkness of sin. “But where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord,” writes the Apostle Paul (Rom. 5:20b-21). He continues, “But now you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life” (Rom. 6:22). Although guilt may be overbearing, the grace that accompanies sanctification ensures our progress towards holiness despite the weakness of the flesh.
The Fight to Believe: Depression and the Problem of Unbelief
In consideration of this discussion, concern then arises as to how depression attacks the Christian’s faith and seeks to cripple it permanently. The battle of unbelief becomes a fight of survival for the weary. Despair becomes so great and the anguish so daunting that faith itself seems to disappear.
How does one persevere when faith itself has drifted away? Such weak faith inevitably leads believers to doubt their salvation. Therefore, assurance becomes crucial in affirming Christ’s atoning work when depression leads to doubt. Only Christ’s objective work strengthens the faith in times of weakness. Faith not only holds onto Christ, but also trusts that Christ is holding onto us. “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect,” states Paul, “but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own” (Phil. 3:12).
Sometimes the strength of unbelief is so resilient that it even causes doubt in the victory Scripture so readily promises. Apparent misery and corruption beg the question: Does Christ’s atonement bring victory in the midst of my suffering? This seems to be the very situation Paul wrestled with when writing to the Philippian church. Paul suffered the loss of all things that he “may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible [he] may attain the resurrection from the dead” (Phil. 3:10-11) [4]. At the end of the letter, he claims to have learned contentment in whatever situation, whether abounding high or low, facing plenty or hunger, and having abundance or need. “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13).
The joy Paul experienced came only through the power of Christ’s resurrection and was the secret to his contentment. These words bring comfort to the downcast soul. Through our suffering, Christ’s suffering is shared. Thus we are not alone while we suffer, for He Himself suffered. As we share in Christ’s suffering so He also shares in ours. Victory comes through the resurrection and thrusts us toward a future hope that will one day be our own.
Conclusion
Depression affects our theology as well as our emotion. Questions of suffering, guilt, and unbelief greatly test our theology in the midst of tribulation. Yet, it is our theology that encourages us to persevere and leads us in the fight for hope, time and again, to the mystery of the cross. In our suffering, we are reminded that depression is the result of the Fall and God’s plan of resolution is found in the death of His Son. In our guilt, we are reminded of God’s abundant grace amidst our own sanctification. In our unbelief, we are reminded of Christ’s objective work on the cross that assures us of victory in the midst of apparent defeat. For only through the cross is the Suffering Servant found—He who conquers death and brings victory to this life and the next.
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[1] All Scripture references will be from the English Standard Version unless otherwise stated.
[2] This does not mean that Christians will not experience peace in their relationship with Christ here in the present. Rather, Christians will always war against the darkness of the world that opposes the Holy Spirit who dwells within them.
[3] Gary Chapman, Christian Counseling: A Comprehensive Guide. 3rd ed. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2007), 127.
[4] Some may argue that this passage can only apply to those suffering persecution for sake of the gospel. However, caution should be taken when holding to such a narrow view of suffering. As stated earlier, upon conversion, the Holy Spirit indwells Christians and thus wages war against the spiritual darkness of this corrupted world for the sake of the gospel. Christians facing persecution are not the only ones suffering, but rather all Christians suffer to the extent that they are being oppressed by the darkness of Satan. Those who battle depression face tremendous amounts of suffering despite economic prosperity and religious freedom.
Further Resources:
Edward E. Moody. First Aid for Emotional Hurts. Nashville: Randall House, 2008.
Edward T. Welch. Depression: A Stubborn Darkness. Bunch Press: Winston-Salem, 2004.
Gary R. Collins. Christian Counseling: A Comprehensive Guide. Third ed. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2007.
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