King's Business - 1967-05

A s t u d y o p emotionally-induced illness produced by fear and anger would scarcely be com­ plete without at least a brief look at depression. Almost every one has known what it is to be de­ pressed. During the last two years it has been my privilege to be in several churches speaking on family life subjects in which I spent a night each on anger, fear and depression. I have made it a point the night before speaking on depression to ask the audience, “How many of you will honestly admit that at some time in your life you have been depressed ?” To my knowledge every hand has been raised, attesting to the universal experience of depression. Dr. Cramer, in his treatment of this subject, states, “ Emotional depression is widespread if not almost universal. Severe depressed states have characterized human history ever since Adam’s dejection following his expulsion from the Garden of Eden. Depression is an emotional illness to which many of our socially most useful and pro­ ductive people are subject. Depressive traits cover a wide range of professional groups, the sophisti­ cated and highly intelligent are not exempt!” Just being depressed does not mean that there is any­ thing wrong with your intelligence. I have known people who had no education and Ph.D.’s who were all depressed. I am acquainted with a man and his wife who are getting their Ph.D.’s in psychology at the same time, and they are both seriously de­ pressed. Perhaps just the fact that they have to live with a psychologist and be subject to per­ petual analysis is enough to depress -them! Depression is defined by Webster’s dictionary as “ The state of being depressed . . . dejection, as of mind . . . a lowering of vitality of functional activity . . . an abnormal state of inactivity and unpleasant emotion.” God never intended man to live like that! It has always been God’s intent that man enjoy a peaceful, contented and happy life, referred to in scripture as the “ abundant” life. No Christian filled with the Holy Spirit is going to be depressed. Before a Spirit-filled believer can become depressed, he must first grieve the Spirit through anger or quench the Spirit through fear. Before we examine the specific causes of depres­ sion, let us examine . . .

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THE KING'S BUSINESS

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