Tag Archives: christianity

Depression and Christianity: A look at 1 Kings 19

depression by shawn lindsey

depression by shawn lindsey

Depression and religion seem an unlikely pair. If we look closely, we find one of God’s prophet’s doing battle with this malady.

Depression is NOT a passing blue mood or a downturn in emotions. Its grip can affect those who seem least likely to battle this silent disease. How many of us suspected Robin Williams would succumb to depression and suicide? No one, is immune. Not even a prophet of God.

Let’s back up for a moment and set the scene. In 1 Kings 18, the prophet Elijah called down fire from Heaven to consume the sacrifice offered to Baal (an idol.) Instead of riding the high of success, we see in the next chapter, Elijah was fleeing for his life. 1 Kings 19:3 says:  Elijah was afraid and ran for his life.(niv)

while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. (1 Kings 19:4-5 niv)

Depression gripped God’s prophet. On the heels of a success, we often find ourselves in the depths of despair. Elijah prayed that he might die. The bush that Elijah lay under was a broom tree. As we learned from past studies, that’s just enough shade to get out of the blast heat for a moment. A pause to take one more breath. One more step.

Let’s look at God’s response: All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 6 He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. (1 Kings 19:6 niv) Would you notice something? God did NOT scold Elijah for being depressed and wanting to die. Instead God provided an angel that said to him: Get up and eat. Depression interrupts daily lives. We lose strength and interest in the events of the day. Our busy lives demand constant attention. The first principle we learn: we need to pause and replenish our strength with food, water, and rest.

It was not until Elijah was refreshed with food and rest, that God finally gave him his marching orders: MOVE OUT! But what did he do? He hid in a cave. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too. (1 Kings 19:10b niv)

Does God yell at Elijah for being fearful once again? NO! Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:13b) The second principle: Don’t assume everything is okay. Gently ask, “How can I pray for you?” It takes an investment in time in the life of another, to pray intelligently for someone WITHOUT using the word: bless! How much time are you investing in others lives to help them meet their goals, ambitions and dreams? James 5:16 tells us the prayers of a righteous man are powerful AND effective.

Like Elijah, we can feel like ‘we are the only one left.” Isolation breeds loneliness; Loneliness breeds despair. The vicious cycle repeats over and over again. We believe the old formula:


self-worth = my performance + other people’s opinions

Never realizing our self-worth is based fully upon the value Jesus Christ gave to our lives through His death upon the cross at Calvary. Our focus is outward; not inward.

Depression has many faces. It is NOT the result of sin. It is hidden from view. Sequestered from sharing. God’s prophet was depressed and wanted to die. Reach out to those around you. Become entangled with their dreams. Carry them in prayer during times of adversity and despair. Mountaintops become meaningless without the valleys.

The third and final principle: God often reveals himself in the resolutely insignificant. An encouraging word from a friend. A smile from a stranger at the store. The back-and-forth banter with the grocery clerk. A shared meal. We expect God to move in big ways — but often he chooses random acts of kindness to remind us of His presence. One of the greatest promises we fail to claim is Hebrews 13:8. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. (niv)

Let’s grow deeper in our relationship with God and others. This is NOT a contest to see who can rack up the most likes on their Facebook page. It is a battle for the hearts, minds and souls of your neighbour.

Change a mind about mental illness:

and you can change a life.

Resources:

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) (800) 950-6264 (toll free)

National Suicide Prevention Hotline (800) 273-8255 (toll free)

Veteran’s Crisis Line (800) 273-8255 (toll free) PRESS 1

When I say I am a Christian

I am a Christian

When I say that “I am a Christian,” I am not shouting that “I am clean living.” I’m whispering “I was lost but now I’m found and forgiven.

When I say “I am a Christian,” I don’t speak of this with pride. I’m confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say “I am a Christian,” I’m not try to be strong. I’m professing that I’m weak and need His strength to carry on.

When I say “I am a Christian,” I am not bragging of success. I’m admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.

When I say “I am a Christian,” I’m not claiming to be perfect. My flaws are far to visible, but God believes I am worth it.

When I say “I am a Christian,” I still feel the sting of pain. I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name.

When I say “I am a Christian,” I’m not holier then thou. I’m just a simple sinner who received God’s grace, somehow!

–Anonymous

Tattoo or NOT Tattoo: That is the Question


TATTOO OR NOT TATTOO: THAT IS THE QUESTION

By Dave Hart
(from the old Sanctuary San Diego Site)

It seems like parents are always arguing with their kids about the latest fashion. How long should they wear their hair? Or their skirts? How much is too much make-up? Why are their jeans so tight? So low? So baggy? The latest fashion craze to drive parents crazy is the art of tattoos and body piercing. Why did you pick that design? How many earrings do you need in one ear? You want to pierce WHAT?!?!?

Although this trend is usually associated with the Lollapalooza crowd, I’ve been noticing that more Christians are getting into this youth culture craze. Is it alright for a Christian to get a tattoo? What kind? Is it okay for a guy to wear an earring? Should a Christian pierce his nose or belly button? Is it okay in some cases, but not in others? How do Christians make this decision?

It’s important that Christians think about what God wants for their lives and base their decisions on spiritual principles, rather than impulses and feelings. It’s important to think things through before you make a decision that may be with you for the rest of your life. Let’s look at this issue from both sides. First we need to ask, “Why in ‘the world’ do people want to get pierced or tattooed?” And can a Christian do this for the same reasons? And second, what does God think about this trend? Does the Bible have anything to say about the latest fashions?

What the World Says:

I hang out a lot in the rock and roll underground: concerts, clubs, and festivals. That’s my ministry. I hear kids talking about tattoos and body piercing a lot. It’s my observation that there are basically three reasons why they get a tattoo or body jewelry: 1) identification with today’s culture; 2) sexual enhancements; 3) the need for pain. 1. Most people in the first category say they are doing this for themselves, for the art, fashion, or decorative beauty. “I think it looks nice” or “It’s just me, right now” or even “I don’t know why — I just did it.” The truth is that when you adopt the current fashion, you are identifying with the current culture. Tattoos and body jewelry communicate a certain message. It may be specific, like a tattoo of a certain band. It may be more general — piercing your navel is a trend of Generation X, not some other generation or group. While they may not be aware of a specific reason (much of this is done on impulse), it often communicates a specific message.

Are these good enough reasons for a Christian? Not really. Christians don’t do whatever the world does just because “everybody’s doing it.” We are not trying to identify with this world, but identify with Christ. But what if the jewelry is Christian or the tattoo has a Christian message? Would that be okay? Perhaps we could justify a pierced ear with a cross earring. But what about a pierced nose, nose ring, pierced lips or tongues? At what point does this identify with a lifestyle other than Christianity?

2. The second reason the Lolloapalooza crowd is into piercing has to do with their sexual inclinations. This is the territory of the S&M (sado-masochism) and B&D (bondage and domination) crowds – pierced tongues, lips, septums, nipples and genitals are not just a fashion statement. It’s often a functional attempt to enhance sexual arousal through pain, humiliation, etc. Gross, huh? It’s hard to see Christians using this as legitimate reason for piercing.

3. A third reason for piercing is that some people identify so thoroughly with the hopeless nihilism of this generation, they have decided to embrace their pain. Some not only tattoo and pierce, but regularly mutilate and cut themselves, in order to feel the pain. For some it’s a rite of passage, for some it’s a rush, for some it’s a genuine need to punish themselves for a guilt they can’t get rid of. Personally, I think a lot of this behavior is demonically driven and I’ve counseled enough “cutters” to know that this is true. It’s difficult to see how a Christian could use this as a rationale for piercing. (By the way, could the use of needles for drug ingestion also be a form of piercing?)

In this quick overview, it should be obvious to most of us that “the world” out there uses a lot of reasons to tattoo and pierce that just don’t work for Christians. Are there any reasons that do work for Christians? What about tattoos that say “Jesus Loves Me” or some Scripture? What about body jewelry with a cross or a dove? Would that be okay? Maybe. What does God have to say about this?

What God Says:

Piercing and tattooing is such a new trend, an old book like the Bible doesn’t seem relevant. And if God is silent on a subject, aren’t we basically left to our own decisions about such things? Ah, but God is not silent about this topic. For example, did you know that there is a biblical precedent for men wearing earrings? Let’s explore what God says about such things a little more closely.

In biblical times, slavery was not always a permanent condition. Slaves were often allowed to buy their freedom, or were simply given their freedom after a period of obligation had passed (in Israel, this was usually seven years). But some slaves developed such a loyal attachment (or bond) to their masters, they chose to stay in their service for the rest of their lives. To symbolize this choice, they would put their ear to a door and have their earlobe pierced with an awl. Then they wore an earring (usually gold) there, to proclaim that they were a bond-servant by their own personal choice, rather than by circumstances beyond their control.

Paul says we’re all very much like those slaves. We are all born into the slavery of Sin (Rom. 3:23), but Christ bought our freedom from that slavery (Rom. 6:23). Paul was so grateful for his freedom, he chose to bond himself to his new Master for the rest of his life. This is why he refers to himself as a bond-slave or bond-servant of Christ (Rom. 1:1). Perhaps you feel the same way. So this could be a biblical precedent for a Christian to pierce his ear. But before you run out saying, “It’s okay to pierce and tattoo whatever I want,” let’s look at a couple of other biblical conditions, first.

While you are free (John 8:36), you are not free to do anything you want to. Being a bond-slave of Christ comes with the obligation to serve Him by considering what He wants, not just what you want. Galatians 5 and Romans 6 have a lot to say about the use and abuse of our freedom in Christ.

Besides, He’s the one who paid for your freedom. Your life is His now. In fact, you don’t even own your body. “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, Who you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body” (1 Cor. 6:19-20, NAS). And there is also Peter’s advise to consider: “Let not your adornment be merely external – braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the site of God” (1 Peter 3:3-4, NAS).

So what does this mean? Am I free to get a tattoo or not? Certainly. You are free to decide, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to be the best decision. “Everything is permissible – but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible – but not everything is constructive” (1 Cor. 10:23). You are free to decide, but with that freedom comes obligation: an obligation to glorify God, to be honest with yourself, and to be a testimony before the world. The truth is that there are some hard questions you should ask yourself, before you start poking holes in your body.

What’s your real motivation for getting a tattoo or a nose ring? Is it because it will make you look good? Because it’s fashionably cool? Or just because everyone else is doing it? Can you have (do you want) more than one piercing or tattoo? Does this identify you with Christ or with Generation X (or both)? If Christ was pierced on the Cross for our sins, is any other kind of piercing necessary for a Christian?

Lots of kids are getting tattoos of their favorite bands. Is that something you’re willing to live with for the rest of your life? (For instance, how many fans are still proudly displaying their “New Kids On The Block, Forever” tattoos?) Is it okay as long as it’s a Christian band? What if the band breaks up? What if they mess up? (Everybody sing: “What if I stumble? What if I fall?”) Does your tattoo say you value temporary things or eternal things?

Does a nose stud or lip ring decorate the temple or desecrate it? How will it glorify God? Your body is His residence now. How’s the house look? Have you mowed the lawn lately? Taken out the trash? Does the outside look better than the inside? Does the outside reflect what’s really on the inside?

What are you trying to say to those around you? Is this an act of defiance toward your parents or your church? Is it strictly for shock value? Is it simply an attention-getting devise? Do you have a legitimate ministry to those in the Lollapalooza nose-ring crowd? How will people’s idea of Christ be affected by your choice?

There are no hard and fast rules here. Each Christian has to decide for himself what’s right before God. But just doing it because you feel like it isn’t really an option. It’s important to think these things through, “…taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5b). Christ sees things from the inside out. He knows your heart and your motives, even when you don’t. However, the world sees things from the outside in. What you do on the outside may help or hinder them in entering the Kingdom of God. This decision is about more than just looking cool. It could have consequences that last beyond the life of even the most permanent tattoo.

Dave Hart is the Managing Editor of Media Update, the bi-monthly publication of Al Menconi Ministries. He also pastors The Sanctuary Church – a ministry to kids lost in the music underground in San Diego, where he currently resides with his wife, the Lovely Velva. As the author of “It’s All Rock-n-Roll To Me,” he speaks to youth across the country on the subject of rock music and Christianity. If you have comments for Dave or would like to have him speak in your area, please leave your comments below.