Featured Depression and Suicide

I asked for prayer for my son (combat veteran) who lives in Denver. Our favorite "evangelist" suggested he go to the 16th street mall and listen to open air preaching. I informed him that my son is too busy with work and school to waste time doing that. There were a few more posts in there and I mentioned I live in "sin city" (Las Vegas). A mention was made of having open air preachers on the strip, which I think is illegal...and Mr. Evangelist said that people love their sin. I still think that he needs to put the books down, get into the Word, sit under some good teaching and stop going his own way. However, I doubt he will ever humble himself to sit under any spiritual authority other than himself.

 

I guess that they are anointed as jesus was to preach setting the captive free!

 

Yeah, you know, those people who have actually studied the scriptures, put much time and effort into shepherding a flock, bringing souls to repentance and salvation. Also see accountability partner, someone who will walk the journey with you and keep you from falling into error.

 

I have found that a combination of the appropriate medication together with Christian counseling is the best solution for me. Actually since I believe my issue was inherited I think medication provided the most benefit. The counseling I've had has been much like talking to an understanding pastor. I think almost everyone could benefit from that. Your question infers that you agree with the SBS taking a stand against Christian Counseling. I don't but there are a number of things I don't agree with them on. My brother was an MDiv student when Mueller took over so I've heard some of the inside perspective.

 

Same here. I stopped the counseling some time ago however I won't be stopping the meds anytime soon. I have the combination of hereditary issues and life issues also. I have no problem with making an appointment with a counselor if I feel I need to go back to that again, which I might because of the less than wonderful changes that came with my car accident and I just need to find a way to safely vent to someone about it.

 

Jay Adams...yeah...no. No credentials in psychology or counseling. Someone to avoid at all costs.

 

You have a lot of nerve. A LOT of nerve. Who do you think you are? What makes you the supposed "expert" on Christian Counseling? I googled that guy and he has NO appropriate credentials to even be TALKING about providing counseling or therapy.

I think you might want to back up and realize that most folks here (including me) have had enough of your self-righteousness. You won't go submit yourself to proper spiritual authority, you fuss and complain that nobody does things "your way". Guess what...again, the Lord said that the last would be first and the first would be last. Stop your open air preaching and get your hands dirty in the Lord's work. That's where the rubber meets the road.

 

Says the guy that takes a liberal stand on divorce to justify his sin.

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Psychologists and Psychiatrists do not necessarily take a Freudian approach. In fact, I have never and would never see someone who is Freudian. The are some ideas that I have gained that have been very helpful. One is Rational Behavioral Therapy (RBT). It's a very common-sense approach that has helped me get out of difficult situations. One example of RBT is this. If you find yourself repeating subconsciously negative thoughts the best thing to do is to write them down, recognize how nonsensical they are and write down why they aren't real and why. I recently found a paper I did like this 45 years ago and marvelled at how accurate it was and how effective it was to go through that simple exercise!

Another example is really a Biblical suggestion, don't worry about tomorrow.

[Mat 6:30-34 KJV] 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, [shall he] not much more [clothe] you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day [is] the evil thereof.

A perspective on this is that most of the things we worry about never happen. Another recommended approach is to try to imagine what the worst thing {"they" can do to you. If I lose my job my boss will not line me up against the wall and shot me. It's these kinds of ideas especially those with Biblical support that I have found to be helpful.

I've made it known in the churches I've attended that I've had problems with depression as well as some other physical or emotional problems and welcome people to talk to me about my experiences. I consider this to be a ministry for the glory of God. Incidentally, since I've had a long career (40 years) as an engineer, I also welcome people to come to me for computer advice. I called this my computer ministry! I believe this is exactly the kind of thing the early church did and it helps build the community of faith.