Depression

Dear Victorious,

Is it okay for Christians to take medication for depression? I have been diagnosed with clinical depression and the doctor has put me on prescription medication for that. He says that I have a chemical imbalance which causes it, and that the medication simply corrects that. Is this Biblical? I've always thought that people who are right with God don't suffer from depression.

Nora A. - Bloomington, MN

Dear Nora,

Yes, it is okay for Christians to take prescription drugs for depression or any other reason that a doctor would prescribe such drugs. Medication can be a wonderful blessing from God. We should view all prescription (or over-the-counter) drugs as blessings from God.

That said, Christians should not abuse God's blessings. We should not be taking prescription drugs when we don't need them. If you suspect that yours may not be needed or that the medical diagnosis you have may not be accurate, then you owe it to yourself to get a second opinion. Think of it as being a good steward of your own health and your own health care.

2 Timothy 1:7 says that God has given His people the spirit of a sound mind. What this means is that people who are right with God have all they need mentally to live for Him, according to His ways. We're focused on truth, and are not distracted by fear or faulty thinking.

So there is a Biblical basis for thinking that Christians shouldn't need medication for depression. However, if a professional is giving you that diagnosis, the proper response would be to ask yourself why --- instead of just denying that it's true. You may need, for example, to take medication until you can address the spiritual causes of the depression. And that would be Biblical.