Is anxiety a sin? No — here's why

For too long, the church has stigmatized mental illness as fake or a trick of the devil. Christians would dismiss mental illness as an impossibility that could not affect one of God's so-called elect. However, in more recent years, many Christians have come around to accept that mental illness is real. 

Mental illness is a medical condition that is as real and serious as any physical illness. When one has a mental illness, they need treatment if they want to get better. Because the church stigmatized mental illness for so long, it was hard for a lot of people to get the treatment they needed. This resulted in uncountable cases of harm. 

Thank God this isn’t the dominant view anymore.

Is anxiety a sin?

If you’re looking for the short answer to if anxiety is a sin, it’s no. Anxiety is not a sin. However, the Bible has some helpful things for us when it comes to anxiety, so we encourage you to dive a little deeper with us.

Jesus tells us there is nothing to be anxious about

This might not be the most helpful for those suffering from clinical anxiety, but for those who are anxious or worrying about something, remember these words of Jesus:

“If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.”

— Matthew 6:25-26 (MSG)

God knows we have anxieties anyway

In multiple passages in the New Testament, we are taught to place our anxieties, worries and cares at the feet of God. Jesus is God but He lived the life of a man. He knows what kind of struggles we go through, and He can understand and sympathize with our plights. 

God doesn’t punish us for the misfortune of suffering from anxiety. He asks us to trust Him and to seek healing.

Centerpoint Church is ready to walk with you on your faith journey

At Centerpoint Church in the Tampa, Florida, area, we believe anxiety and mental illness are real and serious. We encourage you to seek help from a professional if you are suffering from mental illness. If you have any questions about mental illness and faith, we are here to talk to you. Come and visit us during one of our three services on Sunday so we can get to know you.