Being a Christian doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to talk about your depression
Church sometimes feels — OK actually if we are honest it more than often feels — like that place you go to show everyone you have it all together. But that’s not what the church is for. The church is for people who struggle. Christians recognize their need for a God who willingly entered this world and suffered with us and for us. The disconnect seems to lie in understanding community. We’ve become so focused on individual responsibility that we don’t understand there is a corporate responsibility as well.
Carry one another’s burdens
We are all broken and in need of each other’s support. Stop acting like you have it all together; start modeling authenticity and leading the way forward for our church. You and I are called to help carry one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2). In order to do this, we have to break the silence and start talking about hard topics. You know the ones. They are what happens behind closed doors. The ones that shame us from reaching out. There are two sides to this. First, those of us who need to learn to listen, and second, those of us who must find our voice and be heard.
Guilt vs. Shame
Friend, shame is not of God.
Guilt moves us toward repentance and change. It is a catalyst for growth. Shame stagnates our growth and keeps us hidden from one another. Let me be clear. Depression is nothing to feel guilt or shame over. It is not a sin or a disease. Rather, it is a mental illness that can be treated holistically through the skilled hands of medical professionals and the support of your church family.
Telling your truth is scary, in part because of past experiences that may have taught you this is not a safe place. It’s time to declare war against your fear, to step out in faith, and to speak your truth. To overcome the stigmas of mental health in the church we must be willing to discuss our struggles, both as the misunderstood and the one who misunderstands.
Hear others who have stepped out in our community and discover for yourself the power in their stories and in yours: Shattered Sermon Series
Get connected
At Centerpoint, we believe in true authenticity. We believe we grow stronger as a family when we share our stories, our struggles with depression, our journeys through mental health and our losses to suicide. Join us in doing life together. Get connected in one of our community groups for weekly fellowship.