Why do so many people suffer from depression and anxiety today, especially in wealthy countries? Both of these, "Mood Disorders" are on the rise despite our wealth and access to medications. However, we can reduce them and we ought to do so.
If we practiced good, basic Christianity in our homes, churches and counseling centers Mood Disorders would be reduced tremendously. Going to church is good for us even if the church's teachings are weak and confusing, just imagine how much better off we all would be if we attended congregations that taught about mutual confession, healing prayers and living daily by grace.
The Bible teaches that every Christian struggles with ongoing sin, guilt and hearts filled with deceitfulness. The Bible tells me this and it confirms exactly what I have known from personal and pastoral experience. The Bible does not sugar coat human weaknesses nor water down the necessary answers to evil.
For example, the half brother of Jesus, wrote about healing in his manual on practical ministry we call The Book of James:
13 Is anyone among you suffering from evil causes? Let him pray.
Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.
14 Is anyone among you physically sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the mentally, emotionally and relationally weak, and the Lord will raise him up.
And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.
The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.
Despite the clear teaching of the inspired, infallible and inerrant scripture, many preachers and teachers try to ignore "Thorns in the flesh" of sin, guilt and illness. We desperately need to teach the therapeutic power of mutual confession, mutual forgiveness and mutual prayers.
The Roman Catholic Church has made this passage into a formal role for the Priests and that has been a positive thing as far as emotional illness is concerned. However, just imagine the power that could be released if every Evangelical, Charismatic, Fundamentalist and Mainline Church in America actually practiced healing through teaching its members how to confess to one another and receive confessions from one another.
I have taught this passage from Cincinnati to Singapore, from San Francisco to Scandinavia from Missouri to Moscow and have seen God do wonderful things. When leaders practice First Century Christianity lives are changed and people are healed. People are thirsty for reality and relief rather than denial.
Many people initially tried to battle AIDS by ignoring its connection to sexual sin. They played PC politics and as a result millions of people died.
Many contemporary churches try to deal with sin, guilt and shame by acting like they do not exist. That will not work. There must be an antidote that is simple and easily accessed. A forgiving, nurturing, mutually confessing church family that operates like A.A. would do it.
A.A. does not ignore sin, guilt and shame and apply mutual confession so it works as a therapeutic community. Take them away and the 12 Steps are meaningless. Take them out of the church and Easter is meaningless. No wonder depression and anxiety are on the rise.
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