Anxiety/Depression: Sin or Not?

Recently, I was prompted to consider the nature of depression: Is it a sin, or is it just a medical/neurological condition? As someone who has struggled with depression myself and abided by our culture’s common wisdom regarding it, I’ve given the subject a lot of thought over the years. Knowing how touchy a subject this can be, I aim to approach this with as much grace, sympathy, and love as I can, while also seeking out the truth.

What is Depression?

Is depression a medical condition classified by a “chemical imbalance” in the brain? I don’t believe that this is an accurate assessment of what’s going on. Dr. Roger Mcfillin, a clinical psychologist recently explained that, “There’s never such a thing as a chemical imbalance…it was a theory that was initially identified by scientists, back in the 50s or 60s to…try to understand why some people might be depressed in comparison to others, and the drug companies, they really took off with this…idea that like, depression for example, is related to deficiencies in serotonin, and if you can take this pill you can correct these deficiencies…almost like a happy pill. And…that’s really what it was marketed as.” 

Mcfillin goes on to reference a recent study published by Dr. Joanna Moncrieff, which examined the relationship between serotonin and depression. Through her research and imaging techniques, she found little to no evidence suggesting that depression is caused by a chemical imbalance or a deficiency of serotonin in the brain. Instead, one part of her study found a correlation between the use of antidepressants and lower levels of serotonin. All of this suggests that the idea of a chemical imbalance just isn’t a sufficient scientific explanation for depression.

“Self-Love” a Failed Treatment Plan

Generally, you’ll hear the words “despair,” “hopelessness,” and “intense sadness” associated with depression. Suicide and self-harm are extreme outcomes. From my own experience, I can attest to this being true. But where does the despair come from? What causes us to lose hope? I would suggest that it often comes from excessively internalizing our own experiences – focusing too much on our pain, sadness, and circumstances. 

Modern therapy and self-help tell us that we need to focus on ourselves. We need to practice “self-love” to reach our full potential. But this is a trap that simply perpetuates the cycle of depression. It creates an expectation that we should feel good all the time, and when we don’t, we consequently think that there must be something wrong with us. “I have a chemical imbalance.” “I’m not doing enough self-care.” “I’m not showing myself enough love.” 

But again, the center is a focus on self. I’ve heard someone say that “the solution cannot be found in the same place as the problem.” In my own experience, focusing on myself has never made me happier, but only sent me further into depression. And I see that playing out in society all around me. We live in a day and age where we are more medicated, we have access to all kinds of therapies and self-help theories, and yet we have the greatest numbers of people experiencing anxiety and depression ever seen. According to recent data, 32.3% of people in the US claim to suffer from anxiety or depression, and it is often associated with substance abuse. The rate of drug overdose deaths skyrocketed 50% between 2019 and 2021. We aren’t a happier people.

The Sin of Anxiety/Depression

If depression is characterized by despair and hopelessness brought on by an intense focus on the self and our circumstances, then I think it could be categorized as sinful. It’s selfishness and faithlessness. The Bible is clear that we are to put our hope and trust in God. We are not to be anxious about anything, but instead bring everything before Him, and there we will find peace (Phil. 4:6-7). We are commanded to look to the interest of others and consider others more highly than we consider ourselves (Phil. 2:3), a posture that the trap of self-care and self-love directly contradicts. To look to ourselves, therapy, or medication for hope, peace, healing, and joy is to say that God is wrong about what we need, and what He offers is not enough. He offers peace. He offers healing. He offers joy and hope. And He tells us how to get there, but we often reject or dismiss that. We continue to look to other things to provide what only He can. 

Will Christians struggle with difficult emotions? Yes, absolutely. Life is hard, and there is grief and pain in this world. Will we be tempted to despair? Yes. But we mustn’t give in! We must look to God and cling to our hope. The Devil would love for us to become complacent in our anxiety/depression, to write it off as a neurological condition that we have no control over, instead of letting it control us. He would love for us to sit around waiting until we feel better. But we cannot let our emotions dictate our actions and our attitudes. 

We must take control over our thoughts and emotions and live in obedience to Christ (2 Cor. 10:5). Too often, I see people, myself included, using depression as an excuse for their behavior. They let their emotions direct their actions. They might not show up to work, let dishes and laundry pile up, isolate themselves, or binge-watch TV to numb themselves and distract from their circumstances. Of course, there will be times when we do need to have grace for ourselves. Not everything will get done, but even in times of difficulty and grief, we ought to always strive to, as Allie Beth Stuckey has said, “do the next right thing in faith, with excellence, and for the glory of God.” Whether that next right thing is checking one thing off your to-do list, taking a step outside, reaching out to a godly friend who can encourage you, or unplugging from the screens. Sometimes it’s taking a nap, a break, or a rest (as long as we don’t let that turn into laziness and bed-rotting). And in every step, remember that God’s grace is sufficient for you. His power is perfected in our weaknesses (2 Cor. 12:9-10).

Shining the Light of the Gospel on Anxiety/Depression

I recently went through something that shattered my feeling of worth. I felt completely inadequate and worthless, and I started to give in to despair. None of this was new to me. I’ve gone through so many things throughout my young life that have caused deep pain, grief, and inspired worthlessness and despair. But this time, I was directed to an online, gospel-based 30-day course that addressed the specific issue I was facing. And through that–through daily looking at the gospel, and what it means in my situation right now–I found more hope, healing, peace, and joy than I have ever had in therapy or on medications. Because the gospel does address everything. 

You feel worthless? Jesus thought you were worth dying for. And your worth isn’t based on anything you’ve ever done. He died for you and chose you before you ever had a chance to impress Him and earn His favor (Rom. 8:29-30). You feel broken? Jesus took your brokenness on Himself when He went to the cross so that you can have healing. (Is. 53:5) In Him you are a new creation, and the old has passed away (2 Cor. 5:17). He is daily creating something new in you, and bringing about restoration. Do you feel weighed down by circumstances? Jesus has overcome it all. I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world (John 16:33). We will struggle, Jesus tells us. 

We will have pain and hardship. There is real and deep heartache in this world, and I don’t want to diminish that. “But take heart,” He says, do not despair! Why? “I have overcome the world.” The suffering of this world is temporary. There is everlasting hope in Jesus. 

Christian, please don’t fall into the trap of depression. Don’t let your emotions control you. Take heart. Look to Christ, because that is where the remedy for depression is found. Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. (Ps. 42:5).