Is It Wrong for Christians to Drink Alcohol?

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." - 1 Corinthians 10:31

If you want to start a lively debate at church, tell everyone what you think about Christians drinking alcohol. Many Christians-—especially those with roots in the Bible belt-—believe that Christians should never drink alcohol under any circumstances. Other Christians believe that drinking in moderation is part of our freedom in Christ and should be enjoyed without any concerns of conscience.

So, who is correct? Is it okay for Christians to drink alcohol or not? Is it possible to follow and serve Christ with a beer or glass of wine in hand? After studying this issue recently, I’ve become convinced that the most biblical answer is “it depends.”

For starters, it’s important to recognize that we never find a universal “thou-shalt-not-drink-alcohol” command in Scripture. Some Christians who are die-hard abolitionists claim that drinking alcohol under any circumstances is forbidden in Scripture, but that’s simply not true. However, the Bible does give several clear commands that restrict our drinking. Under any of the following four circumstances drinking is a sin.

#1: Drinking alcohol is wrong when it leads to drunkenness. Although the Scriptures never forbid drinking in any and every circumstance, the Scriptures definitely do forbid drunkenness. For example, in Ephesians 5:18 we read: “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead be filled with the Spirit.” Similarly, Galatians 5:21 names drunkenness as an act of the sinful nature.

#2: Drinking alcohol is wrong when it’s against the law. God’s word makes it very clear in passages like Romans 13:1-2 that the Lord expects us to obey the laws of the land. Therefore, we are compelled as Christians to obey the laws regarding drinking that exist in our city, county and state. For example, in California it is against the law for minors to drink alcohol under any circumstances, even while at home under the supervision of a parent or guardian. Therefore, when teenagers in our state drink, it is an act of rebellion against both the laws of our land and God Himself.

#3: Drinking alcohol is wrong when it’s in defiance of your conscience. In Romans 14:14 the Apostle Paul writes, “I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean.” Paul could just as easily have said, “I am fully convinced that no wine or beer is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards alcohol as unclean, then for him it is unclean.” So, it’s clear from this verse that if you have a conscience issue with drinking alcohol, then under no circumstance should you drink. To defy your God-given conscience is sin.

#4: Drinking alcohol is wrong when it causes someone else to stumble into sin. Paul writes in Romans 14:20, “It is wrong for a man to do anything that causes someone else to stumble.” Even though I may be able to drink a beer, glass of wine or margarita responsibly, the person across from me at the table or in the booth next to me may not be able to do the same. I realize that drinking is contagious, and I don’t want to be anyone’s excuse for ordering an extra drink themselves. I may be able to call it quits after one drink, but the person across the table from me may not be able to do so. I may be able to drive home safely with a low blood-alcohol level, but the stranger across the room perhaps cannot.

The reality is that problem drinking is at epidemic levels in our country today. According to CBN.com, there are some twenty million problem drinkers in the United States today, and according to another source, 3.3 million of these problem drinkers are high school students. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that each year in our country 2.7 million doctors’ visits, 1.2 million ER visits and 88,000 deaths are alcohol-related. Sadly, alcohol is involved in approximately ½ of all homicides, ½ of all domestic violence arrests, ½ of all crimes leading to incarceration, ½ of all birth defects and ¼ of all suicides.

Without a doubt problem drinking has produced a tidal wave of misery in our country. This cannot be disputed. So, I have come to the conclusion that even if I drink responsibly in moderation, the negatives of doing so far outweigh the positives. For that reason, I have chosen to err on the side of caution and practice abstinence.

However, if you are able to drink responsibly without breaching one of the four aforementioned conditions, then drinking falls underneath your freedom in Christ. You are welcome to do so. But make sure that as you drink, you do so with a thankful heart and with God’s glory in mind. All Christians-—both those who practice temperance and those who drink in moderation—-are compelled by God to obey 1 Corinthians 10:31: “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

Dane Davis is the lead pastor of First Christian Church of Victorville and the author of Holy Huldah! Lessons You Should Never Forget from Bible Characters You've Never Heard Of. To hear Pastor Dane's messages for for more information about the church, visit www.fccvv.com.

Jesus Was a Lousy Rabbi

"The Samaritan woman said to him, 'You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?' (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)" - John 4:9 

No self-respecting rabbi would have ever done what Jesus did. Not only had he chosen to travel through Samaria—a region devout Jews in Jesus’ day avoided like the plague—he had done the unthinkable. He spoke to a Samaritan woman in a public setting, and all indications are that she was a woman of questionable repute. Was she a prostitute? Probably not, but even among her own Samaritan neighbors, she was likely a social outcast. Yet Jesus chose to chat with her as if she were a fellow rabbi.

Jesus’ disciples couldn’t believe their ears. Didn’t Jesus know that this woman could destroy his reputation? The Samaritan woman herself couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Her head must have swiveled like an owl’s—looking right to left making sure that Jesus was actually talking to her and not to someone else. But there was no one else. This Jewish rabbi was starting a conversation with her, and she didn’t know what to make of it.

You see, in Jesus’ day the majority of Jewish rabbis considered the Samaritans to be half-breeds. They weren’t fully Gentile, but they weren’t fully Jewish either. More than seven hundred years earlier, the mighty Assyrian army had swept into Samaria and conquered the ten Jewish tribes who lived there. And there was a certain policy in Assyria’s nation-conquering playbook that would change these ten Jewish tribes forever.

Unlike the Babylonians who conquered the remaining two Jewish tribes 135 years later, the Assyrians had a practice of intermarrying with the citizens of a conquered nation. They believed that the best way to squash any future rebellions within a conquered nation was to destroy their national identity. And the best way to do this, in their view, was to intermarry with them.

The Jewish people prided themselves in having pure Jewish bloodlines that could be traced all the way back to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But as a result of Assyrian intermarriage, the Samaritans were hybrids: part Jewish, part Gentile. So in the centuries following the Assyrian conquest, the people of Samaria became social outcasts. When traveling from northern Israel (Galilee) to southern Israel (Judah), most Jewish rabbis in Jesus’ day chose to take the long route around Samaria to ensure that Samaritan dust wouldn’t stick to the bottom of their sandals.

Yet Jesus traipsed right through the middle of Samaria. Why? Why would a Jewish rabbi do something that was so countercultural, so socially unacceptable, so reckless for a rabbi whose reputation was already being questioned by the powers that be? He did it because Jesus loved people—regardless of whether or not their bloodline was “pure,” regardless of whether or not their past was checkered, regardless of whether or not socializing with them might tarnish his own reputation.

You see, in Jesus’ view people are ministry priority #1. He is more willing to wade through a cesspool of nasty accusations and rejection than he is to allow one lost sheep to stay lost. So, he asked the Samaritan woman politely for a drink…then used the opportunity to offer her the “living water” of a restored relationship with God.

Many Jewish leaders who heard about Jesus’ actions that day must have grimaced in absolute disgust and thought to themselves, “Jesus is the worst rabbi ever!”  But at the end of the day, Jesus really didn’t care. He was too busy celebrating the fact that one lost sheep had returned to the fold. This woman who was—for all intents and purposes—spiritually dead had come to life again. And her new life was contagious.

As we read John 4, we can learn several important tips for sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with individuals who, like the Samaritan woman, are spiritually parched. Tip #1: Treat people with respect. Even social outcasts need to be valued and respected. Jesus threw all social protocol to the wind in order to speak to the Samaritan woman with respect. And it worked! Tip #2: Quench people’s spiritual thirst. Once Jesus grabbed this woman’s attention by treating her with respect, he identified a deep need that she had and told her how he himself could fill that need. Did he have her attention? Without a doubt! She was hanging on his every word.

Tip #3: Make others' needs a higher priority than your own needs. Was Jesus tired and in need of rest? Absolutely! Was Jesus hungry? Without a doubt! But getting rest and stuffing his face with dinner wasn’t his highest priority. The Samaritan woman was. And as he made her a higher priority than himself, her life was transformed by the power of the gospel message. Her life was permanently changed by her encounter with Jesus, and so too will many other lives as we follow in Jesus’ footsteps.

As you share the good news of Jesus with those who are looking for God’s love in all the wrong places, treat them with respect. Lovingly share how Jesus alone can quench their deep-seated spiritual thirst. And put their needs above your own. You may lose some sleep and miss a meal or two. Your reputation may even take a hit among the religious snobs. But in the long run, who cares? Regardless of the personal cost, Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Who are you to do otherwise? 

Dane Davis is the lead pastor of First Christian Church of Victorville and the author of Holy Huldah! Lessons You Should Never Forget from Bible Characters You've Never Heard Of. To hear Pastor Dane's messages for for more information about the church, visit www.fccvv.com.

You’ve Got Some Holes in Your Wall

"Paul said, 'Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.'" - Acts 17:22-23

An overwhelming majority of Americans claim to be a part of a specific religion. And most believe that—even though their religion may not be perfect—it is more “right” than every other religion out there. Muslims believe their religion to be superior to Christianity and Judaism (and vice versa). Buddhists and Hindus are confident that they adhere to a more accurate view of reality. Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses are each convinced that theirs is the “true” Christian Church. Even atheists are convinced that their “freedom from religion” religion is the best path to happiness and fulfillment

But regardless of how “right” any of us believe our religion to be, there are things about it that aren’t very enticing and tenets that don’t seem to add up. As much as we hate to admit it, every world religion—including your own—has holes in it. No religion is perfect, even the religion of “non-religion.” 

Consider this: as each of us makes our way through our teenage and early adult years, we develop a worldview—a perspective through which we see and interpret the world around us. My worldview is my view of reality which explains how things tick, what gives life meaning and order and why the world is the way that it is. You can think of your worldview in terms of a wall—a theological wall that stands firm in our chaotic world, helping you maintain your sanity during the insane circumstances of life.

As a committed Christian, I have a Christian worldview. And my worldview is founded upon three key beliefs: #1: God is the Creator of the universe, #2: Jesus Christ alone is Lord and Savior and #3: the Bible is God’s inspired and flawless word. These three beliefs form the underpinnings of the theological wall that helps me make sense of the world around me. As I go through life and process the many events taking place in our world, I view and interpret them in relation to God, Jesus Christ and the Bible.

I would like to be able to say with confidence that my Christian worldview is perfect, but it’s not. There are parts of my belief system that are emotionally unsatisfying and other parts that leave me baffled. In other words, I have some holes in my theological wall. For example, I am convinced that the Trinity is a clear teaching of Scripture—the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. But the Father is not the Son; the Son is not the Holy Spirit; and the Holy Spirit is not the Father. Make sense?  Not exactly. Because I can’t intellectually wrap my mind around the concept of the Trinity, it is a hole in my theological wall—a part of my belief system that is somewhat unsatisfying and lends itself to outside criticism.

If that’s the case, why am I a Christian?  I’m a Christian because I’m convinced that the holes in the Christian wall are small in comparison to the holes in every other theological wall out there. I have always appreciated the fact that for almost 2,000 years Biblical Christianity has consistently stood the test of academic and scientific scrutiny. When the historical details of the Bible have been questioned and criticized, historians and archaeologists have consistently discovered evidence to validate its historical accuracy. When the science of the Bible has been disputed, it has repeatedly been confirmed through paleontology and astrophysics. The same cannot be said of other religions.

In 1 Peter 3:15, the Apostle Peter writes these powerful words: “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” So, why do I place so much hope in my Christian faith? I do so because it is grounded in historical fact, centered upon the greatest man who ever walked the face of the earth, intellectually challenging, emotionally satisfying, spiritually enriching, and powerful enough to transform lives—including my own.

I have discovered that Jesus Christ is the answer to life’s most perplexing questions. In other words, regardless of which religion you claim, there are certain holes in your theological wall that can only be filled by Christ. So, I encourage you: As you take a closer look at the holes in your theological wall, ask yourself the question, “Is Christ the answer that I’ve been seeking?” If so, turn to him and follow him. He’s a master mason who has been plugging holes in theological walls for 2,000 years.

Dane Davis is the lead pastor of First Christian Church of Victorville and the author of Holy Huldah! Lessons You Should Never Forget from Bible Characters You've Never Heard Of. To hear Pastor Dane's messages for for more information about the church, visit www.fccvv.com.

Why Does God Allow Mass Murderers to Be Born?

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11

Why does God allow suffering? For many years this has been one of the most commonly asked questions by Christians and non-Christians alike. And there’s no simple answer.

If God is all-knowing and all-powerful, then why does He allow innocent babies to be miscarried or to die at the hands of an abortionist? If God is all-knowing and all-powerful, then why does He allow children to contract chronic diseases like muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, leukemia or cancer? And if God knows ahead of time what atrocities people are going to commit during their lifetimes, why on earth did He allow mass murderers like Adolf Hitler, Osama bin Laden, Ted Bundy, Charles Manson and Jeffrey Dahmer to be born?

Much of our pain and suffering is the result of our own and others’ poor choices and sin. Some pain and suffering is the result of Satan’s attacks. (Do you remember Job?) Still other pain and suffering results from natural disasters that are part of the fallout of living in a sin-cursed world. But regardless of the source of our pain and suffering, why doesn’t our all-powerful God stop it?

And the most honest answer I can give you is: I don’t know. I simply don’t know. Why didn’t God spare the little baby my wife miscarried back in 2003? I don’t know. Why didn’t God stop the Pilot Fire that forced the evacuation of thousands of homes? I don’t know. Why does God allow children to die of cancer or women to die at the hands of murderers like Richard Ramirez and Ted Bundy? I don’t know.

Over the centuries, this has proven to be a thoroughly unsatisfying answer for many Christians, and as a result some have walked away from the Christian faith. But while this reaction is understandable, I believe it is short-sighted.

You see, the Bible doesn’t presume to answer every one of our “why” questions. There are many things about God’s thoughts and ways that we will never understand. Part of that stems from the fact that God is infinitely more intelligent than we are. Another reason is because God has never been tainted by sin like us. God’s thoughts are holy. His plans are perfect. And His involvement and judgments in our world are flawless. We may think that we could run this world better than God, but we are sadly mistaken.

So, why not stop blaming God for our pain and suffering and look at things from a different perspective? We tend to look at earthquakes and hurricanes and tornados and assume that God is letting every possible natural disaster happen. We don’t consider for a moment that God is holding back even larger cataclysmic events. We curse Him for the natural disasters that He allows, but we fail to thank Him for the natural disasters that He doesn’t allow.

We look at the Hitlers and Osama bin Ladens and assume that God is letting all the mass murderers be born. We don’t consider the possibility that they are like Mother Teresa compared to the more wretched mass murderers God has kept at bay. We look at our miscarried children and blame God for their deaths instead of considering the possibility that their deaths may have been an act of mercy. Perhaps God was sparing them from the excruciating pain they would have experienced during their lifetimes. God took them straight to paradise in heaven instead of subjecting them to a life of suffering. If so, God should be thanked, not criticized.

You may never understand why God does the things He does, but of this you can be certain: If you are a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, your suffering is temporary. Notice how Paul describes our pain in 2 Corinthians 4:17. He writes, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” Never forget that all of your pain and suffering is temporary—just a blip on the radar screen of eternity.

And not only is your pain temporary, it is purposeful. My favorite Bible verse is Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” The truth is: If God can’t somehow love you through the pain and suffering, then He shields you from it. And if God can’t work the pain and suffering together for good, He doesn’t send it your way.

We don’t always need to know the reason for our pain; we just need to cling to what we do know—namely, that our pain is temporary, and God is lovingly working for our good. Friends, God is good, and God is faithful. So trust Him. Keep following Him. And in His perfect timing, He will give you the answers you seek.

Dane Davis is the lead pastor of First Christian Church of Victorville and the author of Holy Huldah! Lessons You Should Never Forget from Bible Characters You've Never Heard Of. To hear Pastor Dane's messages for for more information about the church, visit www.fccvv.com.

Is It a Sin Not to Tithe?

"Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously." 2 Corinthians 9:6

Do I have to tithe? Am I sinning if I don’t tithe? Can I split my tithe among a few different churches and organizations? Should I require my kids to tithe? These are common questions that Christians ask when discussing the subject of tithes and offerings. And here are some brief answers to these important questions.

Question #1: Do I have to tithe? Well, that depends upon how you define “tithe.” The word “tithe” literally means “a tenth.” So when the Bible speaks of tithing, it is speaking of giving 10% of one’s earnings—specifically animals and/or produce—to the Lord. There is no doubt that the Jewish people in Old Testament times were commanded by God to tithe. In fact, when the people of Israel withheld part of their tithe, they were guilty of “robbing” God (Malachi 3:8-10).

But this command to tithe is not repeated in the New Testament. Instead, New Testament Christians are commanded to give generously and cheerfully (2 Corinthians 9:6-7). No specific percentage (i.e., 10%) is required of Christians. So, strictly speaking, Christians don’t “have to” tithe. However, it’s wise to consider this: If for many centuries God’s followers practiced 10% tithing as an obligation, shouldn’t this percentage be viewed as a mere starting point for Christians who are commanded to give generously? I think so.

Question #2: Am I sinning if I don’t tithe? No. Since tithing isn’t specifically commanded in the New Testament, you’re not sinning if you don’t tithe. But you are sinning if you aren’t giving generously or your attitude stinks when you give. You shouldn’t give out of guilt, fear or a desire for praise. You should give because you follow Jesus, and he’s the biggest giver of all time.  Jesus was a generous giver, so we should naturally be generous givers. Jesus sacrificed himself and did so much for us, we should happily sacrifice and give back to him.

Question #3: Can I split my tithe among a few different churches and organizations? Since tithing isn’t specifically commanded of Christians, the answer is: “Yes.” You don’t “have to” give your tithe to one church. However, I believe that giving your whole tithe to your home church has the strongest biblical precedent. In Old Testament Israel, the Jewish people had a practice of bringing their tithe to the tabernacle or temple: their place of worship. And in New Testament times Christians brought their tithes and offerings to their house of worship.

Therefore, it seems best for a Christian to give his/her “tithe” (the specific percentage of one’s monthly income) to his/her home church. When Christians divide their giving across too many different churches, ministries and charities, local churches fall short of meeting their financial goals required to do great ministry. Yes, God does own the cattle on a thousand hills, but He calls upon His followers to financially support the work of ministry in the local church. Beyond this specific percentage, it’s wonderful to offer extra gifts (aka, “offerings” and “alms”) to various churches, ministries or charities as the Holy Spirit directs us.

Question #4: Should I require my kids to tithe? Yes. When God gave the Ten Commandments and other laws to Moses, He gave the following command: “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). As Christians, it’s very important that we teach our kids from a young age about generous and cheerful giving. And one of the best ways to do this is by giving them a weekly allowance and teaching them to set aside one dime out of every dollar for the Lord.

I have taught each of my kids to tithe. Tithing is a given in our home. And I also inform my children of opportunities to give generously above and beyond their tithes. I don’t require them to give extra, but I give them low-pressure opportunities to be generous. And I can’t tell you how delighted I am when they respond with generosity.

Last year my daughter, who was eight years old at the time, convinced me to buy her a new doll if she scored five goals in her next soccer game. But after her younger sister was diagnosed with diabetes, she asked me if her five goals could earn her younger sister a doll instead.  Of course—with tears in my eyes—I agreed. You see, Christ calls us to be generous givers, and my eight-year-old got it. We adults would do well to “get it” too.

In case you’re wondering, on game day she only scored one goal. But as far as this daddy was concerned, that was close enough. And I’ll always remember the look on her face when I let her place the new doll in her younger sister’s hands. On that day, my child truly was a cheerful giver.

Dane Davis is the Lead Pastor of First Christian Church in Victorville and the author of Holy Huldah: Lessons You Should Never Forget from Bible Characters You've Never Heard Of. To hear Pastor Dane’s messages or for more information about the church, visit www.fccvv.com .

What Makes Mary So Special?

"And Mary said: 'My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me--holy is His name.'"
- Luke 1:46-49

For centuries Catholics and Protestants have debated about the role that Mary should play in the lives of Christians. There’s no doubt that Catholics place a greater emphasis on Mary than do Protestants. In most Protestant churches Mary is rarely mentioned other than at Christmas and on Good Friday. But Catholics and Protestants agree: Mary was a very special woman.

But what makes Mary so special? This question struck me earlier today, and Mary herself gives us the best answer in Luke 1. After receiving the message from the angel Gabriel that—though she was a virgin and probably just a teenager—she would give birth to the Son of God, the King of the Jews, Mary took a last-minute road trip to visit her cousin Elizabeth. While there, Mary created and jubilantly recited a poem of praise to the Lord. At times it’s called “Mary’s Song.”  Many others know it by its Latin name: “The Magnificat.” 

Early in the poem Mary acknowledges that “from now on all generations will call [her] blessed.”  Why? Why would Christians for centuries to come call her “blessed”? Mary herself tells us in verse 49. According to Mary, she would be called blessed for one reason: “for the Mighty One has done great things for me” (verse 49). In other words, the only reason that she is blessed is because God blessed her. Similarly, the only reason that Mary is so special is because God made her so special. So it’s clear that she didn’t make herself special. God made her special.

And as a result, in the remainder of the poem, Mary shines the spotlight—not on herself—but on God. She praises Him for His mercy in verses 50 and 54. She praises Him for His mighty deeds in verse 51. She praises God for His sovereign power in verse 52 and for His compassion in verse 53. There seems to be no doubt in Mary’s mind: She is special for one reason and one reason only: God made her special.

The reality is, had it not been for Jesus, none of us would have any idea who Mary of Nazareth was. At the mention of her name, we’d all be asking each other, “Mary who?” Without Jesus, Mary would have remained an obscure young woman hailing from a piddly little town in an unimpressive region of the tiny nation of Israel. Mary would have lived and died in absolute obscurity, and hardly anyone would have cared. Precious few would have noticed…were it not for Jesus.

You see, Jesus makes all the difference in the world. Jesus was the one whose incarnation put Mary in the history books as the only virgin to have ever given birth to a child. Jesus was the one whose birth put Mary on King Herod’s most wanted list. Jesus was the one whose birth brought wealthy astrologers from hundreds of miles away to entrust Mary and her husband with gifts of gold, incense and myrrh. Jesus was the one who made Mary appear to be the best wedding host ever at the wedding in Cana. Jesus was the one whose ministry placed Mary at two of the most important events in history: his crucifixion and the sending of his Holy Spirit upon his followers in Acts 2.

Jesus made Mary…Mary. Mary is so special because Jesus made her special. And the same goes for you. Let’s face it: without Jesus Christ in our lives, we’re just as obscure as Mary was before the angel Gabriel paid her a visit. Think about it. Each of us lives in an obscure Southern California town, in a piddly little valley that most people only pay attention to when they get hunger pangs during their drives to and from Vegas. You and I aren’t famous. Few people know us, and precious few will remember us after we die.

But just as Jesus Christ made Mary so special, he can and will make you special. No, if you allow Jesus Christ to take the driver’s seat of your life, it doesn’t mean that a figurine of you will be added to everyone’s manger scene. People may still forget you when you die. But this world will have been greatly impacted by your life.

You see, Jesus Christ loved you enough to die for you. And he put you on this earth at this time and in this place for a reason. And that reason is very important. Just as he had a great purpose and plan for Mary, he has a great purpose and plan for you. So, trust him. Love him. And obediently carry out that plan.

And when someone asks you the question, “What makes you so special?” tell them the truth. “The answer isn’t a ‘what’ but a ‘who.’ Jesus Christ makes me so special, and don’t you forget it!” 

  

Dane Davis is the lead pastor of First Christian Church in Victorville and the author of Holy Huldah!: Lessons You Should Never Forget from Bible Characters
You've Never Heard Of.

Why Do Christians Get Depressed?

Jesus said, "If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete."  - John 15:10-11

Consider this: Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:3-12 that those who follow in his footsteps are blessed, which means—among other things—happy. And in John 15:10-12 Jesus tells us that obeying his commands and remaining in his love lead to complete joy. From what we read in the New Testament, it seems clear that Christians should be the “happiest” people on earth. So, if that’s the case, why are so many Christians depressed? 

Great question, but there’s not a simple answer. Depression is a complex disease. It doesn’t stem from a single cause and can’t be cured by a single pill. But understanding the physical, environmental and spiritual causes of depression can provide the first necessary step toward healing and recovery. God has created you to persevere and be an overcomer, and the following insights can help you or anyone else rise out of the depths of despair.

Much medical and psychological research has been done on the disease of depression. According to experts, some of the most common physical and environmental causes of depression are chronic diseases (especially diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, MS and other illnesses that cause chronic pain), prescription medications, negative life events (e.g., a divorce or loss of a job), financial strain, and an unhealthy diet or a lack of regular exercise. Experts have even discovered that a lack of daily laughter has adverse effects on our mood.

So, why do Christians get depressed? Well, to a large extent Christians get depressed for the same reasons that anyone else gets depressed. At times, Christians struggle with depression as the result of an illness, family tragedy, financial woes or the side effects of medications. Other Christians get depressed because of a lousy diet, lack of exercise or lack of laughter. All that to say: oftentimes the direct cause of depression isn’t spiritual but physical or environmental. So if you or a family member is dealing with prolonged periods of depression, explore some of these physical causes and schedule an appointment with your doctor.

But depression can also have spiritual causes that require spiritual remedies. In Psalm 42, the psalmist reveals four of the spiritual causes of depression along with four spiritual remedies. They are:

#1: An absence of worship and Christian fellowship (vs1-2). There is power and healing in prayer and Christian fellowship. The Church is empowered by God to lift up those who are down spiritually. But it is also equipped to encourage those who are down emotionally. So make sure that you find a good home church and attend consistently. It’s good for you in more ways than you may have realized.

#2: Forgetting the joy of the Lord (vs3-4). When we are drowning in depression, the psalmist urges us to remember yesterday’s joy in our walk with the Lord. This is so important. One of the best things to do when your thoughts are down in the dumps is to take your thoughts back to a better time and place when you could taste the goodness of the Lord.

#3: Forgetting that your pain is temporary. As Christians we realize that weeping remains for a night but joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5). We know that God works all things together for good (Romans 8:28). We understand that every bit of suffering we experience on earth for Christ will be richly rewarded in heaven (Matthew 5:11-12). So Christians, of all people, have the insight of the future necessary to persevere through the most difficult seasons of suffering in the present.

#4: Putting hope in things other than Christ. Eventually our cars will break down. Our homes will fall down. Our bodies will wear down. And our family and friends, being human, will let us down. So it is foolish to put our greatest hopes in people or things. We must put our hope in Christ and cling to Him through thick and thin, because he will never let us down. He will always see us through.

So, hang in there, Christian. An old Japanese proverb states, “Fall down seven times. Stand up eight.” And stand up you will, because you were created to be an overcomer (Revelation 12:11). And there is hope in Christ!

    

Dane Davis is the lead pastor of First Christian Church in Victorville and the author of Holy Huldah!: Lessons You Should Never Forget from Bible Characters
You've Never Heard Of.