There are some regrettable things that we must accept about our fallen
nature. One of these things is that we are naturally judgmental.
Because of the Fall, we have acquired a judgmental and oftentimes
cynical disposition. For
example, look at Susan Boyle from Britain’s Got Talent. (If you have
not seen
the clip yet, go and watch it here so that you have a background
reference: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deRF9oEbRso.) In all honesty, how many of you judged Susan Boyle because of her frumpy
appearance? I can honestly say that I did. We most often judge people by their
looks. How many of you have judged a girl because her clothing was “too
revealing”? Or have you judged a girl who was “too modest”? Or have you
stereotyped a person because they wore black Tripp pants and a red shirt and
studs? People seem to be particularly judgmental of people who have “problems.”
In particular, depression, suicide, and addiction have fallen into a cultural
taboo. But I have news for you—we all have problems. So here is something that
I must ask myself: who am I to judge somebody because their “problem” is
addiction or depression while mine is jealousy or sarcasm?
Perhaps in order to overcome this overwhelming stereotyping and judgment,
we should classify people as broken. We have all been broken through fallen
nature or through terrible circumstances. Depression is a symptom of this
chronic brokenness. Some people believe that Christians cannot be depressed.
There is a common phrase that says that Christians are “too blessed to be
stressed,” but this is a complete lie. David, who was “a man after God’s
own heart,” also struggled with chronic depression (1 Samuel 13:14). He writes
several psalms about his trials and his struggles with depression. Psalm 6:6-9
proclaims, “I am worn out from groaning; all night long I flood my bed with
weeping and drench my couch with tears. My eyes grow weak with sorrow; they
fail because of all my foes.” He later bemoans, “My God, my God why have you
forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my
roaring? O my God, I cry in the day time, but you hear not; and in the night
season, and am not silent.” (Psalm 22:1-2).
Perhaps
these scriptures pertain to two groups of people: those who struggle with
depression and those who struggle with judging the depressed. The first
category of people can use these scriptures as assurance that they are not
alone; even the most righteous and beloved of men can become depressed. The
other category of people can use these scriptures as a safeguard against
judgment, for they can see that the man after God’s heart struggled with this
cultural taboo.
Nevertheless, there is hope for the weary. My favorite Psalm is a
Psalm of hope, praise, and deliverance: “I love the Lord, because He has heard
my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear unto me, therefore will I
call upon Him as long as I live” (Psalm 116:1-2).
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