Galatians 6:7 doesn't teach Karma...not even remotely!

The other night when I wrote about Karma, it really bothered me when someone who considers themselves a Christian stated “Galatians 6:7 teaches that what you sow, you will also reap. Karma is the same thing.” You may believe that, but I am here to tell you, Karma is diametrically opposed to the teaching of the Bible. Maybe you are thinking “How? Doesn’t Karma teach that if you do good, that good will come to you and equally if you do wrong or bad, then bad will come to you?” No, not entirely. 

Karma teaches every thought or deed, whether they are good or bad, will have consequences that will determine how an individual will be reborn in another life and what will happen in their next incarnation on earth.  So a person who acts violently, for example, could be born many different times into lower castes of humans or even into lower forms of animals and may fall victim to violence himself during those lives as a result of his previous violent life.  In many forms of Hinduism, the person cannot escape the cycle of rebirths until they are reborn into the Brahmin or priestly caste.  In this way, karma and reincarnation are deeply intertwined.  With the appropriate effort, individuals can attain their own salvation (or liberation), which is their release from the cycle of birth and rebirth, though that liberation may take many lifetimes to attain. Rooted in the Law of Karma, Hinduism also teaches that there is a sense of justice that permeates the universe. If the Hindu falls short of karma’s requirements, he or she is condemned to the endless cycle of reincarnation. For the Christian, that sense of justice has been met in the finished work of Jesus Christ on Calvary’s cross. Just in case you didn’t know, “Reincarnation” or “samsara” is the belief in the transmigration of the soul. There is a cycle of rebirth after rebirth after rebirth of the soul. One could be reborn as a wealthy aristocrat or as an animal, a beetle, worm, vegetable, etc. (Eckman, 32)

The God of the Bible isn’t worried about other lives; I have never been anyone other than Rachel, you have never been anyone other than who you are. Your soul has never been a part of anyone else’s life, nor will it ever be. I hear you say “But what about Galatians?” Yes, Galatians…Some might say that karma is part of Christianity because of Galatians 6:7:

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.”

Even though the scriptures teach us that we will reap what we will sow, karma and Christianity are not compatible.  We must remember that Galatians 6:7 is talking about this lifetime, not the afterlife.  Karma and the biblical idea of reaping what you sow are not the same.  The Bible teaches that after this one life we will come to the judgment.  Hebrews 9:27 says:

“And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment.” 

Are their similarities between Karma and Sin and Forgiveness? 

Similarities and Differences between Karma and Sin

Similarities:

Both involve moral choices.

Both affirm a relationship between our actions and the results they produce in our present lives.
 

Differences

Karma (Hindu Concept): Karma does not affect one’s relationship with Brahman, which is the essence of existence within all things.  Whether one’s karma is good or bad makes no difference to the fact that we are extensions of the very Being of Brahman. Sin (Christian Concept): Sin profoundly affects our relationship with God in that we become alienated from Him.  One of the attributes of God is absolute moral holiness, and our sin reveals an attitude of rebellion against His authority.

The law of karma, which makes morality like a law of nature, does not allow for the possibility of forgiveness.  Its consequences are inevitable and inescapable. Because God is personal, and because persons can forgive, God can forgive us of our sins.  Moreover, He has done so through Jesus Christ. Let's take a

look at a man in the Bible, a man named Job. the first chapter of Job introduces us to a righteous man, a good husband and father. A holy man who could be counted on to do the right things. And he is exceedingly blessed by God.

But before long everything starts going wrong for him.

• His riches disappeared.

• His children died.

• His health deteriorated.

• And his wife turned into a bitter shrew of a woman.

As if that weren't bad enough… his friends came over to “comfort him”.

Well… they weren't really there to comfort him.

They were there to correct him, and to condemn him.

In the book of Job, these three friends observe Job’s suffering… and tell him that:

1. All suffering is a result of sin.

2. The greater the suffering the greater the sin.

3. Thus Job, you deserve what you’re getting, and you need to repent.

This can all be summed up by his “friend” Zophar’s comment: “IF you put away the sin that is in your hand and allow no evil to dwell in your tent, THEN you will lift up your face without shame; you will stand firm and without fear.” Job 11:14-15

In other words: it’s YOUR fault, Job.

You've sinned, and that’s the reason you’re suffering.

BUT… if you’d just put away that sin, if you’d just allow no evil in your tent, THEN, you’d be OK!

Now, of course, from the beginning of the story WE know that’s not true.

That’s NOT why Job is suffering.

But these 3 friends don’t know THAT part of the story so they’re allowing their Karma kind of theory to guide them in their advice:

We all make these kinds of judgments. We see a man on the street with a sign that says “will work for food” and we just know he won’t work and the money won’t go for food. We see a person living out under a bridge and presume to know how they go there – bad choices. We see a man pushing a shopping cart down the street and we know how he got there.

Now, we may be right, and we would be advised to be cautious on how we help out folks like these, but we need to remember that God places a high priority on our helping the poor and destitute. When we give to them – God notices.

Karma-kind of thinking believes the judgment has already been made.

You've either been judged and found WANTING… that’s why you suffer.

OR you've been judged and found WORTHY… and that’s why you’re blessed.

But the judgment has (pretty much) already been made.

The only way (Karma teaches) to stop suffering is to work off our bad deeds… with good ones. IF you do enough good, you can pay for your sins… and THEN you’ll be blessed.

By contrast, the Bible tells us… none of us are worthy.

We've all sinned.

We've all been found wanting.

You remember this thing kids used to do (form an “L” with thumb and first finger and put it on your forehead)? What it mean? Loser

We've all been losers!

None of us is worthy of blessings from God.

Unlike in the Karma thinking –we can’t do enough good to offset the evil we've done in our lives. We can’t do enough good to be worthy of God’s blessings.

Karma is all about tallying up enough brownie points so that you just MIGHT get blessings. Bad deeds can only be offset by doing enough good deeds to balance things out. BUT no matter how many good deeds you do you can never be sure you've done enough to undo the damage of your past.

Thus, there’s no confidence that you've “made it”.

There’s no joy, no real hope, no sense of freedom… just a continuous sense of doubt… and fear.

And you can tell when a Christian has bought into the Karma mindset.

You ask a believer if they are sure they’re going to heaven.

Most will reply: “I hope I've been good enough…”

What they’re saying is Karma. I hope my good deed have outweighed my bad. That way I can go into the presence of God and DESERVE heaven.

Now, the Bible DOES teach that we have done bad… and that bad in our lives has to be paid for. It has to be taken away for us to be acceptable. But neither you nor I can pay for our bad deeds with good deeds. Neither you nor I can make our lives acceptable by how many good things we do.What is the ONLY way you can get into heaven?

That’s right – by the blood of Jesus Christ.

Your good deeds will not buy you a place in God’s presence.

So if you someone asks you if you are going to heaven… you need to say

“YES”

But not because I deserve to be there.

I’m going to heaven because of the blood of Jesus.

As Galatians 3:27 says “all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”

It isn't by MY righteous garments that I’m saved. It’s because I've put on Christ.

It’s critical that we understand this. Because if we don’t… we’ll never really understand why other people reject Jesus.

You see, the problem for most people is that they really still believe in Karma. They sense the rightness of doing enough good to offset the bad they've done.

They’d rather do it themselves, and they think they can… given enough time and enough chances to do good things.

The very idea that Jesus would have to do it for them, offends them and offends their sensibilities. They feel THEY have to do the good things to deserve God’s attention.

But in their heart of hearts, they sense they’re not quite doing enough. They’re often unsure and uncertain. They understand that what goes around comes around… but they’re not quite sure what’s coming around…And they’re never quite sure they've been good enough… to be good enough.

Friends the truth is: 

Karma says: “you’re getting what you deserve. You've slipped and fell and now there’s a price you have to pay.".

Christ says: “You've gotten what you deserve… let me pay the price. You can’t do it on your own. Let me help you.”

Footnotes:
1. Kenneth Shouler, Ph.D. and Susai Anthony, The Everything Hinduism Book, F&W Media, Inc.; Avon, MA; 2009; page 58


2.  James P. Eckman, The Truth about Worldviews: A Biblical Understanding of Worldview Alternatives (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2004), 34.

3.  Dean C. Halverson, The Illustrated Guide to World Religions, Hinduism, Lion Hudson plc., 2003, page 90.  These similarities and differences are taken from this book.

Talking about Karma in a world that needs Grace!

Recently I posed the question to my friends “Do you believe in Karma?” 64% said no, while 36% replied yes. Now, I will be honest and tell you that not all 1200+ friends on Facebook replied; but out of the ones that did, this is result I got. The 2nd question I asked was “What is Karma to you?” Revenge or Reincarnation? 0% answered that question. It leads me to wonder if my friends don’t really understand what Karma actually is.

The reason I asked the questions is that someone was talking about their car getting hit, and the “minister” of music replied “Maybe Karma will get them!” Seriously, here we have a seasoned Christian hoping bad on someone!  How can you even begin to think that is a right thought as a Christian. Now I am not saying that I am perfect, I am far from it—however, hoping that “Karma—in this instance—revenge—or what goes around will come around—will harm the person for their lack of responsibility.” 

Now I know what you are thinking, “If this isn’t what Karma is, then what exactly is it?” 

Many Christians tend to think that Karma means “what you sow you reap!” Basically, they are talking about a person who was living an immoral lifestyle and said that Karma would eventually catch up with that person. I promise that if tell people I don’t believe in Karma, they will look at me funny! Then if  I told them that the Bible does teach that you reap what you sow in Galatians 6:7—they would tell me they are one and the same. Though on the surface they may appear to be equal, the idea of Karma is totally incompatible with Christianity and the teachings of Christ.

What Karma Is

Karma is a theological concept found in the Buddhist and Hindu religions. It is the idea that how you live your life will determine the quality of life you will have after reincarnation. However, the Bible completely rejects the idea of reincarnation: Hebrews 9:27 states, “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment…” This Bible verse makes clear two important points which, for Christians, negate the possibility of reincarnation and karma. First: man is destined to die ONCE. We don’t get a second chance. There is no cyclical being born and dying until we are enlightened enough to make it to Nirvana—the concept of heaven within Buddhism. The second point that is made is that after death we face judgment. This means there is NO second chance to live a better life—once it’s over, it’s over. The fat lady has sung her last! You get one shot at life and living it according to God’s plan, and that is it. Further, Christianity knows nothing of reincarnation. We don't have multiple chances to get it right if we don't do it in this life. And when we die we don't come back as an insect or a cow. Nor do we become a different person. In other words, I was never an Egyptian Pharaoh in a previous life.

The Buddhist will tell you “We don't believe in a god because we believe in humanity. We believe that each human being is precious and important, that all have the potential to develop into a Buddha - a perfected human being. We believe that humans can outgrow ignorance and irrationality and see things as they really are. We believe that hatred, anger, spite, and jealousy can be replaced by love, patience, generosity, and kindness. We believe that all this is within the grasp of each person if they make the effort, guided and supported by fellow Buddhists and inspired by the example of the Buddha. As the Buddha says: “No one saves us but ourselves, No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path, but Buddhas clearly show the way.”

Next time you talk about Karma, I hope you remember that you can't believe in a God of justice and a god of karma! They are incompatible! 

So do you want to really live by Karma?

Personally I’d rather live my life by God’s grace. The Bible does not teach karma. It teaches grace. Grace is where you get what you don't deserve. Grace is unmerited favor. It is love and mercy bestowed upon us by God because He desires us to have it. As you can see, very different to karma. More like polar opposites. It was grace, not karma, that rescued the Baby Moses from death. It was grace that allowed Queen Esther to plead for the survival of her people. Grace helped Nehemiah rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Grace appeared face to face with Saul on the Damascus road. 

Grace reached out to you and me while we were sinners deserving death and took our place.  And it disappoints me that we have forgotten. It disappoints me we are more inclined to look for karma than we are to look for grace. 

In the book, Bono: In Conversation with Mishka Assayas, Bono commented, “I'd be in big trouble if Karma was going to finally be my judge... I'm holding out for grace. I'm holding out that Jesus took my sins onto the Cross...”

If the world knew the magnificence of God’s grace they would be holding out for it as well. Because I've got a feeling society doesn't need more karma but a whole lot more grace.

If there was more grace there would be less road rage.

If there was more grace there would be less divorce.

If there was more grace families would talk to each other.

If there were more grace there would be less racism. 

If there were more grace there would be less violence.

If there were more grace there would be more kindness.

Getting what you deserve is horrible because if we're honest, we all deserve a rotten life. Getting what you don't deserve is some kind of wonderful. And it is all around us. If we opened our eyes we would see grace working on the planet each and every day.

I encourage you to next time think “I hope God’s grace gets that person” instead of “Maybe Karma will get them!” 

You aren't just kicking the tires...

When you are a Christian and single, it’s hard to fit in anywhere. I don’t fit in with my friends—many are dating, or made a life-long commitment to a person in marriage. They may or may not have children. Even at work, I am seen as the “odd one out.”  Matter of fact, I am often made fun of. If my co-workers knew me before now, they’d probably not cared to much for me. The first question many of them ask is “Why don’t you date?” Well to be very honest, I haven’t met anyone that I am remotely interested in since I had my heart-broken several years ago. Truth is, the man that finds me will only find me when he is so lost in God, that God has to tell him, “look up, there she is!” The next thing they’ll say when I stand up for Christian beliefs is “Well when you were young you didn’t have social media and sex.” Actually, I hate to tell you this, whippersnapper, my generation had MYSPACE and as for sex, well, they had it, just like generations before them and many of my friends were sexually active and being treated for STDs before they graduated high school. My best friend once told me “I believe my marriage is great because we weren’t having premarital sex, we waited, we were virgins when we married.” And by the way, this marriage has lasted over 16 years—with fidelity. You see that is what God calls for in marriage, purity. When I was 15, I made a promise to abstain from sex until marriage. It was a promise I made myself, my future husband, our future children and God.

God is the center of my life. Is God at the center of your life? Take a hard look at the way you are conducting yourself daily. Is He present? How often are you considering Him?  We are always on God’s mind, and He should be on ours.  Keeping God at the center of your life is crucial in maintaining a strong faith.

Daily Distractions

God has let us know how susceptible to sin we are, and He forgives us for our transgressions, but often times we find ourselves falling back into our same bad habits. The cycle can be explained by taking a look into our daily routines.  What is it that has you placing other things before Him?

Are you obsessively checking your Facebook or Twitter? Are you obsessing over your favorite sports team? People are spending more and more time glued to their computer screens, versus their Bibles. These things are false idols. Be aware of their presence.

Idols can also be the need for acceptance in a certain area. These days, people are searching for acceptance in many ways. Some spend an unreasonable amount of time working on their appearance to be accepted. Others feel money can help define themselves. These are all false ideas of success people are chasing daily, and they can easily lead even the most devout astray.

Matter of fact, among some of my “everyday people” sex, dating and living a life that doesn’t have God at the center and they will tell you they are Christians, but yet it seems that many of them don’t know what it truly means to be a Christian. Now, I am not saying that being a Christian is a killjoy. By all means, Christians know how to have fun, but we also know that fornication is much more than “looking under the hood before you buy a car” or “kicking the tires.” 

So what is fornication; Sexual intercourse performed outside the bonds of marriage, considered an immoral work of the flesh (Matt. 15:19 par. Mark 7:21; cf. Gal. 5:19; Eph. 5:3; Col. 3:5; RSV “unchastity, immorality”). (1) In general, illicit sexual intercourse (Heb. zānâ), a sin violating the spirit of the Seventh Commandment (Exod. 20:14), which was meant to protect the integrity of the family. Fornication (Gk. porneɩ́a) can be linked with adultery (Matt. 5:32; 19:9) or distinguished from it (15:19 = Mark 7:21). Committing fornication is noted and rebuked (1 Cor. 6:18; 10:8; Jude 7). Abstaining from fornication (unchastity) was one of the four conditions demanded of the Gentiles for their admission into the Church by the Jerusalem conference (Acts 15:20, 29). (2)

When you read the definition of what fornication actually is, it doesn’t seem like such a great idea. Matter of fact 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 states 18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (3)

Notice in verses 19 and 20: “Your BODY is a TEMPLE of the HOLY SPIRIT. “YOU are NOT your OWN, you were BOUGHT with a price! Our bodies are not ours to do with whatever we please. In fact, they were given to us by God at the cost of the death of His only Son. 

But Rachel, you never really know a person until you live with them? Seriously? That’s an excuse. Matter of fact, it’s a terrible excuse. But Rachel, I’ve already been married and divorced, I’ve been hurt, why should I wait this time around? Again, excuse! 

Everything that I have spoke about tonight, boils down to one thing and one thing alone: unbelief. Matter of fact, if Christians and those who call themselves Christians actually believed the Word of God, much of the issues we have wouldn’t be issues. We wouldn’t have Bishops or Pastors lying about their lives to gain position; we wouldn’t have need of special conferences to decide if we should follow the word of God as it pertains to sexuality and marriage! In fact, if these so called christians would actually believe, the WHOLE dynamic of the church would change and the WORLD would take notice! Instead here we are, we are having Christians who want to live like the world and live of the world instead of just in it! Friends, we are called out! Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Friends you are called OUT of the world, you are called not be conformed to the ways of the WORLD! ANYTHING LESS is UNBELIEF! Maybe you don’t believe like I do, that is between you and God; maybe you want to look under the hood, but don’t be surprised with the spark plug no longer sparks or the spare is flat because you didn’t care for it! James 4:4 “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” 

Recenter Him

The good news is, that going astray happens to everyone, and re-centering God in your life is possible with Christian inspiration.

First, become aware of the evil in your life. Things like Facebook and sports aren’t always evil, but if they are slowly causing you to think more about them, and less about God, they may be a problem. Recognize these daily distractions, ask for forgiveness, and work to combat them.

Second, ask for guidance. Changing habits is extremely hard. Sometimes when we give something up, the temptation becomes greater. Ask Him for help along the way, and be open to receiving his plans.

Third, work to serve Him daily. Make extra efforts to do God’s work. Volunteer, be understanding, and share the Gospel with a new soul: This is how Jesus lived his life, and we should follow in His footsteps.

Grow Closer To God

By recognizing our faults and actively working to abolish them, our relationship to God actively grows stronger. It becomes easier for us to see His plan, hear His words, recognize His signs, and trust His love. We become happier in our journeys and  more grateful for our blessings.

All of these things make us great examples of His power. He becomes visible inside of us, and lost souls will become more curious. We are better prepared to teach His love to the rest of the world, and have them understand it. Recenter yourself, and elevate yourself to new heights within your life.

1. Allen C. Myers, The Eerdmans Bible Dictionary (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1987), 391.

1. Allison A. Trites, “Fornication,” ed. David Noel Freedman, Allen C. Myers, and Astrid B. Beck, Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans, 2000), 469.

1. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016.

It is Well...Depression in the Church

*This is a post about depression and how the Church should handle depression and depressed people. There may be triggers in this article. As always, If you’re depressed, tell someone. Tell a doctor, friend, family member or counselor. Please do not suffer alone, especially if you feel suicidal.

One of the most powerful hymns has a most tragic story behind it. A story of love, a story of loss and a story of coming to radical acceptance of whatever God throws at us. Very much like the story of Job, the author of “It is Well with my Soul” lost everything and never once did he allow his loss to prevent him from following Jesus Christ. 

Horatio Spafford had it all! He had married his soulmate, had five children and a career that even modern lawyers would envy and he was a Presbyterian layman. Among his friends he counted evangelist D.L. Moody. Life was great is probably an understatement for what it would have been like to be Spafford. However, tragedy struck the family when they lost their son to Scarlet Fever in 1871. Then in October of 1871 during the Chicago Fire Spafford’s fortune evaporated; having invested heavily in real estate along Lake Michigan’s shoreline, he lost everything overnight. Yet while this is a lot like the story of Job, the truth is that the worst hadn’t come to pass. 

Hymnologist Kenneth Osbeck tells the story “Desiring a rest for his wife and four daughters as well as wishing to join and assist Moody and [his musician Ira] Sankey in one of their campaigns in Great Britain, Spafford planned a European trip for his family in 1873. In November of that year, due to unexpected last-minute business developments, he had to remain in Chicago, but sent his wife and four daughters on ahead as scheduled on the S.S. Ville du Havre. He expected to follow in a few days. On November 22 the ship was struck by the Lochearn, an English vessel, and sank in twelve minutes. Several days later the survivors were finally landed at Cardiff, Wales, and Mrs. Spafford cabled her husband, ‘Saved alone.’” 

Telegraph that Anna Spafford sent her husband

Imagine getting the news that your loved ones had tragically died. In all honesty, I don’t know if I could say that “it is well with my soul.” However, Spafford immediately left for Wales to be with his wife Anna. Sailing across the very seas that claimed his daughters. It is said that it is during this voyage he penned the the first verse to “It is Well with My Soul.” 

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,

It is well, it is well with my soul.

At times it can be debilitating, it can be well-hidden so that you can go about your day. It is a disease that can be debilitating and cause further issue with your psychology if left unchecked. Brandon W. Peach states “Depression and anxiety tend to be some of those touchy subjects that are tough to tackle from a Christian perspective. It’s not complicated just because the illnesses themselves are so complex, manifesting themselves in myriad ways, but also because perspectives about mental disorders vary greatly throughout the Church.” (1)

The church I grew up in kept various mental illnesses under wraps and didn’t talk about them, much like many churches in the 1980s and 90s. Then I attended a church in the early 2000s that believed “depression is a spirit, and all you need is a little faith in Jesus!” Even while I was researching this book, I kept running across sites telling me “This is a spirit! Rebuke it!” If only it were that easy. One thing that people don’t realize about depression is that it saps you of everything…including faith. 

Dealing with mental illness, like other chronic conditions, can feel overwhelming. Patients often feel as if their diagnosis defines their life, while counselors and even pastors can forget that people with mental illness still have a spiritual life. As a result, churches sometimes miss the chance to minister to those with mental illness.“Because of the way we have ignored mental illness, we are hurting people,” says Ed Stetzer, executive director of LifeWay Research. “We’ve created a stigma.” (2)

So what is depression? It is definitely more than being “blue”  or “down in the doldrums” or even the temporary feelings of sadness that we all feel once in a while. Depression affects the mind, the body even the soul. It affects how a person eats, sleeps, their work, their relationships and their self-worth. The good news is that there are effective treatments for depression. The bad news is that only one-third of depressed people actually get appropriate treatment for their depression. 

Depression also has many different facets—Major depressive disorder and dysthymic disorder, commonly known as dysthymia, represent two mood disorders classified by the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual" of the American Psychiatric Association. Both disorders are characterized by feelings of sadness or apathy, but have distinctly different time duration and symptom patterns that must be carefully assessed for an accurate diagnosis. National Institute of Mental Health, major depressive disorder afflicts an estimated 16.2 million adults in the United States. This number represented 6.7% of all U.S. adults.. Dysthymia annually affects approximately 3.3 million American adults, or 1.5 percent of the U.S. adult population. The median age of onset for both diagnoses occurs in the early 30s. (3)

As a sufferer of Persistent Depressive Disorder, I really don’t know what the answer is for “curing” depression. Is it anti-depressants? Is it natural anti-depressants, such as St. John’s Wart? Is it prayer? Is it talk therapy or counseling? Maybe it’s a combination of those things. However, there are things that the church needs to know about the depressed person. Matter of fact, there are a lot of things the church needs to know. Given this information I needed to write this blog—not because I am an expert on depression, psychology or even religion—so that people would realize that just because you can’t see the illness doesn’t mean the illness isn’t there. Just because we smile day in and day out; during sermons or bible studies or even prayer meetings, it doesn’t mean that something isn't wrong—it may not be overwhelming us at that moment, but it certainly could be. 

However, I know that you thinking now: you said there are things the church needs to know about depression and anxiety. 

1. Depression isn't what churches often make it out to be. 

Many churches will make depression out to be character flaw or defect, it’s not a spiritual defect, and it certainly is not a choice. So asking someone to snap out of it most likely isn’t going to help. Matter of fact, it often times makes things worse because the person can’t just “snap out of it” like a lot of people can with a case of the blues.

While many will say it's a spiritual attack, medical science proves that it’s not. Given this information, I will concede that that the enemy will exploit any weakness found in a person—including depression. 

2. Depression and Mental Illnesses are not caused by unconfessed sin and it’s not a sin. 

Many times we hear Christian people say “So and So wouldn’t be depressed if they’d just confess that sin!” This may be true in some cases however, take my case, I have confessed my sins, and I do a lot of confessing on a daily basis—yet I still suffer from depression. It has nothing to do with my sinful nature. What the ideation behind the “It’s unconfessed sin” does is alienate people in your congregation and possibly causes their friends to walk away too. So alienating is the idea that depression is a demonic spirit or even a unconfessed sin that I refuse to ask people to pray for me. 

3. The Bible doesn’t provide easy answers and a strong church can’t fix depression. 

I know that sounds harsh and a bit faithless. But it’s simply the truth. The Bible doesn’t provide the “end all be all” answer to help you snap out of depression. It helps, of course, any time that we spend in the Bible helps us—it helps ease the symptom of depression, but it certainly doesn’t fix the issue. 

Strong churches don’t fix the problem either. The most Christ-loving and helpful community might not have the appropriate framework for dealing with such clinical disorders, and many churches don’t have licensed psychologists on the staff. And while there are programs like “Celebrate Recovery” can provide an invaluable forum for people to interact with others who experience “hurts, habits, and hangups,” and can help deal with some of the self-medication many people with depression and anxiety use to numb themselves. There may not be a positive response from the group or even the person who is struggling. 

Brandon Peach, whose list I have modified somewhat, states “Like the rest of society, however, the Church may misinterpret these clinical conditions and respond to them in ways that exacerbate them—and as a result, demoralize those suffering.” (4)

A diagnosis of depression should not be an automatic switch that causes one to be abandoned by their church. There is a way to support people with depression through the church without abandoning them.

One thing that another believer can do is just be present. Even in times of silence, the presence of another person can lessen the effects of depression considerably. Does this mean you shouldn’t say anything at all? Of course not, rather you should confront the issue, but if the person who is depressed doesn’t want to talk, let them know it is okay to sit there in the silence. Avoid premature reassurance. Although advice and reassurance can do wonders for a depressed person, if they are offered too early they can stifle the expression of feelings. A person who is told to "Snap out of it," or that "Everything will be all right," or even, "Let's pray about it," might infer you don't want to listen anymore. Thus, not only will he oblige by not saying any more, but he probably will withdraw even further into his depression.

"Sitting Shiva" is the Jewish foundation for mourning. In Job 2:11, 13, Job's friends come to him and simply sit with him. This act recognized Job was hurting, afraid, sad, and depressed. They did not offer prescriptions or false assurances, nor did they attempt to talk him out of where he was. In fact, when Job's friends did offer explanations for his condition, his depression worsened considerably! Pastors and fellow church members must also admit their limitations, and be willing to refer people struggling with depression to those gifted and trained to help. Just like a person experiencing a heart attack needs more than a family physician, those suffering from depression often benefit from the expertise of skilled professionals and possibly treatment through therapy.

Ultimately, God will always use the church to bring hope to others who are hurting, because we’ve been where they are and made it to the other side. Hope means the most when it’s come, stumbling, out of the dark places.

*If you’re depressed, tell someone. Tell a doctor, friend, family member or counselor. Please do not suffer alone, especially if you feel suicidal.

1. Brandon Peach, “5 Things Christians should know about Depression and Anxiety,” Relevant Magazine, August 8, 2017, https://relevantmagazine.com/article/5-things-christians-should-know-about-depression-and-anxiety/ (Accessed: August 6, 2018)

2. Smietana, Bob, “GETTING BEYOND THE STIGMA OF MENTAL ILLNESS” Lifeway Resources, November 11, 2014, https://factsandtrends.net/2014/11/11/getting-beyond-the-stigma-of-mental-illness/#.VGN13mRdU4S (Accessed August 14, 2018)

3.  National Institute of Mental Health (2017). Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymic Disorder) from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/index.shtml (Accessed August 6, 2018) 

4. Peach, Brandon., “5 Things Christians should know about Depression and Anxiety,” Relevant Magazine, August 8, 2017, https://relevantmagazing.com/article/5-things-christians-should-know-about-depression-and-anxiety/ (Accessed: August 7, 2018)

The Pastoral Handbook of Mental Illness

I don’t talk much about having a mental illness because I don’t like for people to think I am broken. When I was called to ministry, I was saddened that I was going to be put through a gambit of psychological batteries. I understood why, but being that I had been inaccurately diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, I was troubled that I wouldn’t be able to become a pastor. 

While what I actually have is dysthymia disorder (low grade, chronic depression); I decided to take a look at this book. The reason I did is because while in college, I took a bachelor in psychology in christian counseling. Every class we took was taught from a secular book, with supplemental information, produced by Christian authors and practitioners. When this book came up for review, I knew I had to review it. 

Needless to say I was pleasantly surprised by this book. 

1. Ease of Text, many pastors who enter seminary take 1 or two classes on pastoral care, so they aren’t trained to see the indication of a problem. This book, allows you to understand some of the criteria that is needed to get a somewhat accurate diagnosis for the disorder. 
2. This book is needed because I have seen too many licensed christian counselors continue to talk about mental disorders as a spiritual and sometimes even demonic issue. This messes with people, it makes them feel as if they can help their issue, or that if “They just tried a bit harder…then maybe God would heal them.” Instead of actually looking at the root of the issue. 
3. This book can be used by Pastors and Laity alike. This book isn’t a hard read, matter of fact, it’s a book that I think will benefit the entire church, not just our pastors and pastoral counselors. 

If utilized in both seminaries and Christian counseling programs, I think this book will make the “Christian” counselor understand that not everything is spiritual matter. Sometimes, you can’t pray the sadness away or the anger away. But more than that, it gives our pastors a tool, a much needed tool to be able to confidently help someone who needs to be seen by a medical professional. 

This book was provided to me for free by the publisher for an honest review. 

Let It Go or Shake the Dust?

Idina Menzel sings a song called “Let it Go!” When I get hooked on something my friends will often say “Rachel, be like Elsa and LET IT GO!” my response was “Did you even see Frozen?” most just shrug their shoulders and one or two will actually answer…and I continue on. When Elsa let it go, the entire country froze over in ice because of the anger and hurt in her heart! She truly became an ICE WITCH and it wasn’t “cool!” (no real pun intended). 

Earlier this week, I came under what I can only explain as a spiritual attack. So I knew I was on the right track with my 90 Day Bible Reading Challenge. So after two days into the reading, I decided to open it to more people, my readers, my facebook friends and the two women who were attacking me. 

Today, they wrote in the comments that the only reason I chose to challenge them is because I didn’t want to study the Sabbath observance. When in reality, I told them, “We can certainly study that after we do this 90 day challenge.” However, they continued to harass me and judge me. So I have decided to tell my readers the reason why I challenged everyone to do this study with me. 

The first reason is because it is INTENSE! It’s nearly 10 chapters daily! Tomorrow, I finish the book of Genesis and Sunday start Exodus. That’s one book in 4 days. This isn’t for the weak or faint of heart! This is an intense reading of God’s word. 

2. The Bible says “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV)

3. The Bible also says “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.”

I felt that asking these people to read the Bible along with me, wouldn’t be seen as a threat or a challenge—rather that it would become a chance for us to read the Bible, discuss various topics. I am certainly open to talking about the Sabbath, but when that is your ONLY point of interest in the Bible, we have nothing to discuss. Needless to say I was turned down and in turn, I was attacked. 

So like Elsa, I decided to “let it go!” I wrote both women an email and explained why we wouldn’t continue in the journey of faith together and I deleted them from Facebook, and blocked them as well. Truthfully, it’s sad…but Matthew 10:14 also tells us “And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.” So tonight, I shook the dust from my feet and walked away. You see there comes a time when even the Savior of the world grew tired of people not listening to his urgent message and there will be time when God tires of your excuses of not accepting His truth. Psalm 81:12 “So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels.”

Friends, I don’t know about you and why accepting this challenge was so hard for two women in light of why I told them to join me; but having to shake the dust from my feet, was hard because you see I am a fighter—my friend Audrey called me the “Giant Killer!” But sometimes, the Giant isn’t yours to battle and you just have to walk away. 

Grace and Peace! 

Challenge Time

Hey Guys! So I want to take a moment to challenge you to join me, in a Bible Reading Challenge...90 Days Cover to Cover the Holy Bible!

Join me at

www.facebook.com/thewitnessandtheservant

faithlife.com/thewitnessandtheservant

HERE of course or email me at the1witness.blogspot.com

I look forward to our time together over the next 90 days

Day one Reading: Genesis 1-15
Day two: Genesis 16-28
Day 3: Genesis 29-40

Are you up to it?

Christians need a "sabbath" but it need not be on Saturday!

5 Years ago, I would have agreed with Katie and Rowena about the Shabbat. However, since I let Jesus take control; well very simply, I am not bound to the letter of the law. If you read Colossians 2:16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. In this verse, Paul takes from what the Jewish people would have seen as the least important broken law to the most important. However, anyone who has accepted Jesus Christ as their savior, isn’t getting a free pass from obeying the commandments, rather they don’t have to follow them to the letter. 

There are some commandments that we follow to the letter and in the spirit; there are some that we follow in the spirit of the Law. The letter of the law versus the spirit of the law is an idiomatic antithesis. When one obeys the letter of the law but not the spirit, one is obeying the literal interpretation of the words (the "letter") of the law, but not necessarily the intent of those who wrote the law. Conversely, when one obeys the spirit of the law but not the letter, one is doing what the authors of the law intended, though not necessarily adhering to the literal wording.

So let’s look for a moment at the 10 Commandments:

I am the Lord thy God, thou shalt not have any strange gods before Me.”
This commandment forbids idolatry, the worship of false gods and goddesses, and it excludes polytheism, the belief in many gods, insisting instead on monotheism, the belief in one God. This commandment forbids making golden calves, building temples to Isis, and worshipping statues of Caesar, for example.

“Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.”
The faithful are required to honor the name of God. It makes sense that if you’re to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, then you’re naturally to respect the name of God with equal passion and vigor.

“Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.”
The Jewish celebration of Sabbath (Shabbat) begins at sundown on Friday evening and lasts until sundown on Saturday. Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox Christians go to church on Sunday, treating it as the Lord’s Day instead of Saturday to honor the day Christ rose from the dead.

“Honor thy father and mother.”
This commandment obliges the faithful to show respect for their parents — as children and adults. Children must obey their parents, and adults must respect and see to the care of their parents, when they become old and infirm.

“Thou shalt not kill.”
The better translation from the Hebrew would be “Thou shalt not murder” — a subtle distinction but an important one to the Church. Killing an innocent person is considered murder. Killing an unjust aggressor to preserve your own life is still killing, but it isn’t considered murder or immoral.

“Thou shalt not commit adultery.”
The sixth and ninth commandments honor human sexuality. This commandment forbids the actual, physical act of having immoral sexual activity, specifically adultery, which is sex with someone else’s spouse or a spouse cheating on their partner. This commandment also includes fornication, which is sex between unmarried people, prostitution, pornography, homosexual activity, masturbation, group sex, rape, incest, pedophilia, bestiality, and necrophilia.

“Thou shalt not steal.”
The seventh and tenth commandments focus on respecting and honoring the possessions of others. This commandment forbids the act of taking someone else’s property. The Church believes that this commandment also denounces cheating people of their money or property, depriving workers of their just wage, or not giving employers a full day’s work for a full day’s pay. Embezzlement, fraud, tax evasion, and vandalism are all considered extensions of violations of the Seventh Commandment.

“Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.”
The Eighth Commandment condemns lying. Because God is regarded as the author of all truth, the Church believes that humans are obligated to honor the truth. The most obvious way to fulfill this commandment is not to lie — intentionally deceive another by speaking a falsehood. So a good Catholic is who you want to buy a used car from.

“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife.”
The Ninth Commandment forbids the intentional desire and longing for immoral sexuality. To sin in the heart, Jesus says, is to lust after a woman or a man in your heart with the desire and will to have immoral sex with them. Just as human life is a gift from God and needs to be respected, defended, and protected, so, too, is human sexuality. Christians regard human sexuality as a divine gift, so it’s considered sacred in the proper context — marriage.

“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s goods.”
The Tenth Commandment forbids the wanting to or taking someone else’s property. Along with the Seventh Commandment, this commandment condemns theft and the feelings of envy, greed, and jealousy in reaction to what other people have.

Now, let’s look at Commandment number 1: No other gods before me. This is a law that we, Christians, keep to the letter and in the spirit. We don’t worship other gods and we don’t put gods before God.  Commandment number 4, has been especially discussed on my facebook page, so let’s look at it, in LIGHT of New Testament teaching, Colossians states that no man can judge us by the day we consider sabbath. My Sabbath is Sunday. I go to church, I worship the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob. I also cease my normal work schedule to spend time worshiping God. However, I don’t follow the law to the letter, I don’t “celebrate shabbat” on Saturday. 

The day I worship falls under a title of non-essential beliefs. The day I worship isn’t going to count against me in light of God’s judgement. 
In Colossians 2:16-17, Paul explicitly refers to the Sabbath as a shadow of Christ, which is no longer binding since the substance (Christ) has come. It is quite clear in those verses that the weekly Sabbath is in view. The phrase "a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day" refers to the annual, monthly, and weekly holy days of the Jewish calendar (cf. 1 Chronicles 23:31; 2 Chronicles 2:4; 31:3; Ezekiel 45:17; Hosea 2:11). If Paul were referring to special ceremonial dates of rest in that passage, why would he have used the word "Sabbath?" He had already mentioned the ceremonial dates when he spoke of festivals and new moons.
The Sabbath was the sign to Israel of the Mosaic Covenant (Exodus 31:16-17; Ezekiel 20:12; Nehemiah 9:14). Since we are now under the New Covenant (Hebrews 8), we are no longer required to observe the sign of the Mosaic Covenant.
The New Testament never commands Christians to observe the Sabbath.
In our only glimpse of an early church worship service in the New Testament, the church met on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7).
Nowhere in the Old Testament are the Gentile nations commanded to observe the Sabbath or condemned for failing to do so. That is certainly strange if Sabbath observance were meant to be an eternal moral principle.
There is no evidence in the Bible of anyone keeping the Sabbath before the time of Moses, nor are there any commands in the Bible to keep the Sabbath before the giving of the law at Mt. Sinai.
When the Apostles met at the Jerusalem council (Acts 15), they did not impose Sabbath keeping on the Gentile believers.
The apostle Paul warned the Gentiles about many different sins in his epistles, but breaking the Sabbath was never one of them.
In Galatians 4:10-11, Paul rebukes the Galatians for thinking God expected them to observe special days (including the Sabbath).
In Romans 14:5, Paul forbids those who observe the Sabbath (these were no doubt Jewish believers) to condemn those who do not (Gentile believers).
The early church fathers, from Ignatius to Augustine, taught that the Old Testament Sabbath had been abolished and that the first day of the week (Sunday) was the day when Christians should meet for worship (contrary to the claim of many seventh-day sabbatarians who claim that Sunday worship was not instituted until the fourth century).
Sunday has not replaced Saturday as the Sabbath. Rather the Lord's Day is a time when believers gather to commemorate His resurrection, which occurred on the first day of the week. Every day to the believer is one of Sabbath rest, since we have ceased from our spiritual labor and are resting in the salvation of the Lord (Hebrews 4:9-11).

John Calvin wrote: There were three reasons for giving this [fourth] commandment: First, with the seventh day of rest the Lord wished to give to the people of Israel an image of spiritual rest, whereby believers must cease from their own works in order to let the Lord work in them. Secondly, he wished that there be an established day in which believers might assemble in order to hear his Law and worship him. Thirdly, he willed that one day of rest be granted to servants and to those who live under the power of others so that they might have a relaxation from their labor. The latter, however, is rather an inferred than a principal reason.

As to the first reason, there is no doubt that it ceased in Christ; because he is the truth by the presence of which all images vanish. He is the reality at whose advent all shadows are abandoned. Hence St. Paul (Col. 2:17) that the sabbath has been a shadow of a reality yet to be. And he declares elsewhere its truth when in the letter to the Romans, ch. 6:8, he teaches us that we are buried with Christ in order that by his death we may die to the corruption of our flesh. And this is not done in one day, but during all the course of our life, until altogether dead in our own selves, we may be filled with the life of God. Hence, superstitious observance of days must remain far from Christians.

The two last reasons, however, must not be numbered among the shadows of old. Rather, they are equally valid for all ages. Hence, though the sabbath is abrogated, it so happens among us that we still convene on certain days in order to hear the word of God, to break the [mystic] bread of the Supper, and to offer public prayers; and, moreover, in order that some relaxation from their toil be given to servants and workingmen. As our human weakness does not allow such assemblies to meet every day, the day observed by the Jews has been taken away (as a good device for eliminating superstition) and another day has been destined to this use. This was necessary for securing and maintaining order and peace in the Church.

As the truth therefore was given to the Jews under a figure, so to us on the contrary truth is shown without shadows in order, first of all, that we meditate all our life on a perpetual sabbath from our works so that the Lord may operate in us by his spirit; secondly, in order that we observe the legitimate order of the Church for listening to the word of God, for administering the sacraments, and for public prayers; thirdly, in order that we do not oppress inhumanly with work those who are subject to us. [From Instruction in Faith, Calvin's own 1537 digest of the Institutes, sec. 8, "The Law of the Lord”]. Historically, the early church assembled for fellowship and worship on the first day of the week, Sunday, not on the Sabbath. Likewise, in the epistles (after Pentecost) we are never told to tithe, but to give as we are prospered from a willing heart. The focus and emphasis of the NT epistles (those books written to guide the church, the body of Christ) is on learning to walk by the control or leading of the Spirit rather than by a set of legal commands.

Eugene Peterson says “Sabbath is not primarily about us or how it benefits us; it is about God, and how God forms us. It is not, in the first place, about what we do or don’t do; it is about God – completing and resting and blessing and sanctifying. These are all things that we don’t know much about……But it does mean stopping and being quiet long enough to see – open-mouthed – with wonder – resurrection wonder…..we cultivate the “fear of the Lord”. Our souls are formed by what we cannot work up or take charge of. We respond and enter into what the resurrection of Jesus continues to do.”

He that remembers not to keep the Christian Sabbath at the beginning of the week, will be in danger of forgetting, before the end of the week, that he is a Christian.
—Sir Edward Turner