Depression after reading the Bible

[Anihilus]

Robert, I can say that I know exactly what you are going through.

I have come to a point where I have decided to stop fooling myself and grasping at straws to try and convince myself I am saved.

If you aren't seeing fruit, have no desire to read the Bible, and are stuck in sin, you aren't saved. Being convicted of sin does not mean you are saved.

Read Galations5:22-23

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."

Do you see this in your life? This is not just talking about general happiness, joy, love, etc. It is talking about these things towards Christ, His word, His will, His person.

If not, I would not have much hope of salvation.

Let me ask you this, do you really believe that a true Christian can not read God's word for two months and not go insane?

I know how it is to go through feeling condemned and convicted when you read, to the point of not wanting to read, and see how far away from Christ you are, but, do you think it is a good idea to stop reading and go play violent video games instead?

Let me ask you another question, why do you play video games? Should not your time be better spent praying and reading scripture? Remember what Luke 13:24 says.

"He said to them, "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to."

Also, remember what Christ said in Matthew 5:29-30

If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

Are you making every effort? Are you striving? Are you gouging sin out of your life? We need to look over everything we do and determine if it is time spent striving or time wasted on vain things.

As for your computer, I also had worries similar to that with things that I dearly held on to. I struggled with it for many months and eventually got so tired with it I got rid of it.

Tell me, do you think it is worth holding on to? To you prize it over Christ? Don't make excuses and be honest with yourself, if you do, get rid of it. I know it is hard but in the end it is one less thing to worry about and getting rid of the stabbing thoughts of "do I get rid of this?" is well worth it, how much more if it is an idol!

I think you need to sit down and be honest with yourself, pick up your Bible, and read it and pray. Neglect everything else if you have to; your job, your family, food, friends, activities. Nothing is more important than your soul, even though it is extremely hard to focus on it in an unconverted state.

As for looking back in the past at those years of sin that you were in, you need to stop. We are not called to figure out if you have sinned away your day of grace or not. You can either sit around and worry about that untill you are sick at your stomach and on the floor with cold fire running through you or you can press on seeking mercy if it is to be found.

I can look back over these last 9 months and see that this whole time, I have been throwing a pitty party hoping God will come and rescue me out of it. It is only through the word of God that I have seen that this will not happen and it is up to me to seek Him while he may be found.

I know what it is to have this Scrupulosity. It is extremely hard to pray and keep focused on what I am reading, yet, what can be done but press onwards?

Nowhere did the Bible promise Christianity was a pleasure cruise to heaven.

Remember Hebrews 2:1-3

We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him.

Don't neglect, I know it is hard and I struggle with it everyday but we must keep focused if we are to make it through that gate and enter God's rest.

 

[RobertZ]

Robert, I can say that I know exactly what you are going through.

I have come to a point where I have decided to stop fooling myself and grasping at straws to try and convince myself I am saved.

If you aren't seeing fruit, have no desire to read the Bible, and are stuck in sin, you aren't saved. Being convicted of sin does not mean you are saved.

Read Galations5:22-23

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."

Do you see this in your life? This is not just talking about general happiness, joy, love, etc. It is talking about these things towards Christ, His word, His will, His person.

If not, I would not have much hope of salvation.

Let me ask you this, do you really believe that a true Christian can not read God's word for two months and not go insane?

I know how it is to go through feeling condemned and convicted when you read, to the point of not wanting to read, and see how far away from Christ you are, but, do you think it is a good idea to stop reading and go play violent video games instead?

Let me ask you another question, why do you play video games? Should not your time be better spent praying and reading scripture? Remember what Luke 13:24 says.

"He said to them, "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to."

Also, remember what Christ said in Matthew 5:29-30

If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

Are you making every effort? Are you striving? Are you gouging sin out of your life? We need to look over everything we do and determine if it is time spent striving or time wasted on vain things.

As for your computer, I also had worries similar to that with things that I dearly held on to. I struggled with it for many months and eventually got so tired with it I got rid of it.

Tell me, do you think it is worth holding on to? To you prize it over Christ? Don't make excuses and be honest with yourself, if you do, get rid of it. I know it is hard but in the end it is one less thing to worry about and getting rid of the stabbing thoughts of "do I get rid of this?" is well worth it, how much more if it is an idol!

I think you need to sit down and be honest with yourself, pick up your Bible, and read it and pray. Neglect everything else if you have to; your job, your family, food, friends, activities. Nothing is more important than your soul, even though it is extremely hard to focus on it in an unconverted state.

As for looking back in the past at those years of sin that you were in, you need to stop. We are not called to figure out if you have sinned away your day of grace or not. You can either sit around and worry about that untill you are sick at your stomach and on the floor with cold fire running through you or you can press on seeking mercy if it is to be found.

I can look back over these last 9 months and see that this whole time, I have been throwing a pitty party hoping God will come and rescue me out of it. It is only through the word of God that I have seen that this will not happen and it is up to me to seek Him while he may be found.

I know what it is to have this Scrupulosity. It is extremely hard to pray and keep focused on what I am reading, yet, what can be done but press onwards?

Nowhere did the Bible promise Christianity was a pleasure cruise to heaven.

Remember Hebrews 2:1-3

We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him.

Don't neglect, I know it is hard and I struggle with it everyday but we must keep focused if we are to make it through that gate and enter God's rest.

Thank you! very well exactly what I needed to hear! I dont have much time right now because I have to get outside and mow the lawn before my wife kills me but I would like to say that the big shocker for me was when I started to really read my Bible my eyes began to open up and see a complete different God from what the churches are teaching today.

I think part of me is really really aggravated at the churches today for not preaching the true gospel and the other part of me is completely terrified because for the first time in my life I am seeing the true God of the Bible and not some fairy tale God that so many people preach about today.

Honestly? how many pastors really preach on the seriousness of sin anymore? not many that I know of.


The Church I am attending now however is a church that is led by a true man of God who preaches the TRUE gospel and the TRUE God of the Holy Bible and I consider myself blessed to be a part of that church.


So many people these days only talk about the mercy and forgiveness of God as if it is something that you can always come back to but hardly no one talks about the other side of God at all. You know........the JUST side of God.

 

[trentlogain2]

　
There were times in my life when I would read the The Bible and get depressed. This was a sign that my heart wasn't right with God. I know exactly what mad me depressed. I won't get into the details. I can say by my own personal experience that other than the times when I wasn't in fellowship with Christ, that the Word brought everything including happiness to my lfie.

 

[Jazmyn]

I guess I believe in what can be known as easy believism and only trusting Jesus alone for the atonement of sins... is one saved.

Also, there is no condemnation in Christ.

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1)

I would agree, only more, it says "there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus," (Rom. 8:1) this 'now' applies always, both now and it will serve just as well for us in the future.

Okay, this will sound stupid but im gonna say it anyway. I feel like if I dont get rid of my gaming computer that God will not forgive me and will damn me to Hell.

There.......I said it.

Sounds like you suffer from false guilt and condemnation, maybe this verse will help, "Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us." (Rom. 8:33-34) Feel free to talk any time, sounds like you need help through this.

If you aren't seeing fruit, have no desire to read the Bible, and are stuck in sin, you aren't saved. Being convicted of sin does not mean you are saved.

But the Holy Spirit convicts of sin, when it is sin, (false guilt is just the conscience), it means you have the Holy Spirit "with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." (Eph. 4:30), yes it says not to grieve Him, and we must help each other overcome sin, but it doesn't mean we aren't saved.
"If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing." (1 Cor. 13:3) Causing people to fear can't make them love. They must know the love and grace of God to love Him back.

Also, on trouble with verses like Hebrews 6:1-8 verse it is good to read the commentary:
"Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

6:1-8 Every part of the truth and will of God should be set before all who profess the gospel, and be urged on their hearts and consciences. We should not be always speaking about outward things; these have their places and use, but often take up too much attention and time, which might be better employed. The humbled sinner who pleads guilty, and cries for mercy, can have no ground from this passage to be discouraged, whatever his conscience may accuse him of. Nor does it prove that any one who is made a new creature in Christ, ever becomes a final apostate from him. The apostle is not speaking of the falling away of mere professors, never convinced or influenced by the gospel. Such have nothing to fall away from, but an empty name, or hypocritical profession. Neither is he speaking of partial declinings or backslidings. Nor are such sins meant, as Christians fall into through the strength of temptations, or the power of some worldly or fleshly lust. But the falling away here mentioned, is an open and avowed renouncing of Christ, from enmity of heart against him, his cause, and people, by men approving in their minds the deeds of his murderers, and all this after they have received the knowledge of the truth, and tasted some of its comforts. Of these it is said, that it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance. Not because the blood of Christ is not sufficient to obtain pardon for this sin; but this sin, in its very nature, is opposite to repentance and every thing that leads to it. If those who through mistaken views of this passage, as well as of their own case, fear that there is no mercy for them, would attend to the account given of the nature of this sin, that it is a total and a willing renouncing of Christ, and his cause, and joining with his enemies, it would relieve them from wrong fears. We should ourselves beware, and caution others, of every approach near to a gulf so awful as apostacy; yet in doing this we should keep close to the word of God, and be careful not to wound and terrify the weak, or discourage the fallen and penitent. Believers not only taste of the word of God, but they drink it in. And this fruitful field or garden receives the blessing. But the merely nominal Christian, continuing unfruitful under the means of grace, or producing nothing but deceit and selfishness, was near the awful state above described; and everlasting misery was the end reserved for him. Let us watch with humble caution and prayer as to ourselves."
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Because you are clearly repentant, I think those condemnatory verses in the bible don't apply to you.

An easier way to deal with sin is to say to the Lord, "I can't deal with" and hand it over to Him, and let Him into that area of your life. It has worked for me many times. Also, another bit of advice for anyone reading is, you probably know by now the things and thought patterns that eventually lead to commiting sin, therefore, stop it there, don't go further, don't start that thought pattern, then you will have cut it off at the roots - what that pluck out your eye passage is about - and so you won't end up committing that sin if you stop it at the beginning of the process. Since evil desires are what lead to being dragged off and enticed. Also don't feed your sin. If you know something you watch or read always causes you to sin, stop watching or reading it. Simple.

The not turning grace into an excuse for sin is already covered in the bible, and I don't think it requires some whole new movement claiming only it teaches the real truth. "Why not say--as we are being slanderously reported as saying and as some claim that we say--"Let us do evil that good may result"?" (Rom. 3:8) That's not what the gospel of grace is about, I don't know why some insist on painting it that way.

RobertZ, I think maybe for you reading the whole of Romans might be a good place to start reading the bible again. It contains the basis of the Christian faith.

(When people type mysterious bible passage numbers it incites my curiousity, so...)

Ephesians 5:25​

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