the relationship between the physical and spiritual
First notes hidden sinful inclinations as ground for it: impatience, discontent, too much love for the material world, selfishness, distrust in God, lack of real submission to the sovereign will of God. Concluded that any fault on the sinful will (for example, a guilty conscience) is the cause of depression.
But carefully distinguishes between physical and spiritual causes of a problem:
“In many case that a large part of the cause is due to bad temper, weakness, diseases of the body, the soul is greatly handicapped by this, but when it comes to such physical needs can be seen that the sinfulness is smaller and less dangerous the soul, no longer a problem, but is minor. “
Then Baxter points out some specific causes of “excessive zeal” which manifests itself as depression. Includes “extreme pain, the body is unable to bear” weakening of mental abilities (such as mental decline of the very old), and “when the brain and imagination go crazy” body for other reasons.
Demonstrates outstanding balance. Baxter recognizes that some depressions are not derived from sin or failure to handle life according to how God says (in fact, at the end of his sermon on depression provides directions for health care!).
But then recognizes the complexity of the relationship between the physical and spiritual.
In the above quotation says that if the condition is of physical origin “would be less harmful or dangerous to the soul.”
There are degrees of sinfulness and accountability. In some cases, when a person’s pain is moderate, its sad decline could be due to trust God. But if the pain is violent and unbearable, the picture of hysteria would have little sin involved.
This is very instructive. Modern research has found the physical and spiritual for everything from addiction to schizophrenia to selfishness. On the one hand there is the danger that biblical counselors ignore this information and insist that virtually every problem derives entirely from deliberate sins. But then we must resist the growing trend to name every problem as a “disease”, on which the patient has no control nor responsibility.
But Baxter is not over.
Expose other two roots as a cause of depression, “this complicated disease of the soul.” Temperament is a factor. Some exhibit a “natural temperament” timid and passionate, though not the primary cause can be seen as inclined to sadness. Compounding the “excessive zeal” and certainly causes people to be more prone to evil than others.
Also focuses attention on the satanic activity as a cause of depression. “I note that the person is sincere melancholy, so much so that the knowledge of the facts of satanic activity would be more comforting than sadness.” Surely the devil has the souls of the wicked, but it is also true that frequent attempts ations against the Saints.
These may include diseases of the body (Job offers as an example) and injected current temptations sinful and blasphemous thoughts in mind.
Baxter notes carefully that Satan can not do what you want against us but we’ll give advantage to do so. You can not break our door, but fall if left open. You can easily tempt a quiet person … laziness, … an angry towards anger toward … a blood lust … ”
It is important to realize that Baxter does not seek pastoral work over Satan directly, addressing him directly and authoritative, commanding, as some do today. Instead, the Puritan seeks to “close the door” we have left open the devil. “Most of the diabolical actions of the soul have Satan as a father and a mother’s own heart.”
Baxter fight against satanic activity allowing the person to feel guilty about not tormented by their sinful thoughts and imagination (which comes from Satan), provided such person does not act after them.
Intrigued by the balance provided by Baxter. Do not believe the satanic activity should be ignored in the diagnosis and treatment. In fact comforts the afflicted person to show the hand of Satan in their problems. Confronts demonic activity with fervent prayer and encourages the believer to use the authority it has against spiritual conflicts. Displays the believer how to remove the “grips” that has given to Satan (as bitterness, for example, see Ephesians 4:27, 2 Corinthians 2:10,11).
However, the Puritan does not qualify the “demon possession” as the main cause of any problems Christian.
Another author, Lovelace, a breakdown of the Puritan approach when he writes that “the remedy may not be regular exorcism but consolation in the fullness of Christ, including better understanding of our authority against demonic agents and strengthen our resistance against them in weak areas of our personality. “
The balance of the Puritans in the knowledge of the roots of personal problems is not replicated in the pastoral practice of modern evangelicals. The directors of today tend to “specialize” in one of the factors described by Baxter.
Some define the personal sin as the cause of most problems.
Others have constructed a method of counseling based on the analysis of “temperament changed.”
Others have developed “deliverance ministry” where personal problems discussed primarily in terms of demonic activity.
And of course, some evangelicals have adopted entirely the “medical model” of mental illness, removing any concept of “moral guilt” of the patient, who needs no repentance but the treatment of a doctor.
But Baxter unfolds before us an objective aperture for the discovery of any of these factors in the diagnosis and shows that in fact they are all expected factors, usually present. Any of them could be major, with which we shall deal first and then tackle the others.
We therefore approach the sophistication of the Puritan as doctors of the soul.
It is true that sometimes make more distinctions account (any reader of a Puritan sermon of 14 points could be reduced to three or four heads!). But unfortunately for biblical counselors today, we are often accused of being simplistic correctly.
We must learn from the careful methods of diagnosis of these fathers of the faith.
[...] Menstrual cycle changes, Pre-menopause, Pregnancy, Psychiatrists Possibility Related Posts:the relationship between the physical and spiritual First notes hidden sinful inclinations as ground for it: impatience, discontent, too much love for [...]
[...] severe depression does not offer many benefits. In the United States, this herb is not approved as a treatment for depression, but in several European countries is used for this purpose. Should be taken with caution since it [...]