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Spiritual Depression is one of the great classics of the modern Church and tackles the big question: If Christianity is such "good news" why are its followers often unhappy? Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones was possibly the greatest Christian preacher and teacher of the twentieth century. A medical doctor by training, Spiritual Depression draws together his professional understanding of the mind with a profound understanding of Christian teaching and the Bible. Spiritual Depression diagnoses the causes of the ill feeling that many Christians experience. It prescribes the practical care that is needed to lift people's spirits and bring them freedom, power and joy. Spiritual health is possible and this book explains how everyone can grasp it for themselves.… (more)
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LibraryThing member BethanyBible
Comprised of 21 sermons that were originally delivered at Westminster Chapel in London, this classic carefully and compassionately analyzes an undeniable feature of modern society from which the Christian has not escaped, spiritual depression. Believing that Christian joy was one of the most potent
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factors in the spread of Christianity in the early centuries, Lloyd-Jones not only lays bare the causes that have robbed many Christians of spiritual vitality, but also points the way to the cure. Show Less
LibraryThing member lauranav
What a wonderful book. It is a scriptural, practical, and encouraging discussion of why a Christian is not happy and steps to take. I used each chapter as a devotion - taking time that day to reflect on it. I was convicted while reading and also by my behavior and mood during the month I spent
The first chapter has a much-quoted (lately at least) bit about why we must talk to ourselves, instead of just letting our self talk to us. "You have to take yourself in hand." Must of the book is about controlling our thoughts, or rather, understanding the need to not let our thoughts and emotions control us.
One part that became convicting this month was in chapter 10
"It is very wrong for a Christian ever to be in such a condition. I do not care what the circumstances may be, the Christian should never be agitated, the Christian should never be beside himself, the Christian should never be at his wit’s end, the Christian should never be in a condition in which he has lost control of himself"
Faith is a refusal to panic. Faith is unbelief kept quiet, kept down.
A wonderful book, one I will return to many times and one I heartily recommend to anyone looking to grow in their walk with Christ.
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reading it. Lloyd-Jones never failed to tell it how it is and encourage me to run to Christ. The first chapter has a much-quoted (lately at least) bit about why we must talk to ourselves, instead of just letting our self talk to us. "You have to take yourself in hand." Must of the book is about controlling our thoughts, or rather, understanding the need to not let our thoughts and emotions control us.
One part that became convicting this month was in chapter 10
"It is very wrong for a Christian ever to be in such a condition. I do not care what the circumstances may be, the Christian should never be agitated, the Christian should never be beside himself, the Christian should never be at his wit’s end, the Christian should never be in a condition in which he has lost control of himself"
Faith is a refusal to panic. Faith is unbelief kept quiet, kept down.
A wonderful book, one I will return to many times and one I heartily recommend to anyone looking to grow in their walk with Christ.
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LibraryThing member nathan.c.moore
This is a collection of 21 sermons that Lloyd-Jones preached on the topic of Spiritual Depression, a broad term he uses as a sort of catch all for various types of unhappiness in the Christian life. Though I felt introduced to very few new concepts, I have a suspicion that is because I have been
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taught by many who have been influenced by Lloyd-Jones' teaching. One of the most helpful concepts he suggests is quite foundational and is the issue of one speaking to himself rather than listening to himself. Lloyd-Jones often refers to this as "apprehending yourself" or taking your heart to task. In his chapter entitled Feelings he says, "your business and mine is not to stir up our feelings, it is to believe" (116).The author states early on "ultimately the cause of all spiritual depression is unbelief" (20). This has too has had a profound impact on my life. Much of this book is the author working this out in many other contexts. Much of his strategy could be summed up by "believe and then act... feelings will come." Perhaps one shortcoming of this book is that some temperaments may find this advice to be a little cold. While in many senses "believe and act" is quite true and the necessary response, what of those who are struggling for hope while stuck in habitual sin... or in a moment of darkness find the faith to act quite small... what then? I would love to have seen him work this out more to make it more accessible to those who are truly depressed.I would have loved to hear this man preach. I imagine he is far more effective as a preacher than a writer. Since these are sermons which were lightly edited for publication, they read much like sermons do. Lloyd-Jones was not a particularly fiery of teacher, but seems to be to be very accessible - a man of the people. The former physician truly seems to be a physician of souls, a quality I very much aspire to develop in my preaching.Some of the chapters I found most helpful were:"Fear of the Future""Where is Your Faith""Looking at the Waves""In God's Gymnasium"I warmly recommend this book and will likely return to it but would suggest that one read only the first few chapters and then the ones that intrest them. Its conversion from sermons to chapters make the book a little long than perhaps it should have been but all in all this is quite good. Show Less
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Original publication date
1965
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DDC/MDS
| 248.485842 LLO |
Pages
300