Should A Minister Be Able To Preach?

[BrotherEastman]

Originally Posted by Encryptus

Depression- your original question, has NOTHING to do with "hearing voices"

If you are suggesting on starting a thread on how to you know if the voice you are hearing is of God- that would be a different theme altogether.

Sounds almost as though you have a particular "friend" in mind. Visiting with a professional should be paramount if there is a possibility of psychosis.

But I thought that if someone heard voices, it was because they were depressed.

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

Two thoughts:


1. Elijah under a juniper and then in a cave.

2. Jonah underneath it all.


Did God use them during their depression?

No. He sat them down, told them to repent of their depression, and refuse to use them until they got right with him and becamse perfect.



Then there's the other side of the coin which says, God used a donkey so the fact that they were depressed doesn't mean it's ok to be depressed.

[BrotherEastman]

Originally Posted by Ronzo

Stay with us Easty... don't drift off into la-la-land.

sorry.

[dizzyde]

Originally Posted by BrotherEastman

But I thought that if someone heard voices, it was because they were depressed.

If someone is hearing voices, depression is not the issue. That is not a symptom of depression. Someone who is hearing voices should probably be seen by a mental health professional (read doctor) as soon as possible.

[Scott Hutchinson]

If my understanding is correct isn't depression due to a chemical imbalance with the brain or something,so if a minister is getting help and taking medication why couldn't he preach ?
People preach who have physical conditions and such due to issues in their body.
If people preach who have medical conditions then ,couldn't someone who suffers from a chemical imbalance preach as well ?

[Jack Shephard]

Having known someone that went through the lose of a child and almost going nuts in the process for him what happened was the church board and other friends called a meeting to discuss this type of thing. What happened was the church brought several different ministers in and did two week revival type deals. I can not remember the amount of men that came and preached, but this went on for about a year. The man stayed as pastor, but it took awhile for him to get back in the pulpit and the truth is the man was a better minister and preacher than he was before.

I said all that to say this, I think it is very important to surround yourself-as a minister- with people you can trust no matter what happens. You will know that no matter what goes on they have yours and the church best intrest at heart. Having a good base group such as a church board or advisory board made up of ministers out side that local assemblycould be key in getting around these types of things as they arise.

[BrotherEastman]

Originally Posted by Scott Hutchinson

If my understanding is correct isn't depression due to a chemical imbalance with the brain or something,so if a minister is getting help and taking medication why couldn't he preach ?
People preach who have physical conditions and such due to issues in their body.
If people preach who have medical conditions then ,couldn't someone who suffers from a chemical imbalance preach as well ?

Where would his faith be if he had to take medications? Would that in of itself disqualify him?

[BrotherEastman]

Originally Posted by JTULLOCK

Having known someone that went through the lose of a child and almost going nuts in the process for him what happened was the church board and other friends called a meeting to discuss this type of thing. What happened was the church brought several different ministers in and did two week revival type deals. I can not remember the amount of men that came and preached, but this went on for about a year. The man stayed as pastor, but it took awhile for him to get back in the pulpit and the truth is the man was a better minister and preacher than he was before.

I said all that to say this, I think it is very important to surround yourself-as a minister- with people you can trust no matter what happens. You will know that no matter what goes on they have yours and the church best intrest at heart. Having a good base group such as a church board or advisory board made up of ministers out side that local assemblycould be key in getting around these types of things as they arise.

Did this minister get away from the church setting for awhile?

[Scott Hutchinson]

Originally Posted by BrotherEastman

Where would his faith be if he had to take medications? Would that in of itself disqualify him?

If The Lord was agains't doctors and medicine what did Luke write books of the Bible ?
No I don't think taking medicine disqualifys one from Christian service.

[Rhoni]

Originally Posted by James Griffin

Agreed.

As one who experienced clinical depression about 10 years ago, I can attest it is still stigmatized. If not for the intervention of an observant friend I might not be here. She recognized the signs.

And yes at the time I was successfully carrying on an active felony trial practice. A professional speaker can mask.

It turned out to be a serotonin imbalance corrected by a few months of SSRIs.

Pet peeve is those who believe they are some kind of "happy pills", if your serotonin is NOT out of whack they don't have an effect.

Bro. Griffin,

You are correct about misdiagnosis in the past. The signs and symptoms have lent credence to the diagnosis and let's face it...in the past the church has looked at depression as something you can just 'get over' and should.

A chemical imbalance can be helped with short-term medication treatment to right the neurotransmitters in the brain. The neuro-transmitters are like telephone wires that the right side of the brain and the left side of the brain utilize to communicate/send messages. If the communication is interrupted by a chemical imbalance then a person exhibits syptoms such as; an inability to concentrate, inability to make decisions in the individulas best interst, inability to function at a level conducive to 'normal' adult daily living, and it plays havoc with intimate relationships then medication tx is the best treatment.

Thank God for someone who saw the signs and symptoms you were exhibiting and pointed you in the right direction. I only refer clients to psychiatrists if they are unable to participate in therapy because of lack of concentration and inability to function. Unless one is diagnosed with a serious mental illness such as; schizophrenia, bi-polar, chronic manic depression, or any of the above with active psychosis in which long-term use of medication tx is necessary to function, then a few months combined with counseling should be sufficient to get back on track.

I agree with those who said that a preacher's ability to function despite situations which cause temporary depression is what is important. I think some people just like to infere in God's business and decide when a preacher/minister should not minsiter anymore. These pillars of the church need a good prayer meeting and an attitude adjustment. God doesn't need their help.

Blessigns, Rhoni