Benediction Manifesto: The Power of the Indwelling Jesus

Top 12 Scripture Texts: Number 6B
Philippians 4:13
Bob Rakestraw

I consider myself a committed Christian—not a perfect Christian, for sure, but a committed one. I desire to follow Jesus completely in his life and teachings and ongoing mission. I also suffer at times from depression. At least it seems to me to be depression. I have never been diagnosed by any medical professional, but from my reading on the topic and taking two brief questionnaires (one was the popular nine-question depression scorecard, known as the PHQ9), it does seem evident to me that I sometimes experience depression. This has especially been true since my heart transplant in 2003.

What I am calling depression is a very real—almost tangible—condition that is similar to but much deeper than discouragement and sadness. It is associated with circumstantial changes and significant loss, and is a wretched foe, always trying to engender despair over against hope. It is a physical and mental condition, and has significant spiritual connections.

Is Depression Always Caused by Sin?

It is this last aspect—the spiritual side of depression—that troubles me when thinking (and writing) about depression, and even when I am experiencing it. It troubles me because of some things I have read and heard about depression by Christians throughout the years. I have received the distinct impression that many Christians are afraid to speak of depression in their lives. The taboo has, thankfully, been lifted gradually and significantly in recent decades, but it is still influential in some Christian circles. Some Christians have been led to believe that depression always involves sin on their part, and that they can overcome the problem by simply choosing to have more faith, more hope, and more joy.

Some Christian teachers tend to think that being both a committed Christian and a person who suffers from depression is a self-contradictory condition. These two sets of circumstances, they say, cannot coexist. Since a committed Christian is one who demonstrates such evidences of the Spirit as joy and peace, then those who lack these qualities cannot be—in times of depression at least—faithful disciples of Christ. By definition, according to this view, depression is a voluntary (partly at least) lack of joy and peace, and therefore the depressed person cannot be a Spirit-filled person. One prominent Christian counselor wrote in the 1970’s, “The hope for depressed persons, as elsewhere, lies in this: the depression is the result of the counselee’s sin.”

While all troubles, individually or as a human race, flow from the fact that this is a broken, sinful world, it is not necessarily the case that every disease [and, in my view at least, the tendency toward depression has an element of disease in it] is the result of the affected person’s sinful thoughts or actions. This may definitely be the case at times, as when a person nourishes self-pity, pride or unbelief, but it actually seems cruel to look down on or speak disdainfully of a depressed person who sincerely desires to live a life pleasing to God.

Having Shalom to do Everything

In our postings from last month we considered the comforting truth of Isaiah 26:3: “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, whose thoughts are fixed on you.” We noted that the Hebrew words for “perfect peace” (shalom, shalom) speak of wholeness, completeness and contentedness, developed in us by God’s presence and power, producing well-being in our social involvements and an awareness of satisfaction and success in our life calling.

This concept of peace relates to the condition known as depression in that it describes the wholeness from which and toward which we steadily grow as we live out our scripture text of the month: “I can do everything through him [Christ] who gives me strength” (Phil. 4:13). Living with a tendency toward depression (which may be an affliction that is not necessarily sinful in itself), yet with a triumphant spirit over its downward pull, is part of the “everything” we can do through Christ. And having the “perfect peace” (shalom) that comes from a place of deep trust in God is the foundation from which we declare the manifesto, “I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me,” and live with the strength God supplies moment by moment.

The apostle Paul, a solid example for those who experience the warfare aspect of the Christian life, undoubtedly was aware of the tentacles of depression, either personally or in his ministry to those suffering from it. Quite likely he wrote his letter to the church at Philippi while he was under house arrest in Rome, about the year 61 (Acts 28:14-31). One of his reasons for writing was to thank the Philippian Christians for the monetary gift they had sent him when they learned of his confinement (1:5; 4:10-19), but Paul also wanted to encourage the Philippians to remain strong in the face of persecution and to rejoice regardless of their circumstances (1:27-30; 4:4). While our circumstances may be quite different from those of Paul and his ministry associates, Paul’s manifesto in Jesus can be a powerful benediction to all of us who are seeking divine assistance in the struggles of life, including depression.

In the original biblical language, Philippians 4:13 is only six words, translated literally: “All things I can do in the one empowering me.” Kenneth Wuest translates this: “I am strong for all things in the One who constantly infuses strength in me” (The New Testament: An Expanded Translation). If we live in him (in the atmosphere and caress of our Creator-Redeemer-Sustainer-Friend), the one who right now (note the participle “empowering”) is strengthening us, we can do anything and everything he asks of us. Whatever he wishes, it is for our good and the world’s good, and he is right now giving us the will and power to do it.

I have applied this month’s scripture to my most significant current struggle—the conflict with depression—and found Christ’s strength within me sufficient to sustain me. Even though he has allowed me to experience significant times of depression since my heart transplant and early retirement from teaching, he continually restores me to the peace and hope of shalom. This is not a once for all conquest (although the foundation for all victory was laid solidly at Calvary, once for all). It is a daily—sometimes hourly—remembering to walk with steadiness in Christ regarding incursions of hopelessness, irritation, anxiety, sadness and fragmentation. There is definitely a choosing of increased faith, hope and joy, but this is not from a place of heroic self-effort. Rather, we approach God with a childlike simplicity, a lack of trust in our own ability, and a desire to rest in the strong arms of Jesus. Then, from this position of human weakness we are able to follow the exhortation: “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

Gems From Spurgeon

I wish to close with some outstanding quotations from the one (other than Jesus, John Wesley, and my wife Judy) who has helped me more than any person in my Christian life, Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892), often referred to as “The Prince of Preachers.” These pieces are taken from 2200 Quotations from the Writings of Charles H. Spurgeon, compiled by Tom Carter (Baker Books, 1988).

“I am the subject of depression so fearful that I hope none of you ever get to such extremes of wretchedness as I go to. But I always get back again by this—I know that I trust Christ. I have no reliance but in him, and if he falls, I shall fall with him. But if he does not, I shall not. Because he lives, I shall live also, and I spring to my legs again and fight with my depressions of spirit and get the victory through it. And so may you do, and so you must, for there is no other way of escaping from it” (pp. 55-56).

“I, of all men, am perhaps the subject of the deepest depression at times. Yet there lives not a person who can say more truthfully than I, ‘My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior’” (Luke 1:46-47; p. 55).

Health Update for Bob Rakestraw

Monday, June 23, Judy and I spent the day at the University of Minnesota Hospital. I had a right heart catheterization, a left heart angiogram, blood work, and (both of us) had a consultation with the cardiologist who performed the procedures. These are the first invasive procedures I have had since November, 2006.

The news was not good overall, but there are a couple of good pieces. The tests showed that the most important artery supplying my heart is 90-99% blocked, all the length of the vessel, so that no stents in this (or other arteries) can be inserted. There is permanent rejection of the transplanted heart. Humanly speaking, the prognosis is that this artery will soon close completely and I will have a major heart attack. Most of the other arteries supplying my heart have also closed more since the 2006 tests, but are not as severely diseased as the major one.

The good news is twofold. A couple of the heart arteries showed some improvement; there is not as much inflammation in them as previously. This shows reversal of the condition in places! The other good news (although the doctor did not present this with a hopeful tone) is that some small corollary arteries have begun to grow toward the most severely affected area of my heart. My brain received signals from that desperate area of the heart and ordered help to the rescue. Truly amazing! And encouraging!

Even though the doctor said there is nothing more that can be done for me except another heart transplant (which I have declined), and even though Judy and I are still trying to sort out Monday’s news, our trust remains firmly in the God and Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is a wise and good God, and filled with compassion. I sometimes feel afraid and troubled when I look at the future, but deep down I sense his loving arms around me, caring for each part of my body and my life and those close to me.

My blog posting this month (http://bobrakestraw.blogspot.com) is on the powerful scripture text, Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through him [Christ] who strengthens me,” and its applicability to depression in my life. I now want to return to writing that, so I can post the piece in a few days. I have a strong hope that I will always be able to state Philippians 4:13 with the assurance I now have concerning my future and the future of my earthly body. It will deteriorate for sure, some way or another, some time or another, but God will never leave me, or you. I know some of you are suffering greatly as well, not only in the physical realm, and I try to pray for you as I become aware of your concerns. Gratefully, we who trust in Christ will all be together one glorious day with new bodies and new outlooks on all of God’s wonders and mysterious ways.

“I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, ‘Look, the home of God is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will remove all of their sorrows, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. For the old world and its evils are gone forever.’ And the one sitting on the throne said, ‘Look, I am making all things new!’ And then he said to me, ‘Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.’ “ (Revelation 21:3-5 New Living Translation)

Benediction Manifesto: Everything through Jesus

Top 12 Scripture Texts: Number 6A
Philippians 4:13
Bob Rakestraw

The name of this blog is “The Benediction Project” because I want everything I write to have the effect of benediction (blessing, divine favor, grace) on you and on those you influence—directly or indirectly. I envision you as a mighty force of young and old, men and women, girls and boys, Asians and Africans, Latinos and Europeans, Americans and Islanders, throughout the earth, being divinely-endowed and divinely-functioning agents of God’s justice, mercy, holiness and peace.

I also think of the Benediction Project as a Manifesto, defined in Webster’s New World College Dictionary as “a public declaration of motives and intentions by a government or by a person or group regarded as having some public importance.” For many years I have governed my life’s work by the Great Commandment of Jesus: Love God and Love your Neighbor. During my service as a pastor and teacher I have been compelled by this twofold manifesto, and I long to declare it publicly for all to hear and follow. The greatest way we can be a benediction to God (yes!) and people is by loving God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength, and loving our neighbors as we love ourselves.

With these thoughts in mind I chose “Benediction Manifesto” as this month’s theme partly because the scripture text we will consider—Philippians 4:13—has a “manifesto” quality to it. The apostle Paul, after declaring his contentment in whatever circumstances he finds himself—especially in financial and material matters—proclaims for all the world to read: “I can do everything through him [Christ] who gives me strength.” He wants to emphasize publicly that whatever God leads him to do, he knows he can do by the grace of Jesus strengthening him. He presents this as a powerful motivating hope for his life and for others and therefore a benedictory, life-giving manifesto for all to hear and live by.

In my next posting a few days from now I want to consider Philippians 4:13 from a different angle than I have ever done before. I want to apply it to the most difficult challenge of my recent life, and I encourage you between now and then to think of the most difficult challenge in your current life, and to ask God to reveal how this text can help you meet it: “I can do everything through him [Christ] who gives me strength.”