Depression Through A Biblical Lens: A Whole-Person Approach

by Jim Halla

People with bad feelings and feeling-directed behavior—anger, fear, worry, depression—usually are given a psychiatric label. Initially, Dr. Jim Halla was comfortable with that approach, until he came to realize that people must be evaluated based on a proper understanding of the Bible.

When that happens the whole person (thinking, wanting, and doing) will be considered—not just outward behavior and feelings. Feelings, their generation and the person’s response to them, will not be the major criteria for some label or the target for treatment, medical and otherwise. Rather, thinking and wanting that leads to bad feelings will be the target of the Christian helper—friend, pastor, counselor, and physician. Thinking, wanting, and doing—thereby feelings, will be evaluated using the filter of biblical truth.

The truth sets people free as they apply it to their situation with the goal of pleasing God. Biblically-controlled thinking and wanting will replace sinful thoughts and desires. Biblically-controlled actions will follow.

Turning the patient to the root and heart of the issue—his thinking and wanting and his relationship with Christ—is the first step in helping the person get victory in his problems, not necessarily out of them. Victory, God’s way, won’t come until we view all feeling states, and man, from a biblical perspective.

Genres: Counselling

130 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 17, 2014

About the author

Jim Halla, husband and father, is a native of Texas but now resides in Spartanburg SC. He practices rheumatology and has served as a ruling elder for years. He has authored several books, including: Pain: the Plight of Fallen Man; True Competence in Medicine: Practicing Biblically-Based Medicine in a Fallen World; Endurance: What It Is and How it Looks in the Believer's Life; Joy and Grief: God's Answer for Hard Times; and Being Christian in Your Medical Practice. He has authored a number of scientific articles addressing various clinical issues encountered in the daily practice of rheumatology.

Reviews

[Blake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Depression Through a Biblical Lens, by Dr. Jim Halla, is a short(126 pages), concise, yet very informative book on this critical issue. Halla is a doctor of rheumatology and a biblical counselor, and he brings much insight from both the medical world and the world of Biblical counseling. He's authored a number of books, all of which serve as great fodder for discussion about counseling and medical issues. This book on depression will give the reader some very specific things to chew on regarding their world view about counseling issues, about the diagnosis of ailments such as depression, and will challenge the reader to give thought to the Biblical understanding of feelings, as well as the answer to the problem of depression. Other resources that can also add to an understanding of this topic are books by Dr. Charles Hodges (Good Mood, Bad Mood); Dr. Edward Welch (Looking Up From the Stubborn Darkness); Dr. Daniel Berger II (Depression: Not a Sin, Not a Sickness); and Dr. Wayne Mack (OUt of the Blues). All are excellent resources for studying depression.

[Sharayah Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The content of this book is good, although it is hard to comprehend at times. I would recommend it more to those helping others through depression than to those who are struggling with depression.

“In progressive sanctification, the believer will increasingly become more like Christ as a whole person. In place of living by his feelings (a “me-first” life directed by “I want” and “I deserve” and the person’s own set of rules for his benefit), the believer is motivated and directed by biblical principles through the work of the Holy Spirit. Generally, changed feelings follow. But even if they don’t, the believer is more concerned with pleasing God than with having good feelings.” (pg. 21)

[Frans Kempe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Looking at depression through a whole person approach.