The great 19th century Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon is a tough case for the “mental illness is spiritual” camp.
Many in the “mental illness is spiritual” camp are suspicious of contemporary preachers and theologians. But Spurgeon is rightly considered a giant of the faith by this group.
His mental illness presents a dilemma. If you say depression, anxiety and panic are either sins or reflective of a spiritual problem, the greatest preacher in evangelicalism’s history shouldn’t have been near a pulpit.
Because he was often overwhelmed with depression, anxiety and panic.
So did Spurgeon’s anxiety reflect insufficient faith in the promises of Christ, did his fear betray a lack of trust in God, and did his depression mean a Spirit of God that “always produces joy” was missing from his soul?
Further, are critics prepared to argue that Spurgeon could have just spent more time in prayer, studying Scripture, and at church to fight off his mental illness? Because that’s what the “mental illness is spiritual” camp tells the rest of us Christians.
Would they tell that to Spurgeon?
I’d like to highlight a few of Spurgeon’s quotes on these issues.
All are taken from Zack Eswine’s stellar “Spurgeon’s Sorrows” book, which is a deep dive into his sermons and writings, as well as Michael Reeve’s discussion of Spurgeon’s depression.
DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY AS MEDICAL PROBLEMS; NOT SINS
Spurgeon, in a sermon called “The Fear of Death”, and another called “Night and Jesus Not There.”
“There are certain forms of disease which so affect the brain and whole nervous system that depression is a melancholy symptom of the disease.”
And…
“I would not blame all those who are much given to fear, for in some it is rather their disease than their sin, and more their misfortune than their fault.”
It blows me away that the greatest evangelical preacher of the 19th century calls fear a disease and not a sin, that it is “misfortune” more than “fault.” I’m not even sure how often you’d hear that in modern evangelical churches.
THE SUDDEN, INEXPLICABLE ONSET OF MENTAL ILLNESS
From “The Saddest Cry of the Cross.”
“Quite involuntarily, unhappiness of mind, depression of spirit, and sorrow of heart will come upon you. You may be without any real reason for grief, and yet may become among the most unhappy of men.”
And “Night and Jesus not there.”
“There is a kind of mental darkness, in which you are disturbed, perplexed, worried, troubled – not, perhaps, about anything tangible.”
Note that he’s not talking about a causal or triggering event. Depression, anxiety, panic often just hit you – for no discernible reason. Interestingly enough, one of the distinguishing characteristics of a panic disorder is when you can’t find an easily identifiable trigger for the panic attack.
THE FOLLY OF JUDGING THOSE WITH MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS
Spurgeon, in “Man unknown to Man.”
“Especially judge not the sons and daughters of sorrow. Allow no ungenerous suspicions of the afflicted, the poor, and the despondent.
Do not hastily say they ought to be more brave, and exhibit a greater faith. Ask not ‘why are they so nervous and so absurdly fearful?’ No… I beseech you, remember that you understand not your fellow man.”
And from “The Saddest Cry from the Cross.”
“Strong-minded people are very apt to be hard upon nervous folk and to speak harshly to people who are very depressed in spirit, saying ‘really, you ought to rouse yourself out of that state’.”
Pride is a great sin, and spiritual pride is the greatest. Remember the Pharisee who prayed in Luke 18:11, “God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector”.
Jesus didn’t say he was lying, but he also didn’t praise him for righteousness. He instead condemned him for arrogance. His pride wiped away everything else.
When you begin to understand the biological basis for mental illness, you have no room for spiritual pride.
Good health is a gift, faith is a gift, joy is a gift, good mental health is a gift, confidence in God’s promises is a gift. “Every good and perfect gift is from above.” (James 1:17). Who can brag about getting gifts?
SPURGEON’S DEPRESSION AND SUICIDAL THOUGHTS
Spurgeon, in “Israel’s God and God’s Israel.”
“I suppose that some brethren neither have much elevation or depression. I could almost wish to share their peaceful life. For I am much tossed up and down, and although my joy is greater than the most of men, my depression of spirit is such as few can have an idea of.”
And nearly suicidal.
“I could say with Job, ‘My soul chooseth strangling rather than life’ [Job 7:15]. I could readily enough have laid violent hands upon myself, to escape from my misery of spirit.”
And surprised that more aren’t in “Chastisement.”
“I wonder every day that there are not more suicides, considering the troubles of this life.”
Of course, as all Christians should, Spurgeon turned to Christ during his miseries, and sometimes he felt relief, sometimes he did not.
Here is one of his prayers from his autobiography.
“Thou art my Father, and I am Thy child, and thou as a father, art tender and full of mercy. I could not bear to see my child suffer as Thou makest me suffer; and if I saw him tormented as I am now, I would do what I could to help him, and put my arms under him to sustain him. Wilt thou hide thy face from me, my father? Wilt thou still lay on me thy heavy hand, and not give me a smile from thy countenance?”
So to finish — are we prepared to say that Spurgeon didn’t pray, study the Bible, or seek God enough? Are we prepared to say that the Lord often “withheld joy because Spurgeon wasn’t following Christ?” Because if we tell that to Christians struggling today, you’d have to tell that to Spurgeon, as well.
