Today I just finished reading a book by a popular Christian fiction writer on the subject of depression.  The author seemed to be confused herself on why her character was depressed.  In one place, the reason was because of a hidden sin the character refused to deal with.  But yet in another place, the author tried to push her pro-psychology agenda, making it seem as if the character's depression was surely due to a chemical imbalance.

The psychiatrist figure is nothing more than a way for the character to tell her backstory (the reason for the depression...or is it?) and to give her drugs to quiet the feelings of guilt the Holy Spirit is trying to use to make her change.  (Which is a topic for another blog some day.  Should we ever take medications that squelch the work of the Holy Spirit?)

As I read this book, it dawned on me that in the majority of cases,depressed people certainly do need someone to sit and listen to them, but what does it say about our culture that we have to pay for this?

Isn't taking money for sitting and listening to someone pour their heart out rather like prostituting friendship?  What really is the difference between paying someone to satisfy your sexual desire that God intended to be gratified in a committed marriage relationship and paying someone to satisfy your need for emotional openness that God intended to be gratified within a godly friendship?

When did we decide that we could bare our innermost being to a complete stranger much easier than a brother or sister in Christ?  And where do we see that change in the Bible?

Perhaps the reason depression is reaching epidemic proportions in the Christian community is because Christians are not helping each other as friends, but they are choosing to pay a "professional" to do what their brothers and sisters should do.  They are choosing a friendship prostitute over a godly relationship.

God's been using His children to counsel His children for thousands of years.  Isn't it time we woke up and stopped letting the popular culture determine how we deal with our problems?  Isn't it time to stop using friendship prostitutes and use the real thing instead?

"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."  James 5:16