Spiritual depression - Lloyd-Jones - III - Chapter 3

Required reading

Spiritual Depression by D. M. Lloyd-Jones (available from Amazon) - Read Chapter 3. 

My notes and thoughts
Now Lloyd-Jones uses the blind man who was healed by Jesus in stages as an illustration: spiritually depressed people are only able to partly see.  What they do not see clearly is that (i) they have no proper understanding of certain doctrines; (ii) they have a heart that is not fully engaged; (iii) they have a divided will.  The reasons that this has happened is through (i) not liking clear-cut religion; (ii) never fully accepting the authority of the Scriptures; (iii) not being interested in doctrine; and (iv) not taking the doctrines in the right order.  The principles for the cure is to (i) avoid making the premature claim that your blindness is cured and (ii) to avoid feeling there is no cure.  Then you should use the cure which is to submit yourself fully to Christ by coming to the Word and starting with the promises. 

I thought the section on people not liking clear-cut religion particularly insightful: '...these people [the spiritually depressed] generally object to clear-cut definitions; they dislike clarity and certainty.  We need not at this point go into the specific reason for this.  I think they object to clarity of thought and definition because of its demands.  The most comfortable type of religion is always a vague religion, nebulous and uncertain, cluttered up with forms and ritual.  I am not suprised that Roman Catholicism attracts certain people.  The more vauge and indefinite your religion, the more comfortable it is.  There is nothing so uncomfortable as clear-cut Biblical truths that demand decisions.'  It always amazes me how vague preachers that never clearly articulate what they believe have some of the largest churches.  Truth is, it shouldn't surprise us.  A vague teacher leads to vague demands which is a very comfortable situation for both parties. 

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.