Can Christians Take Antidepressants?
1) Direct Answer
Yes. A Christian may take prescribed antidepressant medicine under proper care, with prayer and faith in God as the true Healer, so long as it does not lead to bondage, loss of sobriety, or become a substitute for repentance and trust in the Lord.
2) Scriptural Explanation
- The Bible shows that practical helps for the body are permitted. “Use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities” (1 Timothy 5:23). That wasn’t unbelief; it was a measured, need-based help.
- Paul traveled with “Luke, the beloved physician” (Colossians 4:14). God did not condemn the presence of a doctor among His people.
- The Good Samaritan used oil and wine on wounds (Luke 10:34), showing the lawful use of remedies.
- Yet healing is God’s work: “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church… the prayer of faith shall save the sick” (James 5:14-15).
- We must not be ruled by anything: “I will not be brought under the power of any” (1 Corinthians 6:12). And we must keep a clear, Spirit-led mind: “Be not drunk with wine… but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18).
- God also addresses the inner life: He gives “the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness” (Isaiah 61:3), His peace guards the heart and mind (Philippians 4:6-7), and we cast all our care upon Him (1 Peter 5:7).
3) Simple Clarifying Logic
- You see, some afflictions are mainly physical, some are wounds of the soul, and some are heavy spiritual oppression. A pill cannot forgive sin or cast out a devil, and a sermon cannot replace food, rest, or a necessary aid to the body. So we seek the Lord first, obey His Word, receive prayer, and, when needed, use lawful helps without condemnation.
- Medicine is a tool; God is the Healer. If a measured, doctor-directed treatment helps stabilize the body while you feed on the Word and walk in obedience, it’s not unbelief. But if any drug begins to rule you, dull your sobriety, or excuse disobedience, that’s wrong.
- Guard the order:
- Go to God first—prayer, repentance, confession, and the anointing of the elders.
- Stay in the Word, praise, fellowship, and clean living.
- If there’s ongoing need, use prescribed treatment wisely, avoid self-medicating, review it regularly with trustworthy care, and give thanks to God.
- Don’t condemn those who are struggling. Strengthen them. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and binds up wounds. He restores both mind and heart.
4) Reinforcing Statement
Now notice, the Bible never tells you to refuse help; it tells you to refuse bondage and unbelief. Keep Christ first, keep your mind clear, walk in the light, and let every remedy sit under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. God heals—sometimes instantly, sometimes by process—but always to the glory of His Name.
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What did the Laodicean Church Age (our age) Angel (- messenger) Say about this?
Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
There is only One Way provided by God for anything
63-0731 §104
...he blood of Jesus Christ, that all-sufficient blood, that... Through that life that was in that blood, that's now in our hearts, we've been changed from what we once was to Christians. We once was doubters; now we're believers. Our sins are under the blood. "He that will confess his sins shall have forgiveness." We have confessed our sins, and we have forgiveness. Now we stand no more... Our sins are in the sea of forgetfulness. We can no more be accused of sin. We have confessed it. We made things right. And now,...
Images of Christ
59-0525 §17
It's been told me by authorities that before they had the days of the smelter to take the dross out of gold---take the iron and the pyrite... The pyrite is so close like the real gold, till it's called the fool's gold. But the way they got all that out, that they beat it out with a hammer. The Indians used to do that. And the old goldsmiths used to do it: beat it with a hammer, and turn it over and over, and beat until all the dross was out of it. And the only way that they knew that it was down to the gold, was wh...
The principles of Divine healing
51-0923 §32
...along the road. He's got people who tries to impersonate something. He's got people... Devil's got people that impersonates a Christian, try to make people believe they're Christians when they're not. But that don't take away the value of a real Christian. To my opinion, it makes him conspicuous. And that's the same thing on divine healing. There's people go around with a bunch of work up and fanaticism, calling it divine healing. That don't take away the value of God's Word and His death at the cross. It only mak...
Why many Christians struggle to live the Christian life
57-0303A §42
...s," but that mainspring was still ticking. He said, "Death, where is your sting? Grave, where is your victory? Show me where you can scare me. Show me where you can make me take the cross off. But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." You see it? What is it? Who are you? How big are you, anyhow? Or who are you anyhow? Walk around the town, you and I, and a hundred-and-fifty pound body is only worth eighty-four cents. But brother, you act like you own the country. And that don't e...
Testimony
53-0510 §14
...n to the hospital." Well, I said, "It's against the rules for me to leave the place here and go to the hospital. I'm praying for your boy." I said, "By the way, are you all Christians?" "No." "Why," I said, "look! If the little... If you want a favor out of me, find a favor of me first." I said, "You ought to become Christians. Maybe God would have mercy on your little boy, and would spare his life. But if you become a Christian, you might find favor with God, and even if God takes the little boy. He's just a lad;...