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.
Remembering the Lord
63-0122 §50
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What think ye of Christ?
54-0321 §15
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Hearing, recognizing, acting on the Word of God
60-0221 §109
..., this young one fellow, he kept hisself away from all of it. When they'd go on their parties, he'd let them go, but he was learning to be an artist. So, one day an old caretaker, which was a Christian that was around the museum, the art gallery, he said, "Let's take a little walk, son. Let's take a walk, I'd like to talk to you a while." He said, "All right." So they went walking up a hill. And both of them with their hands behind them, walked up the hill. The sun was setting. And so the old man said to the young...
Abraham's covenant confirmed
61-0318 §34
I've been kind of hard on the women, but I don't mean you Christian women. I mean those who act like they're Christians, and not. See, wants to be Jezebels (no, sir), after the things of the world. I certainly bear down on them, and I just ... I have to do that. I can't help that. But you have to have a bad one to make a good one shine out. You have to have a night so you can appreciate the daylight. You have to have wrong to appreciate the right. It's all working together to God's good, his glory. You're on a batt...
Beginning and Ending of the Gentile Dispensation
55-0109E §55
Don't that make you feel good? Don't it make you feel like you're all... How many Christians is here? Raise your hands. Everybody believes on the Lord Jesus Christ, raise up your hands. Oh my! What a wonderful thing. Now as we separate, as we go to our different homes, let's go with prayer. Now, let's sing our good old dismissing song. How many knows it? "Take The Name Of Jesus With You." Everybody together now, let's sing. Take the name of Jesus with you, Child of sorrow and of woe; It will joy and comfort give yo...