Telling Yourself the Truth by William Backus

Author:William Backus
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2010-07-02T16:00:00+00:00

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1. Christian weight-loss organization with chapters all over the U.S.

2. Isaiah 41:10.

3. James 1:12.

4. 1 Corinthians 15:58.

5. Ephesians 3:16.

6. Philippians 4:13.

7. Matthew 4:10.

8. Luke 21:19.

9. James 4:7.

10. Philippians 4:12.

11. Philippians 4:19.

12. Romans 8:1.

13. John 15:5.

14. 2 Corinthians 5:17.

15. Galatians2:20.

16. Isaiah 44:20.

17. 1 John 4:4.

CHAPTER EIGHT

The Misbelief in Self-Hate

Arnie is 29 years old. He suffers with intense anxiety attacks. He is nervous, tense and often feels depressed for seemingly “no reason at all.” At home he frequently has outbursts of temper where he flies into a rage over small things. Outside the home he is usually as gentle as a lamb; on the job he has been called Mr. Nice Guy, and in his church he has been known as the person who will do anything for anyone, Good Old Arnie.

Arnie has been people-pleasing for years. He has done what he has felt people expected of him. The major decisions in his life such as education, marriage, and a career choice were made largely through the influence of others. When he had the approval of others, he felt he was doing right. He felt worthwhile when he was approved of and pleasing others.

When he was a teen-ager, it was very important to him that he be accepted as one of the crowd. He worked hard at being popular, cool and “with it.” He was well liked by the other teenagers and had many friends. He was also popular with the girls.

There wasn’t anything unusual about his behavior because being liked and fitting in with the group is important to all teenagers. It’s at this stage of life that fear of social rejection is greater than the child’s fear of being hurt or dying. Arnie was an average teen, then, you might say, because he pursued being liked and approved of by others.

But then Arnie graduated from high school. Most of his friends went to the State University, so Arnie went to the State University. Drugs and booze were now the big thing. Arnie followed the crowd. His friends got high, so Arnie got high; his friends had loose morals, so Arnie had loose morals. His parents worried about him because he was missing school. Everybody’s pal, Arnie, began to flunk out after two semesters.

He managed to stay in school on probation, but many of his friends were dropping out. Some of them were getting married. Arnie began to date a girl who didn’t smoke or drink, which pleased his parents, and they encouraged the relationship. Arnie wasn’t sure he wanted to be serious with her and about the time he was making a decision to break up, she disclosed the news that she was pregnant.

Arnie married the girl, as was expected of him. He dropped out of school entirely, abandoning the idea of evening classes, and took a job in his father-in-law’s company, where he works to this day.

Three years ago Arnie and his wife had a conversion experience and they gave their hearts to Jesus Christ. Their two children are Christians and love the Lord, too, and they are an active family in their church.

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