If I happen to read a self help book,I'd rather read a secular authour but then it's usually something with testimonies like "Chicken Soup". As a whole most of ALL of what we need can be found in Psalms,our relationship to God; and Proverbs, our relationship to man.
Christianity and Self-Help
- Thread starter Musicmaster
- Start date
It occurred to me that Bob was asking about my life after cancer, and I just responded with an "I'm growing old" response rather than about the cancer...
To clear things up, I had my bladder removed about the summer 2012. No sign of returning cancer. It is a measure of my current adjustment that I give my ostomy little thought. I wear an appliance which I periodically empty in the bathroom and attach a tube to drain things at night, but little changes in my day to day life.
But I did not start this way. I had to learn how to live under my current situation. With God's help, I have been able to help others make whatever adjustments they needed.
This is the key to many self help groups. My medical team had tried to give me suggestions and information on how to live the new normal, but until I was living in that manner, and until I had could talk with others that have been there, I could not know.
Sharing insights and encouragement with others has been a blessing and helps me keep my problems in perspective.
Hello Musicmaster;
At times I do get confused by these videos so I don't really watch them. I don't know if the host is making a point against self-help, or if she is promoting pro self-help.
I see a young lady who acts like she has been around the block enduring all kinds of hard knock experience. So whether she is making a point, or sarcastically promoting self help, either way I don't see her as a qualified expert and hasn't seen what has happened the last 80 years, or maybe the last 30.
How do I apply the perspective of self-help in my life and marriage? I'm very old school and straightforward. God always comes first and what He says is His perfect plan. That is my self-help. During His perfect plan I'm going to hit those valleys and setbacks. But the moment I am challenged, I always know God is there and will bring me to His completion.
When things go awry with people's lives, I feel many resort to the world's "self-help system" and apply the "my plan method."
God bless you and thank you for presenting this thread, which gave me time to think.
Hello Siloam;
I do understand self help the way you described with God in the center. This is different than the world's view of self help which I was describing in my post following yours.
I am in reasonable good health but have to deal with type 2 diabetes, taking pills daily and an insulin shot every night. My sister in law who lives with us had the same condition as me but it resulted in her having two transplants, kidney and liver. For the rest of her life she will be under anti-rejection treatment. But the good news is her faith has grown, her health is stable and she seems to take her condition better than me, which is a lesson I can learn.
God bless you, Siloam and your stable good health.
I fully agree that some support groups are indeed beneficial. However, such groups are not necessarily SELF-help groups. What you described is a MUTUAL support group, which can be very good. The initial video in this thread was a direct target painted upon those groupings that build people up in SELF-pride, prompting them to adopt even greater evils in their hearts, such as what the one who wanted to go out and slap men (man-bashers), and other focuses on building up the desperately wicked elements of the human heart.
So, yes, there are good ones, and there are bad ones. No doubt.
MM
Greetings, brother.
One must look at the dominant feature of any one of the groupings. Some focus upon seeking out the truth of given situations in life that can become overwhelming to some, such as those who have survived cancer or some other debilitating, life-threatening diseases. Others help people to find strength in overcoming bad habits in eating, anger management, etc.
Others, as we see depicted in the initial video, focus upon the desperately wicked elements of the rudiments of this world, and thus promoting a level of pride and self-actualizations whereby they see self-pride as the source of their strength rather than to look to their Creator for direction and strength to overcome. That video highlighted a more leftist, WOKE style of self-actualization, which is a promotion of wickedness.
Only one of the group members (although all were played by the same actress) found strength in the more wholesome and godly outplays of what they saw as wrong with the world around them, and therefore sought to influence others in a positive and godly manner. The others.....well, they had it all wrong, and therefore the reason for the warning that video was trying to convey, which is that one must be very careful about the content of many support groups, especially when they promote a more self-centeredness in strength and outflowing hatred.
Does that help?
MM
I think you are describing a unicorn.
Meaning, there's no such thing as a self help group.
Support group, yes, but there can't be a 'self-help' group if you are just helping your own self .
So.. there is nothing to worry about.
As Christians we already have a helper - the holy spirit within you.
Meaning, there's no such thing as a self help group.
Support group, yes, but there can't be a 'self-help' group if you are just helping your own self .
So.. there is nothing to worry about.
As Christians we already have a helper - the holy spirit within you.
I am not sure that everyone caught the fact that the same young lady played all parts, with just a change in hair and clothes to set apart 'characters'.
I do lots of 'talking to myself' which I often term 'meditation'
. In a few years (or sooner), I may become just an old coot that walks around muttering to himself.
While such meditations help with personal understanding and depth, we all need to 'bounce our ideas off' others as well as relevant scriptures and get contrasting views. We should give weight to those who have shown themselves to be wise (not just wise because they agree with us), but give respect to all as individuals, even if they seem less reliable, and avoid the echo chamber of only talking with those in agreement with our personal views.
Proverbs 12:15 (KJV)
15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes:
but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
I do lots of 'talking to myself' which I often term 'meditation'
. In a few years (or sooner), I may become just an old coot that walks around muttering to himself.While such meditations help with personal understanding and depth, we all need to 'bounce our ideas off' others as well as relevant scriptures and get contrasting views. We should give weight to those who have shown themselves to be wise (not just wise because they agree with us), but give respect to all as individuals, even if they seem less reliable, and avoid the echo chamber of only talking with those in agreement with our personal views.
Proverbs 12:15 (KJV)
15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes:
but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
I am not sure that everyone caught the fact that the same young lady played all parts, with just a change in hair and clothes to set apart 'characters'. I do lots of 'talking to myself' which I often term 'meditation'
Hello Siloam;
Yes, we caught the actress playing all parts. I was still confused and asked. MM helped me understand the point of her video.
Keeping Christ in the center and remain steadfast in our hearts in Proverbs 12:15, it's important. When we don't get it, it is wise to ask those who can teach us.
Thank you for that insight, brother.
I am not sure that everyone caught the fact that the same young lady played all parts, with just a change in hair and clothes to set apart 'characters'.
I do lots of 'talking to myself' which I often term 'meditation'
While such meditations help with personal understanding and depth, we all need to 'bounce our ideas off' others as well as relevant scriptures and get contrasting views. We should give weight to those who have shown themselves to be wise (not just wise because they agree with us), but give respect to all as individuals, even if they seem less reliable, and avoid the echo chamber of only talking with those in agreement with our personal views.
Proverbs 12:15 (KJV)
15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes:
but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
WHAAAAAT? I thought EVERYONE muttered to themselves.....in meditation. Heck, I've been doing that all my life.....Why wait until old age and senility when you can enjoy it while young?
MM
Reading a good book (doesn't have to be a 'self-help' book) is just as good as meditation...I'd say even better. You can do it in bed or in a hammock.
If the book has 'you' in the title it's more likely to be a self-help book, like 'Your best life now' cos the author wants the person reading it to feel included.
If the book has 'you' in the title it's more likely to be a self-help book, like 'Your best life now' cos the author wants the person reading it to feel included.