What do you think?
Rate this book
Why Do I Do What I Don't Want to Do?
William Backus, Ph.D., founded the Center for Christian Psychological Services. Before his death in 2005, he was a licensed clinical psychologist and an ordained Lutheran clergyman. He wrote many books, including the bestselling "Telling Yourself the Truth" (coauthored with Marie Chapian). Marie Chapian is a Christian counselor and author or coauthor of more than thirty books, including the bestsellers "Telling Yourself the Truth" and "Free to Be Thin". She founded Marie Chapian Ministries in 1982 to teach and equip the body of Christ. She lives in Southern California.
141 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1984
23 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 21, 2024
TWO PSYCHOLOGISTS TRY TO ANSWER THE APOSTLE PAUL'S QUESTION
Author William Backus has also written books such as Telling the Truth to Troubled People, Telling Yourself the Truth, etc. Marie Chapian has written books such as Discovering Joy (Heart For God Series), Of Whom the World Was Not Worthy, etc.
They wrote in the Introduction to this 1984 book, "Mental and spiritual well-being cannot be complete without coming to grips with 'Why Do I Do What I Don't Want to Do?'... With this book we want to help you identify the problem and the course of defeating behaviors, the reason you hurt yourself and remain trapped. With the powerful principles revealed here, we believe you can be free from the bondage of doing what you don't want to do... But just KNOWING principles is not enough. That is why we've written this book as a workbook, a guide and counselor to help lead you to a time of discovery and change." (Pg. 10)
They say, "God is the ultimate psychologist and He had laid out foolproof guidelines for our mental well-being. As you work through this book, you will discover the correlation between your misbeliefs and sinful and neurotic behavior in your life. You will see how sin and neurotic behavior are closely related. This relationship exists because they each result from misbelief." (Pg. 25) They suggest, "Let's invent a new word---orthopistis. 'Ortho' means straight, right, correct. 'Pistis' is belief, faith. The word 'orthopistis' would mean right faith. That is what we need to overcome any sin." (Pg. 38)
They state in the concluding chapter, "We have discussed in this book how to identify our self-talk, to question it and to replace it if it is based on misbeliefs. With such knowledge, and God's grace, we are able to change. Without change ... Although we are carrying these precious items, they have no effect on us whatsoever." (Pg. 138)
This book, about a topic of general applicability, is of ongoing interest to Christians looking for "self-help" in book form.
Author William Backus has also written books such as Telling the Truth to Troubled People, Telling Yourself the Truth, etc. Marie Chapian has written books such as Discovering Joy (Heart For God Series), Of Whom the World Was Not Worthy, etc.
They wrote in the Introduction to this 1984 book, "Mental and spiritual well-being cannot be complete without coming to grips with 'Why Do I Do What I Don't Want to Do?'... With this book we want to help you identify the problem and the course of defeating behaviors, the reason you hurt yourself and remain trapped. With the powerful principles revealed here, we believe you can be free from the bondage of doing what you don't want to do... But just KNOWING principles is not enough. That is why we've written this book as a workbook, a guide and counselor to help lead you to a time of discovery and change." (Pg. 10)
They say, "God is the ultimate psychologist and He had laid out foolproof guidelines for our mental well-being. As you work through this book, you will discover the correlation between your misbeliefs and sinful and neurotic behavior in your life. You will see how sin and neurotic behavior are closely related. This relationship exists because they each result from misbelief." (Pg. 25) They suggest, "Let's invent a new word---orthopistis. 'Ortho' means straight, right, correct. 'Pistis' is belief, faith. The word 'orthopistis' would mean right faith. That is what we need to overcome any sin." (Pg. 38)
They state in the concluding chapter, "We have discussed in this book how to identify our self-talk, to question it and to replace it if it is based on misbeliefs. With such knowledge, and God's grace, we are able to change. Without change ... Although we are carrying these precious items, they have no effect on us whatsoever." (Pg. 138)
This book, about a topic of general applicability, is of ongoing interest to Christians looking for "self-help" in book form.
April 10, 2023
Thought provoking, very good advice, however a couple of the parts rubbed me the wrong way. Saying depression is sloth and can be cured by changing your thoughts seems like sort of dangerous advice. Some people truly do need medication, counseling, etc to get help with a chemical imbalance in their brain. They mentioned the murderous man lusting after his mother- he definitely needed a psychiatrist and probably some meds! Simply changing his thoughts would not have helped him- very dangerous! Overall though, looking past these two points, the rest of the book was well written and helpful.
March 26, 2014
not bad
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews