Hatred For Self

I've heard this said by Dr Robin Smith a lot on the Oprah show. Dr Robin Smith is a renowned psychologist on the show. When drug abusers, people with extremely low self esteem or morbidly obese people are interviewed on the show, Dr Smith often proposes Hatred For Self as the root cause.

I've always thought what it's really like being in their shoes. How can someone hate himself? Why do they hate themselves? It's somewhat an ironical concept in a self-centred and selfish world.

I heard this again yesterday during Alan's sermon in the tertiary service.

Here's a copy of my notes:

How To Experience God's Transforming Power
1 Timothy 1:12-17

Alan Tea

1. Realize that God thinks the best of us.(v12)
-"the worst of sinners"
-God thinks the best of us, despite what we think about ourself
-1 Cor 1:26-30, Ps 139:13-16
-there are some whose survival is based on self praise, their confidence derived from the opinions of others on them
-sometimes things are meant for the HIGHER good

2. Accept that God wipes away our past.(v13)
-hardened criminals have died inside, they've lost the sense of guilt, chosen to ignore their conscience
-are we like that? Hardened? Chosen to ignore the Spirit?
-Isaiah 61:10, Lamentations 3:22-23
-if today you can accept that God has forgiven you, then you can start to accept yourself. If you find that you hate what you see inside, then you may not have accepted the fact that God has forgiven you
-Mat 19:19, you cannot love others like yourself if you don't love yourself to start with

3. Receive every good thing that God wants to give us.(v14)




It's funny, sometimes as Christians that we have not accepted the fact.