Welch uncovers the spiritual dimension of people-pleasing in what the Bible calls fear of man.
When People are Big and God is Small
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
145 of 148 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Welch has written a gem on the need for us to realize how great God really is and how we need to stop fearing other people so much!
The focus of Welch's book is to have a greater healthy fear of God to the point that other people have less power and control over our lives.
The points Welch describes in his book include:
1. The fear of God is the best treatment for the fear of man.
2. Jesus was not a people-pleaser.
3. Having more fear of man than God is idolatry.
4. When we fear God we think of ourselves less.
5. When we spend more time with God, opinions of ourselves and what others think of us matter less.
6. We should love people more and need them less (only God can truly provide for our needs).
7. We love others because God first loved us.
8. When God is reduced to our feelings, He becomes less awesome to us while people become larger.
The "fear of God" may be defined as having a healthy reverence for God - He loves us and does not want us to be so afraid of Him that we are scared of having a personal relationship with Him.
Read the book and be encouraged to be more concerned about what God thinks and less concerned about what other people think!
53 of 55 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I'll have to admit, I was a little leery of this book from the title - peer pressure, codependency - come on, another Christian psycho-babble book? But I read it since a friend was reading it and I'll admit - I was wrong. When People Are Big is an outstanding book that has something to say about the self-centered psychology of Freud and Maslow - it's all focused on the wrong thing: man. Welch, himself a Ph.D. recipient in counseling psychology chooses to focus on God's Word as the source of truth and understanding regarding the nature of man. His basic concept is that man is created to bring glory to God and in saying this notes that God has designed us with certain "needs" or "desires" that are to be fulfilled by God Himself. The problem arises, according to Welch, when we replace the proverbial God-shaped vacuum in our lives with temporal things of this world that are not only unable to satisfy our longings, but in fact prohibit God from being able to! As man turns to self for "actualitization," he finds that his highest purpose doesn't really supply meaning or significance. Only in a proper relationship with God through the sanctifying work of Christ on the cross can man truly understand his true nature and true self.
Ultimately, Welch argues, the problem with man is low esteem for his Creator. If we truly lived before an Audience of One, Welch believes that many of our daily "problems" would be solved with a proper perspective - we would see ourselves in a proper light and we would see that we are not the source of that light, but created to be the reflectors of it to others. One of the great paradoxes of the Christian life is truly understanding ourselves - totally depraved and unworthy of salvation, yet by the grace of God we are made into heirs to the throne clothed with the righteousness of Christ Himself! The key, Welch states, is our ability to realize that this transformation from rags to riches is not based upon who we are or what we can accomplish, but rather on the work of a Holy and Merciful God.
This is a great book for every Christian today - we all have problems and trials we face, we all have people that we give too much power over our lives, we all need a greater appreciation for and understanding of the majesty of God. Welch concludes that if we could just understand what Scripture is seeking to show us, that our lives would be radically transformed - not only a saving grace would be ours, but a sanctifying grace that would overflow into the lives of those around us - even those we despise and dislike! Francis Schaeffer wrote a classic little book titled The Mark of a Christian and in it claims that the world will know we are Christians by our love for each other - Welch agrees with this sentiment and helps us understand why we haven't arrived at this place yet!
Ultimately, Welch argues, the problem with man is low esteem for his Creator. If we truly lived before an Audience of One, Welch believes that many of our daily "problems" would be solved with a proper perspective - we would see ourselves in a proper light and we would see that we are not the source of that light, but created to be the reflectors of it to others. One of the great paradoxes of the Christian life is truly understanding ourselves - totally depraved and unworthy of salvation, yet by the grace of God we are made into heirs to the throne clothed with the righteousness of Christ Himself! The key, Welch states, is our ability to realize that this transformation from rags to riches is not based upon who we are or what we can accomplish, but rather on the work of a Holy and Merciful God.
This is a great book for every Christian today - we all have problems and trials we face, we all have people that we give too much power over our lives, we all need a greater appreciation for and understanding of the majesty of God. Welch concludes that if we could just understand what Scripture is seeking to show us, that our lives would be radically transformed - not only a saving grace would be ours, but a sanctifying grace that would overflow into the lives of those around us - even those we despise and dislike! Francis Schaeffer wrote a classic little book titled The Mark of a Christian and in it claims that the world will know we are Christians by our love for each other - Welch agrees with this sentiment and helps us understand why we haven't arrived at this place yet!
48 of 52 people found the following review helpful
By Jonathan Koh
Format:Paperback
I read a lot of books but this book is one of the few that i would re-read again and make notes so that i can really get a good grasp of its wonderful and convicting teaching. It is also one of the few books that i can say really challenges my thinking and living.
This book also got me more interested in counselling and "Christian" psychology. Some of the views written challenges many common Christian Psychology/counselling teachings - he challenges some of Larry Crabb's views.
But besides these "differences" (which i need to look more into), i think this book is an excellent read - especially for Christians who are in leadership positions. There is always a tendency to be controlled by the opinions of man, and thus in Welch's terms, succumb to a fear of man, rather than to be controlled by what God teaches, therefore be a God fearing Christian.
This book calls us to deny ourselves, to crucify our ungodly desires for popularity, fame and good opinions of man. It calls us to see God as bigger than man and once we do that, we will start to fear God and not man. Wonderful thought-provoking, life- and attitude-challenging stuff.
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Published 16 days ago by SP
5.0 out of 5 stars
small book with big insights =)
This is a great book with biblical insights for every people-pleaser on this planet... basically everyone, whether or not you think you struggle with the fear of man. Read more
Published 24 days ago by stQ
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of my faves
i love this book. It really challenged me to think differently about pride and relationships. I have recommended it several times and have seen several lives changed from it.
Published 1 month ago by Tiara Lujan
4.0 out of 5 stars
A shift in our view of man and God
Welch's book is a different view of the world that attempts to bring God to the forefront of our minds and lets the world's condemnation of us fall away. Read more
Published 1 month ago by ellispapers
4.0 out of 5 stars
A great book on seeing yourself as you are.
REMINDS ME THAT NO MATTER HOW BIG OR ABLE I AM I AM TRULY SMALL NEXT TO GOD. HE SUPPLIES ALL I NEED BUT IT SHOWS ME WHAT IT IS THAT I NEED AND HOW AND WHERE I AM CONFUSED.
Published 1 month ago by Leslie B. Julian
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent book for self examination.
Made me do a lot of sould searching. Wish I had read it years ago. Lot of scripture to reinforce what was said.
Published 1 month ago by Jolean K. Gross
5.0 out of 5 stars
When people are big and God is small
What a refreshing book! It makes us look at how we truly don't think God can do anything. The author reminds us that God does everything! HE is sovereign ! Great book!
Published 2 months ago by Valerie
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How to Be Satisified With nWho You Are
This book is full of useful information for me to refere to in my conciliation work. Well worth the price.
Published 2 months ago by Kenneth N. Miller
