Do Not Be True to Yourself
Do Not Be True to Yourself: Countercultural Advice for the Rest of Your Life
By: Kevin DeYoung
[On my list of Most Anticipated Books of 2023]
“You should not be true to yourself, unless you have died to your old self and your new self is raised with Christ and seated with him in the heavenly places. The real you is worth letting out if the real you is dead to sin and alive in Christ Jesus.”
A title meant to be provocative. ‘Do not be true to yourself’ is a message you won’t hear on any Disney movie or Taylor Swift album. It’s countercultural and sounds wrong at first, but page after page of this book you’ll be convinced that the statement is true in the context of the Bible.
This is a short book (only 81 pages) that is probably targeted mostly to high school seniors and college graduates, but the principles he relates are beneficial for everyone.
Kevin DeYoung has given many commencement speeches and some of the material in this book is derived from those. His speeches are contrary to the common commencement message of ‘Follow your dreams. March to the beat of your own drummer. Be true to yourself.”
Instead, DeYoung challenges people that our true selves born into sin nature should not be our compass and guidebook. Our desires and passions can lead us astray.
Throughout the book he counters the popular view that our feelings can dictate who we are.
“The world tells us that our identity is found in what we desire. So to deny the fulfillment of what you desire is to deny your truest identity.”
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” - Prov 14:12
Using Scripture and pop culture references to music and movies, DeYoung does a good job of capturing the interest of the reader and makes strong points for the reader to:
Choose to serve the Lord (Joshua 23)
“There will always be enthusiasm for ambiguously defined spirituality. But what about following Jesus day after day, week after week, year after year? God wants our commitment to be single-minded.”
Make a commitment to go to church, especially when you’re away from home and no one will know if you go or not.
“What you do in those first weeks on your own, especially what you do with your commitment to a local church, will set you on a trajectory where Jesus Christ will truly be Lord of your life or where he will be something that you learned as a young person and then left behind.”
Pick the path of righteousness (Psalm 1)
“Sometimes people say, ‘I don’t want a religion with its institutions, and doctrines, and rules. I just want a relationship with Jesus.’ That sounds pious, but it is false. The Psalmist says precisely the opposite. ‘Blessed is the man who delights in the law of the Lord.’”
Surrender fully to Jesus; be all in (Deut 6 and Lev 19)
“This may sound easy enough: just believe in Jesus. But remember “believing” in Jesus is not the same as liking Jesus or being a fan of Jesus… Many people today are happy to be vaguely supportive of Jesus, but they don’t want to go all the way and obey everything he taught, believe everything he said, become a member of his church, and count everything as loss for the sake of Christ.”
You can easily read this book in one sitting. Even non-readers won’t be threatened by this book and do not have to give much in the way of commitment to still hear solid truth.
It makes a great gift for young people who are about to be off on their own and must decide what kind of faith they’re going to have away from the eyes of their parents and those who know them.
I love the reminder that we must be intentional with our faith. God is not asking for marginal followers who are more swayed by their feelings than a devotion to God and his Word.
There are only two ways to live. Which way do you choose?
I also love that DeYoung included a list of books in the back of his book for other great (longer) reads that were influential in his life and faith journey.
“One of the most important things we can do when we are young and our beliefs and opinions have not yet fully formed is to make sure we read good books.”
Here is his list, Surprisingly, at the time of this review I’ve only read one of them. I would also encourage you to browse my site and reviews for Christian Living and Theology. There are so many good books out there to challenge and encourage and inform your faith. Take the time to study and know what you believe in so you can stand firm in the seas of culture that are tossed by every passing wind.
Augustine, Confessions (or try On the Road with Saint Augustine by James K.A. Smith)
John Calvin, Golden Booklet of the True Christian Life
Thomas Brooks, Precious Remedies against Satan’s Devices
John Bunyan, Pilgrim’s Progress
J.C. Ryle, Holiness
G.K. Chesterton, Orthodox
Herman Bavinck, The Christian Family
J. Gresham Machen, Christianity and Liberalism
C.S. Lewis, Abolition of Man
John Murray, Redemption Accomplished and Applied
J.I. Packer, Knowing God
R.C. Sproul, The Holiness of God
Other books that are great for this audience are:
Surviving Religion 101 by Michael J. Kruger
Just Do Something by Kevin DeYoung
Why Believe? by Neil Shenvi
The Slumber of Christianity by Ted Dekker
**Received a copy via Crossway in exchange for an honest review**
This book just released May 16, 2023. You can order a copy of this book using my affiliate link below.
Share this book review to your social media!