The Need to be Liked

Chapter 2

What are you willing to avoid conflict? What would you do to be liked?

The Need to be Liked

Perverse Approval explores the spiritual, psychological, and cultural bondage of seeking human validation at the expense of divine identity. Drawing on Scripture, theology, and modern psychology, Jason Theodore shows how trauma, temperament, and culture distort the God-given desire for affirmation into the idolatry of approval. “Perverse Approval” is the fear of man that replaces the fear of God (Proverbs 29:25). Its origins are in trauma, where conditional love teaches the soul to equate worth with performance, and how this pattern manifests in abusive relationships and identity issues.

Perverse Approval Promo

In Perverse Approval, Bishop Jason Theodore exposes one of the most subtle and destructive traps of the modern believer: the need to be liked. Blending Scripture, psychology, trauma insights, and cultural stories, he reveals how the desire for affirmation—good in its design—can become twisted into bondage when shaped by fear, pain, or broken identity. Through biblical narratives, relatable case studies, and practical reflections, Theodore shows how trauma, temperament, and culture train us to chase the applause of others rather than the approval of God. From toxic relationships to performance-driven faith, he uncovers how the fear of man erodes spiritual strength and distorts purpose. This book is a call back to freedom. A call to stand firm in the Father’s unshakable delight. A call to live with courage, wholeness, and the confidence that God’s approval is the only one that truly matters. #PerverseApproval