Finding the Root

The root cause theory does not imply that everyone can be classified into three behavior categories or three personality types. Two people can struggle with the same root sin and exhibit it in very different ways.

For example, Mallory flirts with everybody. Her root sin is pride.

Dusten disregards everybody. His root sin is pride.

Two very different symptoms, one root issue.

So how do you work your way from the symptom to the root? Let’s use Mallory as an example.

Why does Mallory flirt with everybody? She likes the attention. But why does she need attention? She’s in a competition to be everyone’s favorite person. Why does she need to be singled out as their favorite? She wants to feel chosen, preferred. Why does she need to be chosen? It indulges her excessively high opinion of herself. Her root of pride is deep.

If you haven’t worked it all the way down to one of the three root issues, then you haven’t asked enough questions, or you’re not asking the right questions. If you try to just keep asking “why” you can probably get there.

By the way, I have changed my whole view on flirting, whether or not it is a sin in and of itself, after reading What Southern Women Know about Flirting. It’s not the most well written book in the world, but the fact that someone actually wrote that down and gave away all our secrets makes it worth a look.