Narcissism

Narcissism (def) - an excessive preoccupation with oneself, characterized by an inflated sense of self-importance, a constant need for admiration, and a lack of empathy for others.

It is easy to see why narcissism is running rampant in our society today, because our self-worth is the foundation we have at our core. Narcissism comes from a need for validation, and it is a definite personality disorder. Parts of Narcissism are the persistent demand for praise, attention, and positive feedback from others to prop up a fragile self-esteem. A narcissistic person will never like admitting they are wrong and will always look for the term "No I'm not, you are", is a way for them to protect their narcissistic tendencies. The quicker they are to fire back when corrected shows the disorder is deeper and harder to get to a better life. The Bible speaks to a modern-day Christian narcissist and in 2 Timothy 3: 1-5 Paul writes 2 Timothy 2:You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. ² For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. ³ They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. ⁴ They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God.

The person who is narcissistic will not only be an outwardly proud person, or a person with wealth, but at their core they do not want to be wrong and will fight to the end when shown they are wrong, and they will still have a protective statement to protect that territory. Some of their narcissism comes from feeling "less than" others, and they guard themselves by proving they are right in all circumstances. Paul wrote this to the church in Rome, Romans 12:¹⁹ Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord.

This is particularly dangerous for Christians because they go from others words not being something they can respond to and change, to doing that with God's Word. They will find themselves in a heap of trouble if God's Word says to do something and they say, "No way, not going to do it" and their hearts become more and more distant from following God's word and only following their own standard. They must fight the tendency to always be right because no one is always right except God. This is just another step in the sanctification process that is difficult if this person has narcissistic tendencies. God's Word applies to all believers, whether we agree with it or not!!

They will be the first to accuse and say "Own it" and actually they need to "Own it" before they get in a bad place. No place for narcissism in our Faith Walk.

The Pilgrimage Continues

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David Warren