The Sin of Narcissism

[StillStanding]

Originally Posted by Truly Blessed

I just preached on this point today. My message was, "When Self-will Challenges Divine Authority" and I even mentioned this song. I preached from Jeremiah 5, which is one of the most startling passages in the Bible and though written to Judah, certainly describes where our society is today.

Here is an exerpt from my message;

Jeremiah 5:24 says, “They do not say to themselves, 'Let us fear the LORD our God, who gives autumn and spring rains in season, who assures us of the regular weeks of harvest.' This is a natural process. When God is pushed away and self-will takes over, it is necessary that God be excluded from any involvement in supplying our needs. There is more a tendency to say, “Look what I have done” or sing “I did it my way” rather than to say, “Look what the Lord has done” or sing “I did it God’s way”.
There are many scriptural warnings regarding self-dependency. Paul tells us in IITim.3:1-5, “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.


Most people like to feel that they are totally in charge of their lives. The last thing they want is for some preacher to disturb them with what the Bible has to say. They would rather have someone confirm the way they are living. They want someone to tell them how good things are and that things are going to get even better.

In Jeremiah 5:30-31 the prophet says, "A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land: he prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?”

“There is no fear of God before his eyes. For in his own eyes he flatters himself too much to detect or hate his sin.” (Psa.36:1-2)

Good post!

It's nothing more than psychobabble! Let's stop trying to bring that wicked worldly philosophy called "psychology" into the Church and call what was decribed what it really is: the sin of PRIDE.

Originally Posted by Berkeley

"I did it my way" ...who sings that?

I believe Frank Sinatra origianlly sang this. It has been redone many times I believe. Most notiably by Elvis, Barry Mantilow and I believe a rapper did a version of it.

Originally Posted by Rhoni

I have heard tell of a church in which the Pastor tells the people : Hold the spiritual gifts; I know that the spirit of the prophet is subject to the prophet but I have never known why a Pastor would refuse to let them operate.

I have been in a service where someone spoken in tongues out of order...it is obvious, but to routinely tell the people not to use the gifts...what is wrong with this picture?

Maybe as a Pastor you have a different view for me to understand this better?

Blessings, Rhoni

I believe the best answer to this is when Paul said to let every thing be descent and in order. I believe he was talking of spiritual gifts when he was saying this. If the pastor did this every time a gift was being operated then I would question it in my mind for sure. That being said a pastor has to take in to consideration what the Spirit is doing and where it is leading. Too many times Spiritual gifts are looked on as mind boggling if I can put it that way. When in reality they are to be controled just like any other function in the church. Paul seems comfortable with this type of control when speaking about the use of the gifts of the Spirit in Corinthians.

Originally Posted by Pianoman

Nathan, This is a subject of which I was interested in hearing differing opinions. I have not yet formed my own opinion. Here is where I'm leaning:

In the church, especially in Apostolic circles it seems, there is a parsing of beliefs which leads to a disconnection within the Apostolic community. Individual beliefs on any given subject will trump fellowship with a community of believers.

On an individual basis, one may disagree with a belief such as paying tithes. The narcissistic person will choose to go it alone, rather than belong to community that believes in tithing. It's kind of like "Me and Jesus have our own thing going on!" We don't need anybody else!

Carpenter's thoughts on this subject have also hit home.

I believe this is why the local church Pastors should come together more often and discuss these issues. We have hundreds of conferences where a man or a group of men get up and teach or preach which are needed. But I don't see meetings where these men come together and disscuss differences. I see the apostles seemingly doing this often in the book of Acts. Just my thoughts.

[StillStanding]

Originally Posted by slave4him

I believe this is why the local church Pastors should come together more often and discuss these issues. We have hundreds of conferences where a man or a group of men get up and teach or preach which are needed. But I don't see meetings where these men come together and disscuss differences. I see the apostles seemingly doing this often in the book of Acts. Just my thoughts.

You may be on to something here, salve4him!

Most conferences are designed to encourage the community of believers and pat each of them on the back.

What about a conference to debate and discuss issues that are dividing us, like the new church did in the Bible?

[revrandy]

In a way we all have a little Narcissism built in us I think... some more than others...

Concerning Church at times I think that it becomes that way from Pastoral Territory and the some of the battles that ensue...

it also carries over into the I'm right/Your wrong therefore we can't get along dept..

It's amazing that we preach concerning the Scripture "Every Man did right in His own eyes" and there is a dichotomy in the Fellowship or for lack of a better term the Organization.. somewhat doing the same thing we say we are against...

[Scott Hutchinson]

If I understand My Lord correctly,He tells us that we must take up our crosses and die daily.
And many in the first century were literally crucified for following Christ.
This business of loving one's neighbor as themselves,does not fit in Modern Christianity.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Pianoman

Narcissism describes the character trait of self love.

Christopher Lasch defines a narcissistic culture as one in which every activity and relationship is defined by the hedonistic need to acquire the symbols of material wealth, this becoming the only expression of rigid, yet covert, social hierarchies. It is a culture where liberalism only exists insofar as it serves a consumer society, and even art, sex and religion lose their liberating power.

He claims that, in such a society of constant competition, there can be no allies, and little transparency. Any real sense of community is undermined -- or even destroyed -- to be replaced by virtual equivalents that strive, unsuccessfully, to synthesise a sense of community.

Dan Scott has been speaking about how narcissism has crept into the church. Todays narcissistic culture believes that your own personal relationship with God is all that matters. They don't submit to ordained church leadership. They don't feel a need to belong to a family of believers.

Dan mentioned that their theme song is, "I did it MY WAY!" He called it Hell's THEME SONG!

It's all about ME ME ME ME ME!

I think this should be in the General folder for everyone to read. I think too in the "Church" this sympton is evidenced by preaching that is mostly of what you can get out of God...how if you so a seed God will make you rich and also themes like Joel Osteens "Your best life now"...as though that is all that matters. Also little to no preaching on sin and the need for repentance and holiness.

Originally Posted by Praxeas

I think this should be in the General folder for everyone to read. I think too in the "Church" this sympton is evidenced by preaching that is mostly of what you can get out of God...how if you so a seed God will make you rich and also themes like Joel Osteens "Your best life now"...as though that is all that matters. Also little to no preaching on sin and the need for repentance and holiness.

When reading this a message I heard came to my memory. One of the best messages Ive ever heard. It was titled "blessed to be broken" preached by Brother Floyd Odom at BOTT (1996 I think). He talked about how most of our songs are Blessed assurance, I am Blessed, etc.. You never hear songs like Lord Break my will, Lord if you do not bless me today then atleast let me be broken before you.