The Enemy in the Camp Part 3: Narcissism
In this section I will touch on the subject of narcissism and the damnation it brings.
This is a topic that is difficult to approach with any compassion, so I will be blunt in my understanding of scriptural teaching concerning narcissism.
We get this word from the Greek mythological being Narcissus, a man so obsessed with himself he rejected everyone. He was said to be so consumed with the beauty of his own reflection that he died of a broken heart because he was separated from it.
The narcissist, just like Narcissus, demands attention. (I will add here one of the common traits of unclean spirits is what I call the, “Look at me flag.” Narcissists always want and demand recognition for what they have done or are doing).
These spirits want you to be aware yet somehow hiding at the same time. What I mean is this: they use the individual as a target rather than revealing their evil intent. A narcissist wants attention and refuses to admit any wrongdoing on their part. It is almost impossible for them to apologize for anything, and they commonly point the finger at others when confronted with their own bad behavior. “Everyone is wrong except them,” is how the narcissist views life.
They cannot be pleased unless they are the center of attention; everything is about them. They are quick to give advice and point out the shortcomings of others. When confronted with a situation where they have done wrong, they immediately portray the victim's position. Revealing their bad behavior is, in the mind of the self-centered, seen as persecution.
They are rarely loving or understanding in their self-righteousness. Any revealing of their manner is met with self-pity as if they are being unjustly singled out, or with a vicious confrontation. A narcissist will often attack the inadequacies of others for no other reason than they perceive others as a threat to their own imagined elevated status.
Although often quietly, the narcissist is despised and, just as Narcissus shunned in many aspects, because they are extremely unpleasant to be around, more often the narcissist will self-separate due to their own imagined piety. Narcissism is pride in its ultimate form. When dealing with a narcissist, you are dealing with the personality of Satan himself. Remember it was pride that caused Lucifer to rebel against God. Pride was the reason Lucifer was cast out of Heaven, and pride is why Lucifer lost his name and became “Satan”!
The following verses explain the traits of narcissism: 2 Timothy 3: 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
Now, I ask that you reread that verse, paying attention to this: we were given a description and then a directive. The directive is to avoid these that are spoken of—people that exhibit these traits are to be avoided. Why? Because these traits are the traits of Satan and are not natural to man as he was created but only as he was corrupted.
The narcissist is, in fact, wicked and exhibits the traits of the unclean spirits. They are, as the Scripture states, lovers of themselves and not lovers of God! In my research, I cannot find any possible way for a narcissist to enter the narrow gate of Heaven, because narcissism is the antithesis of God. It is not humble, it is not compassionate, it is not long-suffering, it is not loving, it is not helpful, … and so on. Narcissism is in no way godly, but in all ways it is evil.
From what I have witnessed, it appears impossible for the narcissist to set their mind on things above, because their focus is entirely on themselves, they are their own idol and have no god nor do they worship anything other than the thoughts in their selfish desire, just as Narcissus did.
I do not think it is wrong to expose the wrongs of the narcissist, but we must understand the enmity in them is powerful, and it can only be changed by the will of God. Every time they are exposed, the narcissist will rebel so there will be confrontation (you just never know how it will occur), and then they will seek pity or portray themselves as being oppressed.
Narcissism is a powerful evil and must first be battled in prayer and fasting. This should be the absolute first approach because it is a seeking of God and not a work of man. Christ told us He will fight our battles and go before us, therefore seeking God must be our initial move in this battle of the adversary’s personality.
Let us never forget that all things are either from God or of the adversary. Are we not told our battle is not against flesh and blood?
The most difficult thing I have ever encountered in my years of teaching is that people cannot seem to separate their humanity from the spiritual. I believe this is a great deception Satan has convinced the populace of that it’s about the flesh and that we are fleshly beings rather than spiritual beings in a vessel of flesh.
When we find ourselves in the place where the spiritual realm is considered primary to all things, then we begin to gain understanding of the true battle that is happening around us. It is our spirit that we must nurture and protect, and in which we must worship, in obedience to the Lord our God. Realizing good for good and evil for evil.
When I wake, I pray that God gets in my head before I do.
Kenneth Kellar
A Man Called by God to Teach and Disciple