Spiritual Narcissism

[2 Chr. 34:19]

‘Projection’

 

[charity]

'Be careful for nothing;
.. but in every thing
.... by prayer and supplication
...... with thanksgiving
........ let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God,
.. which passeth all understanding,
.... shall keep your hearts and minds
...... through Christ Jesus.'
(Philippians 4:6-7)

Hello @marks

This has been an interesting thread, and I thank you for it. For there but for the grace of God go each and every one of us. How we need to keep our minds stayed upon Christ: trust in the Lord with all our hearts; and lean not unto our own understanding; in all our ways acknowledge Him; and He shall direct out paths.

The word 'keep' in the verse above, has the meaning of guarding, as with a garrison of soldiers, or by the thorn bushes used in Africa, to fence in and keep the homes of those who would otherwise be exposed to the attack of wild animals. It is the peace of God which garrisons both our hearts, with their emotions, and passions, and our minds.

Praise His Holy Name!

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris

 

[mailmandan]

10 Warning Signs of a Spiritual Narcissist

 

[VictoryinJesus]

My wife and I have worked with the disadvantaged for many years, and over those years we've seen various mental, emotional, and personality disorders, including Narcisistic Personality Disorder. NPD is not being fond of your reflection, it is a progressive and dangerous disease.

I've recently heard the term, Spiritual Narcissism.

From an article in the Vancouver Sun:

Spiritual narcissism works in subtle ways | Vancouver Sun

“Simply stated, spiritual narcissism is the unconscious use of spiritual practice, experience, and insight to increase rather than decrease self-importance,” May writes in Will and Spirit.

Spiritual narcissism infiltrates our egos when we start to identify with “trying to become holy,” said May, who treated addicts before he began supervising ecumenical spiritual directors at the Shalem Institute in Washington, D.C.

Spiritual narcissism, May said, “makes the spiritual quest a self-aggrandizing process rather than a journey of deepening humility.”

The fact is, people have reasons for acting as they do. In some cases, this may have something to do with it. Just some food for thought.

Much love!

tried to read through the thread but it is growing in pages and have struggled to keep up. Up until about four years ago I thought God was a Spiritual Narcissist. That was the voice I heard in the word. An example ‘for My great Name Sake’ what I heard was a tyrant with a gavel shouting and demanding ‘My Name will be made Great!’ Until slowly He revealed who is His Great Namesake ...Hebrews 12:10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

Realize that sounds bad but all I could hear for the longest time in the word was a narcissist woman hater ...but I was wrong hearing mostly maybe my own voice.

 

[Prayer Warrior]

My wife and I have worked with the disadvantaged for many years, and over those years we've seen various mental, emotional, and personality disorders, including Narcisistic Personality Disorder. NPD is not being fond of your reflection, it is a progressive and dangerous disease.

I've recently heard the term, Spiritual Narcissism.

From an article in the Vancouver Sun:

Spiritual narcissism works in subtle ways | Vancouver Sun

“Simply stated, spiritual narcissism is the unconscious use of spiritual practice, experience, and insight to increase rather than decrease self-importance,” May writes in Will and Spirit.

Spiritual narcissism infiltrates our egos when we start to identify with “trying to become holy,” said May, who treated addicts before he began supervising ecumenical spiritual directors at the Shalem Institute in Washington, D.C.

Spiritual narcissism, May said, “makes the spiritual quest a self-aggrandizing process rather than a journey of deepening humility.”

The fact is, people have reasons for acting as they do. In some cases, this may have something to do with it. Just some food for thought.

Much love!

Hi, marks, just a word of caution about using Freudian ideology (narcissism, ego, etc.). Freud was an atheist. He rejected the truth about God and His creation. I studied Freud's ideas fairly extensively while working on a degree in psychology before I was a Christian (and as a new Christian) and see his ideas widely used today.

Any time we use worldly labels to explain sin problems, it removes the spiritual component to the problem and makes it look like we need psychology (man's wisdom) to understand humans rather than what God has said in His Word. I believe that the flesh (sin nature) is by definition self-aggrandizing and self-centered. The Bible calls narcissism "PRIDE." Granted, narcissism is a certain flavor of pride, but it is pride nonetheless. So, the answer to this problem is spelled out in the Bible.

Paul talks quite a bit about the sin nature and the solution to the sin nature, which is death--being crucified with Christ--reckoning the "old man" as crucified/dead. Paul says, "I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh." This is a far cry from what psychology has to offer, which is powerless against sin.

I know that my views on this are not popular, and I'm not up to a heated debate about this. But I may be up to some calm discussion.:)
.

 

[Stan B]

If you are self-centered then you must become Christ-centered as a Christian. Paul said "For to me to live is Christ" and that sums it up.

Can it not be a harmonious marriage?

 

[Bobby Jo]

... Reading through this I realized I may have been dealing with one or two members here who fit this definition. ...

I don't have a mirror, so I wouldn't know. :

Bobby Jo

 

[marks]

Hi, marks, just a word of caution about using Freudian ideology (narcissism, ego, etc.). Freud was an atheist. He rejected the truth about God and His creation. I studied Freud's ideas fairly extensively while working on a degree in psychology before I was a Christian (and as a new Christian) and see his ideas widely used today.

Any time we use worldly labels to explain sin problems, it removes the spiritual component to the problem and makes it look like we need psychology (man's wisdom) to understand humans rather than what God has said in His Word. I believe that the flesh (sin nature) is by definition self-aggrandizing and self-centered. The Bible calls narcissism "PRIDE." Granted, narcissism is a certain flavor of pride, but it is pride nonetheless. So, the answer to this problem is spelled out in the Bible.

Paul talks quite a bit about the sin nature and the solution to the sin nature, which is death--being crucified with Christ--reckoning the "old man" as crucified/dead. Paul says, "I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh." This is a far cry from what psychology has to offer, which is powerless against sin.

I know that my views on this are not popular, and I'm not up to a heated debate about this. But I may be up to some calm discussion.:)
.

Actually there is some good discussion to be had, I think!

NPD is a certain kind of mental illness, as is Major (or Clinical) Depression. I mention Depression because I have it. As a physiological and chemical disorder, it has a pronounced impact on me. And to go along with it becomes my own flavor of sin, as it pulls me from trusting.

But knowing about the chemical activity, and the childhood trauma origins, and so much that goes along with it helps to demystify what is happening in the flesh.

I've found it to be so demystified to me that I realize fear or greed or lust or anger or anything you can name from the flesh is really no different from being hungry. The body wants things, and some of the things it wants are pretty messed up.

I can be as free from the influence of of those feelings in the same way as the pain from stubbing my toe. Just wait through it, it will go away.

And as the mind becomes renewed, they go further and further away.

For me, the key benefit in understanding about Depression is to be more aware of what is happening with me, and with others who share that condition.

Spiritual Narcissism does not depend on a person having faith, or being religious, though it can occur alongside that. It doesn't describe spiritual activity, rather, the activity of corrupt flesh, and in this case, reaching into the spiritual realm. The unbeliever may act like a believer to exert their power, and feed their emptiness. Or the believer may still be gripped in this behavior cycle, though it can be overcome in Christ.

In Christ my depression is overcome. I may still physically and mentally experience it's effects, but spiritual I don't. It's a decidedy odd experience to be feeling hopeless in the mind, but rejoicing in God's love in the spirit. That feeling of hopelessness is an electro-chemical misfire, if you will, but the joy in the Lord is the truth of life. My joy is not dependant on my physical or mental feeling. Though to be sure, I prefer to feel well! But I've learned well that in faith, all is overcome.

I think a lot of people perceive their corruptions of the flesh, including mental disease, as impossible monsters that will never be crushed. Horrible character flaws, deep defects in their psyches, but it's the wounds from sin, that lay across our bodies and minds, and Jesus' death and resurrection give us a new life not found in these things.

I don't think there is a "sin nature" outside of the body of flesh. I think the body and brain, as an electro-chemical organism, host a mind, that use this infrastructure. I think the body of flesh is corrupted, that corruption produces a wrong mind, and that wrong mind produces wrong thinking, and wrong actions. That this is the mind of the flesh.

We have the mind of Christ, and are not subject to the constraints of the flesh. But I've found it beneficial to understand more some of the ways the flesh works.

Much love!

 

[marks]

Until slowly He revealed who is His Great Namesake ...Hebrews 12:10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

Amen!

 

[marks]

I'm a professor of human behavior, and I have some news for you about the 'narcissists' in your life

From the link . . .

A person with narcissistic traits may be mildly self-centered at times, but NPD, on the other hand, is a deeply ingrained, pervasive pattern. These people have an extremely fragile sense of self-esteem (masked by an inflated sense of superiority) to the point where it interferes with normal functioning across a wide range of settings beyond work. Studies show that this may be due in part to brain differences. People with NPD often have less brain matter in areas related to empathy.

 

[marks]

The word 'keep' in the verse above, has the meaning of guarding, as with a garrison of soldiers, or by the thorn bushes used in Africa, to fence in and keep the homes of those who would otherwise be exposed to the attack of wild animals. It is the peace of God which garrisons both our hearts, with their emotions, and passions, and our minds.

Amen!

I rely on that promise!

Much love!

 

[Bobby Jo]

... Studies show that this may be due in part to brain differences. People with NPD often have less brain matter in areas related to empathy.

Apparently evidence shows that Physicians who deal with the trauma of sick patients can experience a decrease in the "empathy" region of their brain. And it may be a self-preservation aspect where otherwise we might have even higher Physician suicides.

Bobby Jo

 

[marks]

Back to NPD. It is the product of FSUD. Family Screwed Up Disorder so the important thing is not to focus on the NPD. Rather get to the bottom of the FSUD.

 

[2 Chr. 34:19]

Hi, marks, just a word of caution about using Freudian ideology (narcissism, ego, etc.). Freud was an atheist. He rejected the truth about God and His creation. I studied Freud's ideas fairly extensively while working on a degree in psychology before I was a Christian (and as a new Christian) and see his ideas widely used today.

Any time we use worldly labels to explain sin problems, it removes the spiritual component to the problem and makes it look like we need psychology (man's wisdom) to understand humans rather than what God has said in His Word. I believe that the flesh (sin nature) is by definition self-aggrandizing and self-centered. The Bible calls narcissism "PRIDE." Granted, narcissism is a certain flavor of pride, but it is pride nonetheless. So, the answer to this problem is spelled out in the Bible.

Paul talks quite a bit about the sin nature and the solution to the sin nature, which is death--being crucified with Christ--reckoning the "old man" as crucified/dead. Paul says, "I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh." This is a far cry from what psychology has to offer, which is powerless against sin.

I know that my views on this are not popular, and I'm not up to a heated debate about this. But I may be up to some calm discussion.:)
.

Exactly. We’re all prideful ‘narcs’ who need/needed deliverance from our old nature :)

 

[Bobby Jo]

Exactly. We’re all prideful ‘narcs’ who need/needed deliverance from our old nature :)

Jesus said we must "love our neighbor as our self"; -- and I'm still working on "loving myself"! ;)


... and my poor wife and children have to put up with me!
Bobby Jo

 

[Enoch111]

... and my poor wife and children have to put up with me!
Bobby Jo

Just ask them to take a break from yourself until you shape up.

 

[Bobby Jo]

Just ask them to take a break from yourself until you shape up.

Do you have a "crow-bar" they can borrow, -- maybe something 10lbs or heavier??? ;)

Bobby Jo

 

[marks]

Apparently evidence shows that Physicians who deal with the trauma of sick patients can experience a decrease in the "empathy" region of their brain. And it may be a self-preservation aspect where otherwise we might have even higher Physician suicides.

Bobby Jo

I didn't know that! The darker side of Brain Plasticity!

Much love!

 

[Bobby Jo]

Jesus said we must "love our neighbor as our self"; -- and I'm still working on "loving myself"! ;)

... and my poor wife and children have to put up with me!
Bobby Jo

Quote: @Heart2Soul likes this!​

Well, you didn't have to "like" it quite SO MUCH! :)

Bobby Jo

 

[Heart2Soul]

​

Quote: @Heart2Soul likes this!​

Well, you didn't have to "like" it quite SO MUCH! :)

Bobby Jo