03/08/24 NARCISSISM

03/08/24 NARCISSISM

Narcissism is when a person self righteously wears a crown that should be cast to the feet of Jesus.
(click on list at end of post to enlarge it)

Secular Humanism is the enemy of God, the Bible and Christian living. Even the names (Secular and Humanism or Humanistic) give it away (though it is seldom realized by the supposed intellectually astute).

Secular and Humanistic education and psychology are traps of destruction, into which Christians are often lured. Part of the success of the deception is that the trap is baited with Christian truth.

If you want truth you must know and agree with God's revelation. When it comes to the dark side (sinfulness) of human ontology, thinking and behavior, the Bible gives us the origin, the nature, the principles and the manifestation, as well as the solution to the problem of that darkness.

Pride is at the root of most sin. Pride is, "exaggerated self esteem." Pride is the sin that turned the arch-angel Lucifer from submission to rebellion against God.
Pride was part of Adam and Eve's failure and fall.
Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Pride is inherent to the sinful nature. It is not a learned attitude, but it can be cultivated and encouraged. Pride must be realized, confessed and turned from. Left alone, it is likely to morph into a monstrous controller.

We are seeing more and more examples of extreme pride today. As sinful as pride is, it can become more powerful, more obvious and more life encompassing.

Psychology often addresses human ills, but of course the problem of pride is seen as something that can be dealt with on the natural level, which may include psychological therapy, medical treatment or re-socialization training.

Remember, pride is exaggerated self esteem. Therefore narcissism is exaggerated pride, or self esteem taken to the extreme.

Though there are problems in Secular and Humanistic psychology, there are also some valid observations, gleaned from life and found in Christian Scriptures. At the end of this post I include a list of twenty-four signs of Narcissism, which I found on Google search. 

This post is simply a warning that pride can and will take over a person's life. In fact, there is so much of this extreme pride in our society that it is almost epidemic.

This should not be a surprise to Christians, since God's word tells us that pride and self love will rise and permeate society.
(notice asterisks *)

2 Timothy 3:1-5
1 This know also, that *in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 *For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, *boasters, *proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, *false accusers, incontinent, fierce, *despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, *heady, *highminded, *lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 *Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

God not only warns us to avoid such people, He warns us to guard against such a life.
James 4:6-11
6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, *God resisteth the proud, but *giveth grace unto the humble.
7 *Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. *Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and *purify your hearts, ye double minded.
9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
10 *Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
11 *Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.

Pride starts early in life. The time to deal with it is in our youth.
1 Peter 5:5-6
5 Likewise, ye younger, *submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and *be clothed with humility: for *God resisteth the proud, and *giveth grace to the humble.
6 *Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: