Suffering the Christian Narcissist
Pride comes before the fall; and pride goes before destruction (Prv 16:18). This biblical warning has universal application for unbelievers and also for believers in Jesus. It is insidious how easily a man considers himself more highly than he ought (Rom 12:3).
Pride is in the heart of man. It is a poison to all the sons of Adam. For the children of God, it is imperative to crush this monster because pride boasts in self and not in God…who alone is worthy of all praise. In fact, the Christian’s regular boast in Jesus Christ is one key weapon to mortify the sin of pride (1 Cor 1:31).
The children of the devil take their cue from their father (Jn 8:44; 1 Jn 3:10), Satan, who inspires the natural man in his rebellion against God. The devil is a liar and the father of lies. Pride is a lie.
The Christian who denies the doctrine of the total depravity of man (Gen 6:5; Is 64:6; Jer 17:9; Rom 1:18–32; 3:10–12, 23; 8:7) is at a severe disadvantage in the suppression of this arrogant disposition. Without the convincing conviction that men are wretched creatures at enmity with God, the Christian is already living on the slippery slope.
The wisdom of the world finds nothing offensive with pride. If one does a good job or is beautiful, clever, intelligent, athletic, popular, etc. then pride is an acceptable position…in moderation, of course. The pride of man may even attach his success in life to God, even imagining his prosperity is the result of God’s favor. He would never consider that he has been turned over to the reprobate mind.
In his elevated view of himself, man promotes himself as the way. Unprovoked, he is ready to tell endless stories of himself and his prowess. In addition, he positions himself as the chief evaluator of everyone else’s way of doing something. The arrogant judge of ways and judge of men demands submission to his opinion.
Pride is the bane of youth, especially for competitive high achievers. Seeking the win, the boasting body of sin and death expects accolades. Worse is the old fool who is past his prime of observable performance. Relying on professional titles, testimony of his older peers who remember his eminence, and the endless tales of faded glory, the illustrious man of pride labors to keep his reputation in the limelight.
The spirited self-centered man is a loquacious lover of his own voice. He has something to say…always. His stories are best. Just ask him. He will tell you another one. He is a well-rehearsed tell tale of tall tales, with himself as the inevitable hero.
The Christian narcissist is a peculiar wonder. Is it not written? Has he not heard? Has the Holy Spirit failed to convict him of sin? Why does the flesh prevail in this egotistical braggart? What does the church do with this man, who may be a significant financial contributor?
First, in this world, the temptation to pride is ever present. It is the preacher who must expose this evil openly…often. Christians must know the dangers of pride and be warned from the Word of God. Pride invites the wrath of God against the ungodly and the unrighteous. It also entertains the discipline of God the Father, who instructs His children to walk humbly with Him (Mic 6:8), as did Jesus (Phil 2:5–11).
Second, it is the Holy Spirit who reproves and rebukes this affront to the Almighty. Conviction is the prompt for repentance. Listen to what a man says about himself and how he says it. The recipient of the grace of repentance will insist on a low view of himself (Acts 5:31; 11:18; 1 Tim 1:15). He knows the Lord is near, and the chastening of his loving Father is remembered.
Third, because pride is the mother of so many other sins, scarlet is the predominant hue of the harlequin. The levity of the clever jester, regarding his own lawlessness, is his comedic charade. His humor is a decoy, a deception. This self-centered buffoon we call a brother is not being led by the Spirit.
Finally, Christianity is solemn, not dour. The church must listen to her members. It must squelch the evil spirit of the heart’s ostentatious intruder. When the Spirit is quenched, demons prate and preen. Only the Word of God can squash the haughty.
Every local church needs the Spirit-filled man of God, saturated with the Word of God, to contest the conceited. The know-it-all must know the Lord. The smug hubris of man-centered sinners must be corrected. Another egotist may be suited to expose pretension in his brother, but his confrontation only exacerbates the problem of pride in both parties. For this reason, preaching the Word of truth from the pulpit, against the pride of man, is the best remedy.
May God root out the nemesis of pride in His church. May the Word of God go forth with power, as a demonstration of the Spirit’s zeal for the glory of God in Christ’s church. May we, in all humility, confess the sin of pride to one another…and may God change our minds about how great we are.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
April 27, 2022
