Narcissists love to boast about their exploits and their appearance. They will "humble brag" about how well they are doing with their exercise program to someone who is having medical problems and not once inquiring about the other person's condition.
Philippians 2:3–5
"3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have
this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,"
It is a sin to provoke someone else into jealousy by boasting.
Galatians 5:26
"26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another."
There can be no empathy for others in someone who is self-focused on their own prowess. In fact, narcissists cannot be around people who are handicapped or chronically infirmed, or ill.
The narcissist actually thinks it is important to be strong and well, until they become ill and then they are the only person in the world who was ever ailing, all attention must be on them.
Since the focus of the narcissist is continually on their own appearances and adventures they can see nothing else. They will look down on those who do not have adventures or at least the kind of adventures the narcissist deems worthy of jealousy. Narcissists love to make others jealous, this is why we see them inviting to their party a person they don't like so that person can see the narcissist ignoring them as well as their popularity with others.
Narcissists have gatherings and parties that they boast about to others, they never contact their targets just to inquire about them or talk about important matters.
A narcissist will ask questions pretending to be concerned about you only to use the information to harm your relationships with others. They will twist in their own minds a motive or encounter in ways that make their target look bad and then pass those twisted ideas on to others.
One thing the "Christian" narcissist will never do is show empathy toward others, inquire of others to know their need or have any interest in the life of others that do not in some way enhance their own life. If there is an inquiry it will be used to boast of their involvement in the life of the person, even if it was minimal.
A classic narcissistic mentality in churches today is more subtle and a little less grandiose but is really the same as the cliques we see. Those who "clique up" because they feel superior to others and only those who appear special are in their group are their friends. They boast with one another about their own accomplishments but have no real connection to one another. The relationships in these groups are superficial at best and do not last because of the lack of love in the group.
When self is on the throne there can be no love.
The people in these groups only "love", loosely translated, those who elevate them in some way. As soon as someone begins to think more deeply and disagree with the group that person will be ignored, even mocked at times. And, in some cases treated so disrespectfully, they lose heart and leave.
The narcissist does not like that their target leaves because they have to choose another person to exclude to feel superior.
Narcissists are rampant in the modern church. There are more of them than there are godly people seeking the Lord to become like Him.
This is the reason it is so difficult to find church gatherings in which Christ is held up as the Authority and love runs throughout the church. When love is the dominant force in a gathering it is not perfect but the love overwhelms any other worldly mentality.
When love is absent from most of the people attending it is impossible to remain where Christ is disdained and worldliness is the dominant force. These are demonic gatherings full of self-will and rejection of the truth of God's word, no matter what they may say.
Narcissists are happy when they are getting what they want and rage when they are not being elevated. Anger is the dominant force within their being and is only masked temporarily while they are getting what they want.
We are living in 2 Timothy 3 times, in which most people all the time are living out narcissism. It is a spectrum, from a little to malignant, and the malignancy is growing exponentially as we move through these end times to the very end when Christ removes His church.
Malignant meaning, strong and infectious, unrelenting and an inability to stop it or be instructed. Blinded by their own elevated view of themselves they cannot see anyone else.
The narcissist is untrustworthy even if they were to apologize it would be to gain the trust back of someone who no longer trusted them, it would never be about godly conviction that they have harmed someone or displeased God.
Narcissists generally do not apologize, humbling themselves is unthinkable, they merely attempt to be nice next time to confuse those they wish to keep in their circle. And, they keep in their circle those who elevate them or appear to be superior to others. They will only associate with those they consider to be unworthy of them.
When authentic born-again believers are removed from the earth they take with them the Holy Spirit Who is the restrainer of evil. Then is when we will see evil have free reign, unrestrained, the most horrific times the world has ever seen.
2 Thessalonians 2:7 "For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is removed."
We are watching the rampant anger, disrespect, and self-righteousness.
It is important that if we see tendencies in ourselves that are leaning toward a narcissistic attitude, that we confess it and ask the Lord to cleanse us from it before it becomes an action that will ruin our Christian witness.
We must keep ourselves separate from the world except to bring the gospel so that we will not become like the world as it marches in full force toward malignant narcissism.
1 John 2:15-17
"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever."
Romans 12:2
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
1 Corinthians 15:33 "33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” 34 Sober up morally and stop sinning, for some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame."
