This is a hurting world we live in, and it is hard to find the love of Christ in the lives of those people we encounter. It is like we are all alone in the struggles we face daily. Our society is crumbling before our very eyes as more and more people are turning inside themselves and pushing everyone away who does not agree with them or does not give them the praise they desire. There are no real solutions to this problem of a narcissistic crumbling society. There is no magic pill that will cure a person who is so self-important and self-centered that they focus on their needs and wants over anyone else. The psychological revelations have not been able to help the darkness of the heart. Obviously, the problem is spiritual and so must be the cure with our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. There must be a healing from the inside out not only for our Christian society but for the families and individuals.
Narcissistic personality disorders are usually diagnosed through clinical evaluation. It is defined by the fifth edition (2013) of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) in terms of the personality traits of grandiosity and attention-seeking and in terms of significant impairments in personality functioning—such as looking excessively at others for the regulation of self-esteem, viewing oneself as exceptional, having impaired empathy, and having most superficial relationships. Those qualities remain relatively stable over time and are not attributable primarily to a medical condition, the use of drugs, or the individual’s developmental stage.
Researchers have also investigated a less-extreme form of narcissism that is termed the narcissistic personality type. Such individuals possess most or all of the characteristics of the narcissistic personality disorder but are considered within the normal range of personality. (American Psychiatric Association. (2013).
Narcissism is characterized by an inflated self-image and addiction to fantasy. They have an unusual coolness and composure shaken only when the narcissistic confidence is threatened, and by the tendency to take others for granted or to exploit them. The disorder is named for the mythological figure Narcissus, who fell in love with his own reflection. (Rhodewalt, F. (2025).
There is a reminder found in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 which tells us a time of perilous, narcissistic days to come:
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” (2 Timothy 3:1-5 KJV).
When we look at these warning signs, they are really in our face in our discussion of narcissism. Lovers of their own self, which describes Narcissism, rules our society today with every step we take. Narcissism creeps into our own churches, families, and friends with its insidious growth of self-glorification.
Lovers of their own selves (Strong's #5367) means loving oneself. This is the exact condition of Narcissism that focuses upon the self rather than looking toward the Lord.
Covetous (Strong's #5366) means lovers of money, avarice. Narcissists often focus upon money to satisfy their self-love needs.
Boasters (Strong's #213) means an empty pretender, a showoff that brings attention to the Narcissist and away from the doings of God.
Proud (Strong's #5244) means showing oneself above others, despising others or even treating them with contempt or haughtiness. It does NOT bode well for anyone who challenges a Narcissist to be lesser than their self-belief.
Blasphemers (Strong's #989) means speaking evil and slander against righteousness. There can be nothing higher in elevation than the doings of the Narcissist.
Disobedient to parents (Strong's #545 and #118) means not compliant, disobedient, contumacious to parents. Narcissists prides themselves in breaking rules that are followed by most, and socially present themselves above all restrictions that normal folk must adhere.
Unthankful (Strong's #884) ungracious and unpleasing. Often gifts and efforts are not worthy of a Narcissist's expectations and critical words are chosen to hurt the giver.
Unholy (Strong's #462) means impious and wickedness. A Narcissist cannot worship or follow the teachings of the LORD God while viewing self as most important.
Without natural affection (Strong's #794) means unloving, unsociable, and inhuman. A Narcissist has NO need for others to SHARE life. Narcissism does NOT have the ability or desire to care for others unless attention or gain can be assumed.
Trucebreakers (Strong's #786) means that cannot be persuaded to enter into a covenant, implacable. All contracts, oaths, laws, ordinances and social agreements are conditional to a Narcissist and kept only as long as benefits continue to come to them.
False accusers (Strong's #1228) Slanderous, accusing falsely, a calumniator, false accuser, slanderer, metaph. applied to a man who, by opposing the cause of God, may be said to act the part of the devil or to side with him Satan the prince of the demons, the author of evil, persecuting good men, estranging mankind from God and enticing them to sin, afflicting them with diseases by means of demons who take possession of their bodies at his bidding, and accusing falsely. Narcissists tell LIES against others. Often. Almost always. Every word from their mouth is formed to benefit and bring attention to themselves. If negative attitudes or accusatory inquiries come against them, they often falsely accuse their opponents in an attempt to destroy their credibility, and protect their self-conceived superiority.
Incontinent (Strong's #193) means without self-control, intemperate. Alcoholism, drug addiction, overeating, sexual deviancies, over-spending of money, control with extremes of powerful influence, are often symptoms of a Narcissist. Their habits of incontinence gives familiar feelings to their existence, and they cling mightily to their norms.
Fierce (Strong's #434) means not tame, savage. Narcissists pride themselves on saying their truths loudly, constantly, and hurtfully. They fiercely proclaim their opinions and delight in the distress in others as they break social norms of human decency.
Despisers of those that are good (Strong's #196) means opposed to goodness. Narcissists deplore righteousness and those that walk with integrity and are honorable in life. Anyone that follows the LORD God are disdained by Narcissists as a "weak pretender trying to be holier than them."
Traitors Strong's #4273 means a betrayer. Narcissists will say one thing and betray in the same moment. Betrayal steers the situation to benefit their desires and needs, and they have NO remorse in the hurt that is left in the wake.
Heady (Strong's #4312) means reckless, rash. No long-term planning is carefully constructed by a Narcissists. Their decisions are quick, reckless, and made to benefit the moment of life they find themselves enveloped. Their self-care revolves around the immediate present of their lives and no contemplation of others needs are considered.
High-minded (Strong's #5187) means to blind with pride or conceit, to render foolish or stupid. Narcissists think themselves to be better than everyone else that is alive and surrounds their world. They often cherish the situations where their perceived superiority can disable others by making them appear foolish and stupid.
Lovers of pleasures (Strong's #5369) means loving of pleasure. Lusts of this world, including power, sex, drink, drugs, partying, and self-loving obsessions and compulsions are embraced fully by the Narcissists.
Timothy tells us we have the strength or power, ability of moral power and excellence of soul to "TURN AWAY" from these lovers of self or narcissist. 2 Timothy 3:1-5.
Arrogance, self-importance, conceit, egotism, pride, haughtiness, and superiority all give the misrepresentation of the senses, assisting in making one believe they are inferior while the Narcissists are superior. Narcissists distort the human perception of reality; this is what makes the Narcissists so dangerous.
We are living in a time where there is pain all around. A perfect time when 2 Timothy 3:1-5 Narcissism is out of control with no love for anyone or anything, and that includes the love of Christ.
It is a crucial time we must declare we are crucified with Christ, and live, and it is not because of anything we have done, but because of our commitment and love for Jesus that Christ lives in us. When we remember that the life which we live for Jesus and He is in us which is lived in the flesh then we live by the faith of the Son of the LORD God, who loves us, and gave Himself for us. (Galatians 2:19-20 KJV). And then, we must TURN AWAY from the Narcissists that work to destroy the righteousness and faithfulness of the followers of Christ and rid ourselves completely of the worldliness and doings of self-lovers.
Part 2 What Does a Narcissist Look Like in Your Life? Together we will look at Narcissists as they float in and out of our lives and hopefully find ways, we can avoid the stumbling block and traps they put in place to trick us away for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Reference
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.).
https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596
Rhodewalt, F. (2025, March 27). narcissism. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/narcissism
Strong, James. (2001). The New Strong's Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. Nashville:
Thomas Nelson Publishers.