Old Fashioned Narcissism

In recent years the word "narcissism" has increasingly woven itself into our everyday discussions. Everywhere we turn we can hear or read of a self centered person being referred to as a Narcissus. But we stretch in overuse of that word. Until recently narcissism was a psychological term used to describe a person diagnosed with a serious disorder called Narcissistic Personality Disorder. These dysfunctional folks make others around them pretty miserable because of their excessive sense of self importance, fantasies of unlimited success, personal grandiosity, lack of empathy or sympathy and obsession with themselves. They can pretty much suck the oxygen from the room by their obsessive sense of entitlement and personal arrogance. With them it truly is "All about me".

You might remember the original Narcissus, who was a son of a god in ancient Greek mythology. He was a strikingly handsome youth who really got caught-up in his own beauty. Girls adored him, but he paid no attention to them; (he was far too smitten by himself). The legend says he fell deeply in love with his own reflection in a pool, and he became so obsessed with his image, he couldn't move from staring into the pool.

Whether we admit it or not, we are born with a self love that firmly places us at the center of our universe. We perhaps don't become as shackled with our self love as Narcissus, but we are born with some narcissism. Our fallen nature can cause us to interpret everything through ourselves. Erwin Lutzer says, "Our narcissistic natures say, If you show yourself to be better than I am, I will sustain narcissistic injury and will consider you an enemy. I will be jealous of you. I will resent you."

Following Christ moves us from our self obsession. One of the remarkable byproducts of the Christian journey is that the Holy Spirit gradually distances us from preoccupation with me, my and mine. The purpose of the cross was to repair the irreparable. That includes our narcissism. That dreadful part of the human condition fades more and more as we walk with Jesus.

Now that's the heart of the matter.