The Narcissistic Church

Have you ever experienced a church that was more full of itself than a desire to preach God's Word? More interested in its programs and denominational viewpoints than in sharing the Gospel? I've been in a few. "Been" is past tense. I left.

Most narcissistic churches are run by narcissistic leaders. They like to do things their way. That's not a good thing. They should be doing things God's way, not their own.

I was in a meeting at one church when one of the pastors said his goal was 15 baptisms in the youth group for the upcoming year. What's wrong with that statement? It's narcissistic. The pastor was thinking that it was up to him to bring people to faith in Christ. Nope. That's the Holy Spirit's job last time I checked . . . which was five minutes ago.

"44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him." - John 6:44

Another church I was in once felt like they needed a big, fancy addition to their church so they could draw more people into it. That's not right.

"5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers." - Acts 16:5

Churches grow because they were strengthened in their faith. Is that done by a new building program? No.

"46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." - Acts 2:46-47

God grows the church, not us.

I have a theory. No, I think it's more than a theory. I think it is a truth. There are no narcissistic Christians. Think about it. If you are narcissistic and profess a faith in Christ are you really being truthful? I encourage you to examine yourself. Read this and see if it fits the narcissist.

"9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord." - Romans 12:9-11

Jesus told us that "the first shall be last and the last, first." How can we be last if we are number one?

We must approach God in humility. We must be servants and do so in the name of Jesus. After all, He humbled Himself, He died on a cross, He gave us a way to escape death. How? Buy putting off our old self and placing our faith in Him.

We must give up our narcissistic self and surrender it all to God. If we don't can we truly be one of His children?

Hard To Be Humble - Mac Davis