WHAT IS A NARCISSIST?
In Greek mythology, Narcissus was a hunter from the area of current-day Turkey known as Izmir. I’ve been there. It is the gateway city to the ancient ruins of Ephesus. Narcissus was known for his beauty. According to the ancient Greek poet Ovid, Narcissus loved no one until he eventually fell in love with his own reflection in a pool of water. He was entranced by it. As the legend has it, he beat his breast purple in agony at being kept apart from this reflected love.
The character Narcissus is used by psychologists to describe someone with a self-centered personality style—a narcissist –someone marked by grandiosity, excessive need for attention and admiration, and an inability to empathize. Just like the old Greek God, who was representational of a demon that came to bear the same name.
Several times a day when conducting encounter sessions of deliverance ministry, I hear someone classify a significant other or family member as a narcissist. It is the go-to description for anyone who has an exaggerated sense of self-importance. The student of deliverance ministry immediately recognizes that demonization and narcissism have common personality traits. How can you know whether to ditch the person you’re involved with because they are a narcissist or whether you should send them to someone like me, an exorcist.
LUCIFER — THE FIRST NARCISSIST
Narcissistic personality disorder is a mental health condition in which people have an exaggerated sense of self-importance. They need and seek attention. They want people to admire them. If this sounds a little like Lucifer you’re right. He was the first narcissist in the universe. The Bible tells us that in Isaiah chapter 14:13-14 — “I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.”
The devil wanted the attention of all created beings in the heavenly realm. He didn’t care or try to understand what his actions would lead to. Behind his brilliant appearance as the illuminated “son of the morning” was a sense of extreme confidence that he could dethrone God. Lucifer accepted no criticism and was certain of his insurrection. The Bible doesn’t tell us all the things that motivated the devil to rebel against God. But it’s obvious that he was disappointed that the angels of heaven did not bow before his beauty. That is why he said he would be like the most high God. Satan wasn’t out to make friends in the angelic realm. He wanted sycophants who would do what he said.
More males than females are diagnosed with narcissistic disorders. Through maturation and education, they learn that no individual can have everyone swirling around them. Life is competitive. The narcissist wants the competition destroyed so there are no challengers to his way of looking at things. That was the devil in the beginning, and that is a typical narcissist.
Next time, we’ll take a closer look at what secular psychology says about this personality disorder, and how to handle the narcissist in your life.
