5 Warning Signs of a Spiritual Narcissist by Ryan Duncan - Faith

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5 Warning Signs of a Spiritual Narcissist

* Ryan Duncan Crosswalk.com Entertainment Editor * 2015 Aug 21

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/Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to seewhether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out intothe world./ - 1 John 4:1

It's sad to say, but not everyone who claims to be Christian is really afollower of Christ. Many are simply pursuing their own agendas, be itmoney, fame, or political influence. These false disciples come in many

shapes and forms, but perhaps none is more dangerous as the SpiritualNarcissist. A Spiritual Narcissist is someone who uses the Gospel tobuild themselves up while they tear others down. If left unchecked,their actions can inflict devastating harm on both Christians andnon-Christians alike.

Below are five warning signs that you may be dealing with a SpiritualNarcissist,

*1.) They Constantly Reference their own Achievements*

The Spiritual Narcissist loves to self-promote. For them, everyconversation is an opportunity to share just how superior they are to

the average believer. They typically go about this by listing off theirown achievements. You'll hear them talk incessantly about their upcomingbook, their latest blog post, sermon series, missions work, or that time*/they/* led someone to Christ. Scripture tells us not seek our ownglory and to let our work stand on its own (Proverbs 27:2), but the SpiritualNarcissist will flaunt anything they believe might bring them praise.

The best way for Christians to counter this display is to follow theexample of Micah 6:8 ,live justly, show mercy, and walk humbly with the LORD your God.

*2.) They Invade Conversations*

The Spiritual Narcissist craves control, and their highest authority isalways their own self-reference. As a result, it's not uncommon for themto invade the personal or private conversations of others. They'll oftendo this under the guise of helping or correcting fellow Christians,but they have no real interest in two-way dialogue. You'll notice theyalso have a way of injecting their own opinions into situations, and arethe first voice their complaints about recent events in the Church. TheBible warns that such people create division among believers and serveonly their own appetites (Romans 16:17-18


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,Psalms 36:1-4).

There's no good way to speak with Spiritual Narcissists (Proverbs 26:4-5),the best response Christians can make is stand their ground and refuseto be bullied.

*3.) They Twist Scripture*

Susan B. Anthony once said, /I distrust those people who know so wellwhat God wants them to do, because I notice it always coincides withtheir own desires/. In the same way, a Spiritual Narcissist usesscripture as a tool for /their/ purpose instead of God's. They approachthe Bible with a closed mind, memorizing only a handful of useful versesthat will justify their behavior. Anything else, particularly scripturethat conflicts with their actions, gets ignored. Like the men of Jude1:4 , they should not tobe trusted.

The best defense Christians have against this kind of faulty theology isto simply read the Bible. The more familiar we become with God's work,the more familiar we become with God.

*4.) They Profess Love, but Never Show It *

Perhaps the easiest way to identify a Spiritual Narcissist is to see iftheir works match their words. Many will claim they have nothing butlove and compassion in their hearts for those they rebuke, but theiractions prove otherwise. Matthew 7 teaches us that we canjudge a prophet by the fruit of his labors, /A good tree cannot bearbad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit/. So, what kind ofharvest do they bring to God's table? Division? Disdain? Cruelty?

Love is more than words, love is /actions/. That's what separates the

true Christian from the Spiritual Narcissist.

*5.) They Talk, but They Don't Listen*

Listening can be a powerful tool for Christians. Listening builds trust,creates empathy, and fosters understanding among individuals. James 1:19 even urges believers tobe quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. The SpiritualNarcissist, by contrast, is quick to speak, quick to take offense, andincapable of listening. They enjoy being the loudest one in the room,and the idea of deferring to someone else galls them.

A true Christian listens to others, even when they might not agree with

them. Listening requires that we be selfless, which is the one thing aSpiritual Narcissist can never be.

/*Published 8/21/2015/

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