07/02/2021
In Greek mythology, Narcissus is the character who, upon passing his reflection in the water, becomes so enamored with himself that he devotes the rest of his life to his own reflection. From this we get our term narcissism, the preoccupation with self. The value of narcissism is the classic “I, me, mine” mentality that places personal pleasure and fulfillment at the forefront of concerns.
In so many places and in so many ways, a spiritual narcissism has invaded the Christian community. Eavesdrop, for a moment, on how some Christians talk or the kinds of things they post:
“I want to go where I’m fed”—not where we can learn to feed ourselves, much less feed others.
“I need to be ministered to”—as if ministry in the life of the Christ follower is something that happens to us, instead of something we make happen through us for others.
We walk out of a worship service and say, “I didn't get anything out of it”—as if the purpose is what we got out of it, instead of what God got out of it.
A particular experience was engaged, and the response is, “That wasn’t very moving”—instead of pondering whether God was moved by our engagement.
Where did that come from? It wasn’t from our Leader. He didn’t talk that way. Jesus said: “I did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give my life as a ransom for many”; “Whoever wants to be first must become last”; “Whoever wants to be great among you must become the servant of all”; “Not my will, but thine” (See Matthew 20:25-28; Luke 22:42).
Yet a spiritual narcissism has invaded our thinking where the individual needs and desires of the Believer have become the center of attention. And as a result, the church has lost virtually all its missional energy and focus. At least, the mission entrusted to it by Jesus. — By James Emery White
