NARCISSISM, TRUMP & GOD - IITB 09.09

 

Chapter 9.9

Narcissism

Trump & God

President Trump – The Narcissistic Personality Disorder Bible

Egocentrism – Narcissistic Supply - 7 deadly sins - 15 Step Cure

 

 

 

Is our President, Donald J. Trump a Narcissist? – Will he be a blessing or a curse?

 

First Word

Narcissism is a big 25 cent word that most of us have never used, so I feel a need to unpack the enormous area which it covers as it is considered a mental disorder as well as a social or cultural problem.  It is the pursuit of gratification from vanity or egotistic admiration of one's own attributes. The narcissist displays a high level of selfishness and sees everything from a perspective of  

How does this affect ME?”

     The Narcissists COOKBOOK has the following "basic ingredients" - Wikipedia -

Positive: Narcissists think they are better than others.

Inflated: Narcissists' views tend to be contrary to reality.  In measures, that compare self-report to objective measures, narcissists' self-views tend to be greatly exaggerated.

Agentic: Narcissists’ views tend to be most exaggerated in the agentic domain, relative to the communion domain.  Agentic; Unconscious or involuntary tendency to become an actor with feelings of an “illusion of control” that takes credit for events that they did not cause.

Special: Narcissists perceive themselves to be unique and special people.

Selfish: Research upon narcissists’ behavior in resource dilemmas supports the case for narcissists as being selfish.

Oriented toward success: Narcissists are oriented towards success by being, for example, approach oriented. - Wikipedia -

 

Definition

     A 2012 book on Power-Hungry Narcissists suggests that narcissists typically display most, and sometimes all, of the following traits: - (Wikipedia) -

1)      An obvious self-focus in interpersonal exchanges

2)     Problems in sustaining satisfying relationships

3)     A lack of psychological awareness

4)     Difficulty with empathy

5)     Problems distinguishing the self from others

6)     Hypersensitivity to any insults or imagined insults 

7)     Vulnerability to shame rather than guilt

8)     Haughty body language

9)     Flattery towards people who admire and affirm them - (Narcissistic supply)

10)  Detesting those who do not admire them

11)   Using other people without considering the cost of doing so - (Narcissistic supply)

12)  Pretending to be more important than they actually are

13)  Bragging and exaggerating their achievements

14)  Claiming to be an "expert" at many things

15)  Inability to view the world from the perspective of other people

16)  Denial of remorse and gratitude

     Narcissistic supply is a term typically used in a negative sense, describing a pathological or excessive need for attention or admiration from co-dependents, or such a need in the orally fixated, that does not take into account the feelings, opinions or preferences of other people.

 

NPD Diagnostic Bible

     Narcissistic Personality Disorder NPD definition:

     DSM 5 is the newest “Bible” from the American Psychiatric Association that defines and classifies mental disorders. – (As you read this; consider our congressmen, senators and President.)

     In order to qualify for a diagnosis of NPD, the following criteria must be met:

1.       Having an exaggerated sense of self-importance

2.      Expecting to be recognized as superior even without achievements that warrant it

3.      Exaggerating achievements and talents

4.      Being preoccupied with fantasies about success, power, brilliance, beauty or the perfect mate

5.      Believe you are superior and can only be understood by or associate with equally special people

6.      Requiring constant admiration

7.      Having a sense of entitlement

8.      Expecting special favors and unquestioning compliance with your expectations

9.      Taking advantage of others to get what you want

10.   Having an inability or unwillingness to recognize the needs and feelings of others

11.    Being envious of others and believing others envy you

12.   Behaving in an arrogant or haughty manner

 

7 Deadly Sins

     THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS OF NARCISSISM - Wikipedia -

1.       Shamelessness: Shame is the feeling that lurks beneath all unhealthy narcissism, and the inability to process shame in healthy ways.

2.      Magical thinking: Narcissists see themselves as perfect, using distortion and illusion known as magical thinking. They also use projection to "dump" shame onto others.

3.      Arrogance: A narcissist who is feeling deflated may "re-inflate" their sense of self-importance by diminishing, debasing, or degrading somebody else.

4.      Envy: A narcissist may secure a sense of superiority in the face of another person's ability by using contempt to minimize the other person or their achievements.

5.      Entitlement: Narcissists hold unreasonable expectations of particularly favorable treatment and automatic compliance because they consider themselves special.  Failure to comply is considered an attack on their superiority, and the perpetrator is considered an "awkward" or "difficult" person.  Defiance of their will is a narcissistic injury that can trigger narcissistic rage.

6.      Exploitation can take many forms, but always involves the exploitation of others without regard for their feelings or interests.  Often the other person is in a subservient position where resistance would be difficult or even impossible.  Sometimes the subservience is not so much real as assumed.

7.      Bad boundaries: Narcissists do not recognize that they have boundaries and that others are separate and are not extensions of themselves.  Others either exist to meet their needs or may as well not exist at all.  Those who provide “narcissistic supply” to the narcissist are treated as if they are part of the narcissist and are expected to live up to those expectations.  In the mind of a narcissist, there is no boundary between self and other.

     Egocentrism is a term used to show how infants function in the world where everything is about them.  Narcissism is like egocentrism in that the adult still relates to the world like an infant.  They use defense mechanisms to idealize self so that they do not have to face their own mistakes and flaws; the Book would call this SIN See the following verses -

Matthew 7:16 – You will know a Narcissists by THEIR WORKS
16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

(ESV)

Titus 1:16 – DENY GOD by DETESTABLE DISOBEDIENT WORKS
16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

(ESV)
Acts 12:21-23 – They love the
SOUND OF THEIR OWN VOICE
21 On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them.
22 And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!”
23 Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.

(ESV)

Luke 20:46-47 – Narcissists loves greetings PLACES OF HONOR
46  “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts,
47  who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

(ESV)

Psalm 36:1-3 – FLATTERS himself; Speaks TROUBLE & DECEIT

1 Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart; there is

no fear of God before his eyes.
2 For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.
3 The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit; he has ceased to act wisely and do good.

(ESV)

Proverbs 17:22 – A narcissists CRUSHES THE SPIRIT

22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

(ESV)

1 Peter 5:5-6 – God opposes the PROUD
5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for

God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,

(ESV)

Proverbs 16:18 PRIDE & HAUGHY SPIRIT goes before the fall
18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
(ESV)

Proverbs 18:12 – A HAUGHTY spirit brings destruction
12 Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.
(ESV)

Jeremiah 17:9 – Without God the heart is DESPERATELY SICK
9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

(ESV)

Mark 7:21-23 Without God our hearts have EVIL THOUGHTS
21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness,
22 deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.
23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

25 lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.

(ESV)

Romans 16:17-19 – Avoid people with OBSTACLES & DIVISIONS
17 I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; AVOID THEM.
18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.
19 For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.
(ESV)

Proverbs 22:24 – Don’t befriend those with ANGER & WRATH
24 Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man,

(ESV)

1 Corinthians 5:11-13 – Don’t associate with GREEDY SWINDLERS
11  But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler

NOT EVEN TO EAT WITH SUCH A ONE.
12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?
13 God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”
(ESV)

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 – The UNRIGHTEOUS will go to Hell
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will NOT inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,
10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers
WILL (NOT) INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

(ESV)

Revelation 21:8 - Lake of fire for DETESTABLE & FAITHLESS
8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

(ESV)

 

President Trump

     While searching the internet for examples of Narcissism, I was overwhelmed with the number of blogs about our President Donald J. Trump, so I felt a need to mention him here.  In my early years I admired him because of his accomplishments in real estate, and I patterned my investments after him, owning multiple rentals and flipping properties.  I instilled this in my three children and they also owned multiple properties.

     When Trump ran for President, I could not have been more pleased, till I heard him speak.  The more he spoke the further from the Bible I saw him.  I did not know that there was a term to describe what I was observing, but it seemed to me to be Narcissism; a sickness.

     The scripture that put a check in my spirt the most was from Second Timothy describing someone that you should STAY AWAY FROM; lover of self, lover of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, ungrateful, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control,  reckless and swollen with conceit. With all that said, I do believe Trump is a patriot and I wanted what he wanted; to make America Great again.

     So, I held my nose and voted for Mike Pence, a Christian Vice-President and his running mate. Because I know it pleases the Lord, I PRAY OFTEN for Trump that he will grow in the Lord and will be guided and surrounded by Godly council.  No matter whether we like it or not, He has been chosen by God and is worthy of our respect and our prayers.

     NOTE:  King Nebuchadnezzar was the enemy of Israel and of God, yet God called him His servant; and Israel got a horrible spanking.[1]  God in His Sovereignty will use who He wishes to accomplish His plan; what we don’t know yet is whether Trump will be used as a Blessing or a Curse.

 

 

IT’S IN THE BOOK

 

2 Timothy 3:1-5 – Avoid people that have the appearance of godliness
1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.
2  For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous,
3  without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous,
4  reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5  
HAVING THE APPEARANCE OF GODLINESS, but denying its power.                                  AVOID SUCH PEOPLE.

(NLT)

 

Romans 13:1 – GOD PLACED TRUMP IN THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT
1 Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and

THOSE IN POSITIONS OF AUTHORITY

HAVE BEEN PLACED THERE BY GOD.

(NLT)

 

1 Peter 2:13-14 – Respect Donald J. Trump our President

13 FOR THE LORD’S SAKE,

RESPECT ALL HUMAN AUTHORITY

whether the king as head of state,
14 or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right.

(NLT)

It’s in the Book

     From a Biblical perspective, Narcissism refers to a person with a “heart condition”; one who is sick.  The root cause of this condition is PRIDE; a deep pleasure or satisfaction from one’s own perceived achievement. The Book calls pride; Sin.   Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin.

     The Apostle Paul says that the trouble is with ME, for I am all too human, a slave to sin.   I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do It.; instead, I do what I hate.  I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.  I want to do what is right, but I can’t.  There is a power within me that is at war with my mind.  This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.

     We are all born narcissists and by our very own human nature we are slaves, captive to our flesh; it’s all about ME.  This changes when we HUMBLE ourselves and surrender our flesh to the Lord and become transformed and set free.[2]  Jesus Christ came to heal the blindness and set the narcissistic captive slaves free; that would be you and me.  Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.[3]

Jesus said that a slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever and when the Son sets you free, you are truly free. [4]

 

15 Step Cure

     15 conditions in Bible scripture that will heal you of narcissism; BEING FULL OF YOURSELF. 

1)   You boast of your talents and achievements - Give credit to others for their efforts [5]

2)  Believe that you are better than others - Be humble – Think of others interest [6]

3)  See others as inferior with disgust- Ask God to be merciful to you; a sinner [7]

4)  Expect others to follow you; no advice needed - Seek many counselors’ to have wisdom [8]

5)  Expect and deserve special treatment - Take the lowest place at the foot of the table [9]

6)  Desire, expect and love praise - Give God the glory – Point to Him [10]

7)  Desire power and success - Be the servant; take the last place [11]

8)  You are un-emotional and tough God will take away your stony stubborn heart [12]

9)  Feel determined to climb the ladder higher - Not about YOU; Put your “I WILLS aside [13]

10)  You find a way to take advantage of people - Give your workers the wages that are due [14]

11)   Don’t notice others emotions and feelings - Involve yourself with others; enjoy them [15]

12)  Feel others are jealous of you - Expect the best intent of others [16]

13)  Your Self-esteem is super sensitive - Be happy with others success; celebrate with them [17]

14)  Feel you don’t have a real friend - Jesus will stick closer to you than a brother [18]

15)  Feel rejected - Feelings get hurt easy - Jesus was rejected so you would not be [19]

 

The Take Away

     Egocentrism is when an adult still relates to the world like a child, using TWEETS, bulling and fear, calling people names like Pocahontas and Little Rocket Man.  Ponder that

     The Book says that the answer to narcissism is to have Love in your heart; love is patient and kind, it’s never jealous, boastful or proud.  Love never demands its own way, nor is it irritable and with love in your spirit you don’t keep records and try “to get even” with folks that hurt you.

     Love is dependable and does not give up, it never loses faith and is always hopeful; it endures every circumstance; three things last forever: Faith, Hope, and Love,[20] but the greatest of these is Love, and Love will cover a multitude of sins.[21]

     If you have the sickness of narcissism, then get the cure; Get God, Get Love … God is Love.[22] Anyone who does not LOVE does not know God. [23]

     We are created Eternal and will live for all eternity somewhere.  God loved us so much that He sacrificed His only begotten Son, Jesus the Christ on the cross to balance the scales and pay our debt for our sins.[24]  He has given us a lifetime to find Him and through our FREE WILL, CHOOSE to experience Him and His eternal love instead of His eternal wrath.

     Satan tells us that ALL the spokes in a wheel lead to the SAME hub, but God says there is only ONE WAY to the Father[25] and that’s through repentance and the belief in His only Son; Jesus the Christ.

The choices we make on this side of life have eternal consequences.  Live is choice driven.

 

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 – Love is not boastful, proud or jealous
4 Love is
PATIENT and KIND. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude.

5 IT DOES NOT DEMAND ITS OWN WAY.

It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.

6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.

7 LOVE NEVER GIVES UP, NEVER LOSES FAITH,

IS ALWAYS HOPEFUL,

and endures through every circumstance.

(NLT)

 

1 Timothy 2:1-3 – PRAY for our President because it pleases God
1 I urge, then, first of all, that

petitions, prayers, intercession and

thanksgiving be made for all people

for kings and all those in authority

2, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

3 THIS IS GOOD, AND PLEASES GOD OUR SAVIOR,

(NIV2011)

 



 

[1] Jeremiah 25:9 – Nebuchadnezzar God’s Enemy brought DESTRUCTION and DESOLATION to Israel but was Gods SERVANT

 

[2] Isaiah 42:7 – Jesus will open our blind eyes and set us free -- Luke 4:18 – FAITH releases the “blind captive slaves” to freedom, the oppressed will hear Good News and be set free

[3] Romans 7:14-25 – The trouble is with me, I’m a slave to sin Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.

[4] John 8:34-36 – Everyone who sins is a SLAVE to sin, So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free

[5] BOAST OF YOUR TALENTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS - Judges 8:1-3 – Give credit to others for their efforts

[6] BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS - Philippians 2:1-8 – Be humble – Think of others interest

[7] SEE OTHERS AS INFERIOR WITH DISGUST - Luke 18:9-14 – Ask God to be merciful to you; a sinner

[8] EXPECT OTHERS TO FOLLOW YOU; NO ADVICE NEEDED - Proverbs 11:14 – Seek many counselors’ to have wisdom

[9] DESERVE AND EXPECT SPECIAL TREATMENT - Luke 14:7-11 – Take the lowest place at the foot of the table

[10] DESIRE, EXPECT AND LOVE PRAISE - Acts 12:21-23 – Give God the glory – Point to Him

[11] DESIRE POWER AND SUCCESS - Mark 10:42-45 – Be the servant; take the last place

[12] YOU ARE UN-EMOTIONAL AND TOUGH - Ezekiel 11:19 – God will take away your stony stubborn heart

[13] FEEL DETERMINED TO CLIMB THE LADDER HIGHER - Isaiah 14:13-15 – Put your “I WILLS” aside: It’s not about you

[14] FIND A WAY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF PEOPLE - James 5:1-4 – Give your workers the wages that are due

[15] DON’T NOTICE OTHERS EMOTIONS AND FEELINGS - Romans 12:15-16 – Involve yourself with others; enjoy them

[16] FEEL OTHERS ARE JEALOUS OF YOU - 1 Samuel 17:26-29 – Expect the best intent of others

[17] SELF-ESTEEM IS SUPER SENSITIVE - 1 Samuel 18:7-9 – Be happy and enjoy others success

[18] FEEL THAT YOU REALLY DON’T HAVE A FRIEND -- Proverbs 18:24 – Jesus will stick closer to you than a brother

[19] FEEL REJECTED; YOUR FEELINGS GET HURT EASY - Isaiah 53:3-5 - Jesus was rejected so you would not be

[20] 1 Corinthians 13:13 - Three things will last forever: faith, hope, and love, and the greatest of these is love

[21] 1 Peter 4:8 - Love covers a multitude of sins.

[22] 1 John 4:16 - God is love

[23] 1 John 4:8 - Anyone who does not LOVE does not know God

[24] John 3:16-17 – God loves us so much that He gave His Son Jesus as a sacrifice for our sins.

[25] John 14:6 – There is only ONE WAY to God and that is through Jesus Christ

 

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