Narcissism…

Narcissism describes the character trait of self love.

Since first learning this word is has lodged its way into my brain. The idea of self love, self worship, where the ‘I’ rules. As I survey the American culture it has increasingly becoming a ‘culture of narcissism’.

Historian and social critic Christopher Lasch (1932—1994) described this topic in his book, "The Culture of Narcissism", published in 1979. He defines a narcissistic culture “as one in which every activity and relationship is defined by the hedonistic need to acquire the symbols of material wealth, this becoming the only expression of rigid, yet covert, social hierarchies. It is a culture where liberalism only exists in so far as it serves a consumer society, and even art, sex and religion lose their liberating power”.

Are we sliding in this direction? I can’t help but to see it everywhere. People come to church and their attitude is ‘what can you do for me’. Is this what it’s suppose to be about?
The apostle Paul writes…

nor to seek glory from people, either from you or from others, 1 Thessalonians 2:6 NET

Paul didn’t seek the favor of man…he wasn’t out for himself, or what he could benefit from…Paul worked to bring glory to God. I think we have lost our way from this ideal.

We go to church to bring glory to God…we pray to bring glory to God…we worship to bring glory to God. He is the only one who deserves the glory of our lives.

In a narcissistic culture it become impossible to think of someone other than ourselves…it become increasingly difficult to give glory to God first, it become increasingly difficult to worship God first…because our focus is on self first. The result is we are lost and carry the burdened of our own depravity.

Here is the point: When you get to the point of focusing on God first, God carries our burden of sin. He lifts the sin off us…through grace he sets us free. People look at Christianity as a type slavery…but the truth is, its freedom…freedom from self.

-ps