Our Problem With Narcissm

We cannot understand ourselves by looking at our own reflection.  This obsession with self leads to destruction. (Read the story of Narcissus)  We can only understand ourselves and our purpose in life by recognizing that we are but a reflection of Him in whose image we were created.  The reflection itself is non-existent.  The person looking at you from the mirror every morning isn't really in the mirror.  

Narcissistic behavior is focusing on image, not reality.  Christ helps us solve our failure to connect with the reality in our lives by redirecting our focus from ourselves (the image) to Christ (the reality)  Our perception of reality is distorted by sin and this distortion becomes more and more twisted when we take our eyes off of the Source of reality.  When self-consciousness sinks into narcissism we lose touch with reality and live in a world we've created for ourselves.  This explains why so many in our culture have drifted so far from the truth of the living God.  When a Christian walks into a room of smiling people he thinks they are reflecting the joy of the Lord.  When a narcissist walks into a room of smiling people he thinks they are reflecting his own image, they are smiling for him.  In a sense, he is replacing God with himself.  It is self-worship.  It is pride, something God hates deeply.

Kevin Probst - Teaches History, Government and Apologetics at the high school level in Columbus Georgia.