Narcissism, a problem of self-idolatry

05/23/2026 | Anima Care & Hope Counseling Center | Articles, Biblical Counseling

Author: Rosie Anderson

John looked for counseling because of this great sense of loneliness and isolation from family and friends, although he “really does not need them.” He has been diagnosed with “narcissistic personality disorder” (NPD) in the past, caused by some traumatic events in childhood. He had been working from home, and spending hours in front of the TV. Prescription medicine and alcohol were becoming an issue, but he thought it was under control. He claimed to be a good Christian who attended church services regularly, however, with no commitment.

NPD is defined as a mental health disorder, involving mainly a pattern of grandiosity, a constant need for admiration, and a lack of empathy for others. It is diagnosed clinically by empirical methods, but only the outward symptoms are being treated.[1] NPD is increasingly growing culturally and within the church, causing devastated suffering and abusive patterns if left scripturally unchallenged. The Bible calls narcissism, “insolent pride” (Prov 21:24), a spiritual distortion rooted in self-worshipping, rather than a personality disorder. I will use the trending label “narcissism” as a common term within the culture. Scripture is far superior for all matters of life (1 Tim 3:16-17), including what modern psychology calls “narcissism,” referring to it as “insolent pride,” fundamentally a spiritual issue rooted in self-worshiping, rather than a personality disorder.

Navigating through a counseling session with a “narcissist,” can be deeply frustrating and distressing. We must be aware of their constant need for control, manipulation, and admiration, aiming to alter their sense of reality in order to safeguard themselves. So, we depend on the Spirit and ask for discernment in order to peel back layers of deception to reveal how narcissism forms, functions, and disguises itself. With patience, we will learn how to recognize the various faces of NPD, and understand why certain people become their targets and how even church environment can become hunting grounds for spiritual predators.[2] Although it is a challenge to recognize situational patterns in NPD, the apostle Paul illuminates the core of narcissism: self-worship masquerading as righteousness (Rom 1:25). This is not a trendy psychological label, or social media catchword. It is an ancient rebellion with eternal consequences, that Scripture has always identified and addressed.[3]

In order to grasp an understanding of what “narcissism” means biblically, we must recognize the real-life pressure that influences the person with the problem of self-worship at his point. This problem of narcissism is not a genetic, biological, or environmental problem, as affirmed by many.[4] It is primarily a spiritual problem of selfish ambition and idolatry that resides in the heart, affecting some and excluding others. This problem of self-worship is one that comes to all of us, and it is the source of all of our trouble (Gen 3:5).[5]

In order to bring attention to themselves, narcissist people will play the blame-game intuitively, accusing family, friends, jobs, politics and more, for all their problems. Although biblical counseling does not attribute sin to external circumstances; we must recognize that circumstances create the environment in which the heart reacts. Some of the symptoms associated with narcissism, involves a great sense of self-importance, always exaggerating about their achievements, intelligence, success and power, which leads them to associate only with those they see as worthy. Because of their superiority complex, they tend to exploit or use others for their own interest, self-esteem or status. Arrogance and pride are patronizing behaviors, always talking down or acting condescendingly towards others. Relationships become challenging, and they end up isolating themselves, making it convenient to turn to alcohol or substance abuse to help them when reality does not meet their expectations, providing feelings that they might want to seek.[6]

Secular psychology seeks to evaluate a person from longitudinal observation of their behavior. In fact, they state that narcissists are not bad people; it is their behavior that is problematic, and it takes time and effort to change it.[7] Their approach dismisses or downplays the active heart and instead, assign causation or justification for their behavior. As opposed to that approach, biblical counselors are always looking at the sinful desires or idols of the heart. If either understanding or desires are ignored, then appeals should change people’s actions will only amount to temporary or shallow behavioral change, implying that people have the power to change themselves by their own determination. Permanent changes with eternal consequences happen when the heart is changed.[8] After gathering as much as possible information about the current situation, we must start thinking biblically about the person and his problems, focusing on the issues at the heart in order to interpret all the data accurately.[9]

John Bettler argues that Paul gives us a trustworthy statement in 1 Timothy 1:15, that summarizes a biblical counselor ministry, which is about saving sinners, through Jesus Christ. The problem is that we soften sin, we have victims not sinners anymore. And if we do not have sinners, we do not need salvation. We need recovery.[10] That is what we are dealing when we counsel narcissist people, who struggle with idolatry and pride. So, when we think biblically about this issue, we look for three components: increasingly know and treasure God’s Word in our heart and mind; carefully test and examine everything we read and hear through His Word; accurately filter everything in life according to God’s Word. We are called to think biblical about “narcissism” and have compassion on them, to learn the traits of these troubled individuals and carefully navigate through the proper use of this terminology, as we discern and equip ourselves biblically, remaining faithful to God and his Word while entrusting the people and the outcome to God (1 Thes 5:21-22).[11]

Although counseling people with narcissist traits can be complex and confusing at times, Scripture offers a superior and sufficient foundation for understanding and addressing narcissism, because it reveals the true spiritual nature of the problem, self-worship and idolatry, as an attempt to exalt the self in place of God. While the psychological categories describe narcissistic behavior as a disorder, they do not offer hope for the counselee. Only the word of God can expose the multifaceted layers beneath the heart of a narcissist, offering transformation and the only everlasting remedy, by the regenerative work of the Spirit: a heart that goes from self-glory to God’s glory.

[1] Paroma Mitra et al., “Narcissistic Personality Disorder,” in StatPearls (StatPearls Publishing, 2025), http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK556001/.

[2] Warren G. Lamb, Narcissism, Unmasking the Avatar (Biblically) (Truth in Love, 2025), 1:14.

[3] Lamb, Narcissism, Unmasking the Avatar (Biblically) (Truth in Love, 2025), 1:9.

[4] Allen G. Ross et al., “Adverse Childhood Experiences Leading to Narcissistic Personality Disorder: A Case Report,” BMC Psychiatry 24, no. 1 (2024): 842, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-024-06307-9; “Narcissistic Personality Disorder,” Mental Health Care, Cleveland Clinic, August 3, 2023, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9742-narcissistic-personality-disorder.

[5] Heath Lambert, Narcissism and the Bible – ACBC, episode 172, Truth in Love, September 18, 2018, https://biblicalcounseling.com/resource-library/podcast-episodes/til-172-narcissism-and-the-bible/.

[6] “Narcissistic Personality Disorder,” Mental Health Care, Cleveland Clinic, August 2, 2023, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9742-narcissistic-personality-disorder.

[7] Larissa Biggers, “9 Signs of Narcissistic Personality Disorder,” Duke University Health System, Duke Health, December 15, 2022, https://www.dukehealth.org/blog/9-signs-of-narcissistic-personality-disorder.

[8] Jeremy Pierre, The Dynamic Heart in Daily Life: Connecting Christ to Human Experience (New Growth Press, 2016), 6.

[9] Robert D. Jones et al., The Gospel for Disordered Lives: An Introduction to Christ-Centered Biblical Counseling (B&H Academic, 2021), 182.

[10] John Bettler, JBC Archive | Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation, 13, no. 1 (1994), https://store.ccef.org/my-account/jbc/131/counseling-and-the-doctrine-of-sin/.

[11] Mark Baker, Thinking Biblically About Narcissism, e-book (Hope Ink Publisher, 2024), 2, 59.