Narcigesis refers to the phenomenon of interpreting or twisting biblical texts to support one’s own narcissistic desires, attitudes, or actions. The term combines “narcissism” and “exegesis,” which is the critical interpretation of biblical texts. Narcigesis occurs when someone approaches the Bible with an attitude of self-absorption, arrogance, or entitlement, and reads oneself into the text in order to justify pursuing selfish goals or feed one’s sense of grandiosity.
Some examples of narcigesis include:
– Using isolated verses that promote self-exaltation (“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” – Philippians 4:13) while ignoring passages urging humility and servanthood.
– Focusing only on texts about God’s blessings and favor while downplaying commands to sacrificially love others.
– Interpreting narratives like David and Goliath as license to attack perceived “giants” in one’s own life, when the true lesson is about God empowering the weak.
– Citing verses about Jesus’ unconditional love without balancing it with calls to repentance and obedience.
– Appropriating promises meant for Israel (like prosperity and victory) as guarantees for oneself today.
– Assuming descriptors of biblical heroes reflect virtues to emulate versus flaws to avoid.
– Using the Bible like a self-help manual to search out validation rather than allowing Scripture to confront and transform us.
At the heart of narcigesis is a view of the Bible as a tool for self-promotion rather than as the revelation of a holy God to whom we are accountable. It stems from a mindset of entitlement that asks “How can this book meet my needs and reinforce my desires?” rather than “How can I conform my life to match God’s truth?”
Narcissism inherently means a lack of interest in others, including what God values and the needs of one’s neighbors. So narcigesis uses Scripture selectively and subjectively, energy being concentrated on the self. Passages about sacrifice, suffering, discipline, mercy, justice, and overcoming selfishness are inconvenient truths for the narcissist interpreting Bible through a self-centered lens.
Contrary to stereotypes, narcigesis is not limited to protagonists like false teachers or hypocritical religious leaders. Because narcissism exists on a spectrum, many ordinary Christians can slip into self-serving exegesis at times. Examples include:
– Parents commandeering verses about children obeying parents, without emphasizing parental duties.
– Men over-applying headship passages to demand privilege, missing instructions to sacrificial servant leadership.
– Believers claiming sickness or adversity as evidence of deficient faith in those suffering, contrary to biblical counterexamples.
– Christians rationalizing hatred, bigotry, or thirst for vengeance based on selective Old Testament texts, ignoring Jesus’ ethic of neighbor love.
– Churches declaring victimhood in culture wars, inciting panic over perceived persecution, instead of relying on Jesus’ model of humble, peaceful witness in hostile environments.
– Preachers threatening hellfire to pressure conversions, rather than allowing God’s word to draw people graciously.
– Prosperity teachers using Bible verses to guarantee wealth for donors, contradicting texts urging contentment and warning against greed.
At the extreme end, cult leaders often engage in narcigesis to control followers, portraying themselves as messianic figures who demand unconditional loyalty and service. They may use Scripture to justify abuses of authority, sexual sin, financial exploitation, isolation from outside influences, separation of families, hostility toward perceived enemies, and other unbiblical behaviors.
So how can Christians guard against falling into narcigesis in their own lives? Here are some tips:
1. Approach Scripture with humility rather than a sense of entitlement. Recognize that the Bible is meant to shape us, not for us to shape it to our will.
2. Interpret verses in context, not isolation. Don’t just look for prooftexts that reinforce your viewpoint or desires. Study adjoining verses, chapters, books, testaments, covenants, and genres to understand intended meaning.
3. Examine your motives. Why do you want particular texts to mean something? Are you resisting parts of Scripture that convict areas of selfishness or pride in your life?
4. Hold interpretations loosely, with openness to correction from Bible teachers, scholars, and spiritual mentors. Narcissists assume they have the only right interpretation.
5. Major on messages reiterated throughout Scripture, not just isolated verses that appeal to you personally. The unified Bible narrative should inform understanding of individual passages.
6. Look for ways the text points away from yourself to principles like denying self, serving others, pursuing holiness, loving enemies, standing for justice, etc. Scripture’s ultimate subject is not us but Christ.
7. Recognize narcissism in your tendency to make excuses for your own sin while being harshly judgmental toward others. The Bible diagnoses each human heart as desperately in need of grace.
8. Consider fruit. If your interpretation fosters arrogance, immorality, exploitation, or relational discord, it indicates you are misreading the passage.
9. Come submitting to Scripture rather than trying to subjugate it. God’s word is living and active, penetrating hearts and minds as an instrument of the Holy Spirit to transform us into Christ’s image.
In summary, narcigesis distorts God’s revelation by filtering Scripture through a lens of narcissism and self-absorption. This prevents the Bible from speaking into our lives with conviction and guidance to align our hearts with God’s truth and will. The solution is not just better exegesis but the renewal of our minds through humble submission to the Spirit’s work in us. With narcissism dethroned, the Bible can fulfill its purpose: revealing a God focused on glorifying himself through serving, saving, and transforming others rather than gratifying egos.