It depends on what you mean when you say “God.” The Greek god Zeus was probably a narcissist. Most Greek deities were exaggerated versions of human wrath, jealousy, eros, etc. Maybe they weren’t complete narcissists, but they didn’t exactly live by the golden rule, did they? The deities from the Ugaritic and Sumerian cultures were antecedent but mainly similar to the Greek pantheon. They demanded animal sacrifices to appease their anger or feed their stomachs. Humans existed to serve their god-pleasures. They battled each other for power and had no qualms about deceiving others or sexualizing relationships inappropriately. They demanded fealty and showed inconsistent loyalty. Again, they were often exaggerated versions of the human ego.
From the outset, Yahweh, the self-revealing God of the Bible, was fundamentally different in character from the other “gods.” He does not need our food or service. He does not need animal sacrifices or our praise to stroke his ego. He is giving himself to us, and we are the ones who need him. He is training us to migrate out of our hermit crab shell of isolation and selfish independence. He is coaxing us back into trusting dependence on him and self-sacrificing relationships with others. Loving connectedness and not competition is how we experience abundant life.
Narcissists!
A narcissist wants what is best for themself, not the people around them. Yahweh, the Life Giver, desires that all his creation flourishes and is blessed. He called his creation “good.” He wants to share his Creator Life with the children he made in his image. He is the maximum source of pleasure and joy. He provides blessings and abundance and freely shares his love with others. It is our selfishness that abuses his creation, and he will not bless the sin and abuse that destroys others.
A narcissist is incapable of feeling empathy; everything is always about them. Yahweh is “the compassionate and gracious God.” He is seen rescuing slaves, visiting with the forgotten people (Genesis 16), protecting the fragile (Jeremiah 22:15-17), tending his people like a shepherd (Ezekiel 34:10-16), and literally getting under our skin to share in our sufferings (Hebrews 4:15-16). Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Isaiah 53:5 also describes a God who comes as a servant to carry our burden for us, “he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”
A narcissist treats people like possessions (not persons), exploits, manipulates, and uses people for their own advantage. Yahweh encodes our uniqueness and treats his children with value and individuality. God’s laws aren’t created to control people. His laws are designed to protect people against the abuse that self-interest and narcissism generate. God’s laws equalize all persons under a common standard of justice; they protect the least valuable members of society from exploitation.
A narcissist holds people to a different standard than themselves. Yahweh lives up to his own standards. Indeed, Jesus was Yahweh-in-the-flesh, and he demonstrated the highest level of sacrificial love. He demonstrated the truth, even when it cost him social credibility or security. Jesus perfectly fulfilled the spirit of compassion and the law of justice on the cross.
Why does God demand singular love and attention?
Some of you may still be asking the question: if God is not a narcissist, why is he obsessed with worship and glory? Exodus 20:3 says, “You shall have no other gods [in my presence],” and Isaiah 48:11 “For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this. How can I let myself be defamed? I will not yield my glory to another.”
Answer 1: God is the only Life Giver. He is the singular source that can satisfy your needs, purposes, and joys. To allow any other is to permit leeches and liars to steal the fullness that a good and giving God has created you for.
You were designed to worship God. As a musical instrument is breathed into and played by its master, you become fully alive when the master’s breath of worship blows through you. It is a loving and trusting relationship, not an abusive one.
Answer 2: God is the ultimate source of Truth. God tells the truth, and every other god is a liar and a crook who is plagiarizing what belongs to God alone. When we surrender to his leadership, his laws force us out of the shadows of our self-deception and entitlement. His truthful laws bring equal correction and accountability. They also bring freedom and blessing when we live within the boundaries he provides. His standards force us to grow up. We think we know best, but we have to surrender to his definitions of reality and practice sacrificial love toward others.
Answer 3: God is personal love, and he wants you to experience the fullness that comes from his love. If we run to other lovers, substances, success, ambition, or pleasure to satisfy us, we won’t experience the fullness of the love he provides. He even compares himself to a jealous husband who doesn’t want his wife sleeping around with other men (Hosea 2). God loves you so much; he wants you all to himself. He wants us to learn to say “no” to other options so that we can know him fully and be satisfied in him.
Many religious people have used God’s name and authority to control others for their own advantage. That’s narcissistic. Yahweh is the self-sacrificing One. It is we who are jaded by sin, abuse, and coercion. God calls his creation back to himself to experience the peace and life that comes from living connected to him. He is the source of unfailing compassion and truth. That is not narcissism; that is uniquely wonderful.
Tags: worship, freedom, joy, justice, self, protection, selfish, gods, abuse, equality, laws, bully, exploit, manipulate, coerce, narcissist
