FromNowUntilForeverBook8.5x5.5 REV.indd

with each passing generation.

With that in mind, let’s dig deeper into Paul’s words, ones in which he pens a list of 18 vices, three that reveal ex- amples of degenerate love. “In the last days . . . men will be lovers of self, lovers of money . . . lovers of pleasure, rather than lovers of God” (2 Timothy 3:1, 2, 4). Amazingly, Paul nails these three isms that are permeating our current culture and often cripple the church in the process. Narcissism (lovers of themselves)—This condition takesits name from the Greek mythological character Narcissus, who fell in love with his own reflection in a pool and then changed into the flower that bears his name, the narcissus. A narcissist, one who suffers from excessive self-love, self-cen- teredness, and self-admiration, exhibits many of the following traits. • Has a grandiose sense of self-importance • Is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love • Believes that he or she is “special” and can only be under stood by, or should associate with, other special or high-

status people (or institutions) • Requires excessive admiration

• Has a sense of entitlement, i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations • Is personally exploitive, i.e., takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends

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