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    When Narcissism Comes to Church: Healing Your Community From Emotional and Spiritual Abuse
    Unavailable
    When Narcissism Comes to Church: Healing Your Community From Emotional and Spiritual Abuse
    Unavailable
    When Narcissism Comes to Church: Healing Your Community From Emotional and Spiritual Abuse
    Ebook233 pages3 hours

    When Narcissism Comes to Church: Healing Your Community From Emotional and Spiritual Abuse

    By Chuck DeGroat and Richard J. Mouw

    4/5

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    About this ebook

    Christian Book Award® program
    Outreach Resource of the Year

    Why does narcissism seem to thrive in our churches?

    We've seen the news stories. Maybe we ourselves have been hurt by a narcissistic church leader. But what is narcissism, really? And how does it infiltrate the church?

    Chuck DeGroat has been counseling pastors with narcissistic personality disorder, as well as those wounded by narcissistic leaders and systems, for over twenty years. He knows firsthand the devastation narcissism leaves in its wake and how insidious and painful it is. In When Narcissism Comes to Church, DeGroat takes a close look at narcissism, not only in ministry leaders but also in church systems. He offers compassion and hope for those affected by its destructive power and imparts wise counsel for churches looking to heal from its systemic effects.

    DeGroat also offers hope for narcissists themselves—not by any shortcut, but by the long, slow road of genuine recovery through repentance and trust in the gospel of Jesus.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherIVP
    Release dateMar 17, 2020
    ISBN9780830841998
    Author

    Chuck DeGroat

    Chuck DeGroat is associate professor of pastoral care and counseling at Western Theological Seminary, Holland, Michigan, and former teaching pastor of City Church San Francisco and executive director of City Church's Counseling Center.

    Read more from Chuck De Groat

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    Reviews for When Narcissism Comes to Church

    4/5

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    • 1/5
      Narcissism explained through the Enneageam test, which is as dangerous to the church as a narcissistic leader. Unfortunately, although this book touches on something poignant and profound in the church today (spiritual abuse), it falls short in not offering a Biblical understanding of the problem and solution.
    • 4/5
      An exploration of the effects of a person with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) when they have wielded significant influence in a church environment, and what to do about it.The author has much experience working with those with NPD. He discusses what happens when narcissism enters a church environment; he explains what narcissism means, how it gets manifest, from where it comes, and whereas all of us have some level of narcissism, to be able to see the difference with someone with NPD and its effects. He explores narcissism in terms of each of the nine types in the Enneagram and how each type can manifest narcissistic tendencie. He describes the kinds of behaviors and the inner life of a pastor with NPD. He goes beyond people and sees how systems and cultures can manifest narcissism, normally in the wake of narcissists in positions of power. He addresses gaslighting and the power it has over those affected by it. He then sets forth how people can heal from experiences with NPD church authorities, and extends hope that some with NPD might be able to come to grips with the fear and insecurity haunting them and find health. The appendix features an Enneagram based way forward, giving strategies for assisting those with NPD in each type.This is a hot button issue, and the book covers narcissism and its effects well. I think most would like to see or hope for more on the assistance and healing end of things, but that is likely not realistic. A good resource for those in ministry.**--galley received as part of early review program

      2 people found this helpful