Unmasking the Narcissistic Self: Confession, Church Culture, and the False Persona (Narcissism Series, Part 1)

Voxology

Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Society & Culture

4.7 • 1K Ratings

🗓️ 10 April 2018

⏱️ 42 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

How the pursuit of significance, platform-building, and personal image intertwines with the culture of American evangelicalism—and the deeply personal cost of hiding behind a false self. In this opening episode of a vulnerable new series, Mike Erre reflects on his own lifelong entanglement with narcissism: where it comes from, how it forms, how it thrives in church leadership, and the healing power of confession.

Drawing from therapeutic frameworks, Greek mythology, and personal stories—including parenting, pastoral ministry, and depression—Mike begins a raw dissection of the inner dynamics that often shape evangelical leaders. He explores why narcissists are often rewarded with influence, how they form through wounded self-images, and how easy it is to confuse acclaim for calling.

This isn’t just commentary—it’s confession. And it sets the stage for deeper exploration of why church structures seem to perpetuate narcissistic leadership and what it looks like to become free from false personas in pursuit of Jesus-shaped servanthood.

Key Takeaways:
• Understanding Narcissism and the False Persona – Narcissism often stems from early damage to self-worth, creating shame and a compulsive need to feel important, which is fed by constructing a false persona.
• Narcissism and the Church – Evangelical culture often celebrates the very traits that mask narcissism, making it hard to detect and even harder to challenge in Christian leadership.
• Telltale Signs – From an inordinate need for affirmation to reacting harshly to criticism, narcissists often exhibit specific behavioral markers that stand in contrast to humble service.
• Where Confession Meets Healing – Mike shares how circumstances, therapy, and spiritual discipline have slowly dismantled his false self and exposed the grace and growth that follow.
• The Impact on Relationships, Leadership, and Mission – Narcissistic patterns hinder intimacy, collaboration, and true kingdom leadership—posing important challenges for churches and believers.

Resources Mentioned:
• "Leading With a Limp" by Dan Allender
• Charles Stone & Peter Steinke – Writings on narcissism in church leadership
• Kenton Beshore – Former pastor and mentor at Mariners Church
• Romans 12: Don’t think of yourself more highly than you ought

Subscribe, share, or leave a review to help others join this honest conversation. And don’t miss Part 2, where we explore how American church systems invite and reward narcissistic leadership.

As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to [email protected], and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV
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Learn more at voxologypodcast.com
Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify
Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon
Check out the Voxology Spotify channel: Voxology Radio
Instagram & Facebook: @voxologypodcast
Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre
Music by Timothy John Stafford: timothyjohnstafford.com
Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to [email protected], and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV.

Our Merch Store! ETSY

Learn more about the Voxology Podcast

Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify

Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon

The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio

Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre

Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi, Internet. Mike Erie here coming at you from Suburban Columbus, Ohio where on April 9th.
0:19.0	It is snowing.
0:21.6	I simply, I felt the need to complain publicly about the weather simply because lament is a very biblical thing.
0:31.6	And I realize that people are listening from all around the country and other parts parts of the world too and that it's not as
0:38.6	awful in those places as it is here. But my complaining has become tedious to even to myself.
0:46.3	I simply will now suck it up and just accept that I am a Midwesterner and this is what the weather is like.
0:56.6	And then protesting does nothing to change it.
0:59.7	Even the weather forecast can't predict it, but it is stowing on April 9th and this is the
1:04.3	last comment I will make on the weather until maybe next week.
1:08.5	So you can breathe a sigh of relief that that is over. Welcome
1:13.1	to the podcast. If you are a new podcast listener, we've been going on a couple of years now,
1:18.7	and just have this wonderfully glorious and diverse community that's grown up around our little endeavor.
1:30.1	And one of the things that I love about it is we get tons of feedback,
1:35.2	tons of support, tons of critique, and all of that is good and wonderful.
1:39.7	What I want to do, would I want to do the next, I don't know, maybe a couple of podcasts unless
1:47.1	something major kind of interrupts the flow? I want to talk a little bit about narcissism
1:53.3	and its current place in American evangelicalism. And I speak as one who I'm learning is maybe a bit familiar with the topic.
2:07.6	And it is ironic just out of the gate. It's like complaining about social media on social media.
2:14.1	Like talking about narcissism when you're sitting in a room by yourself,
2:18.3	thinking that people are going to hear your thoughts on narcissism is narcissistic.
2:23.3	And so I totally grant that irony and I don't know what to do about it other than just to press forward with awareness.
2:31.3	Now, narcissism, at least from my little bit of research, comes from this Greek
	...

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