Chuck DeGroat Counseling, Culture, Failure, False Self, Lament, Narcissism, Psychology

Grace (and the abuse of grace) for narcissists and abusers

I live daily with a paradox. On the one hand, grace is audacious, extravagant, immediate, and all-embracing. On the other, grace is painful, reconstructive, surgical, and slow. Grace is the deliverance from Egypt and grace is the long, grueling journey through a blistering wilderness. I live with this paradox because of the work I do. … Continue reading Grace (and the abuse of grace) for narcissists and abusers

Chuck DeGroat Enneagram, False Self, Psychology, Spirituality and Formative Practices, Theology, Vocation and Calling

A Response to Joe Carter’s TGC blog “The FAQ’s: What Christians Should Know About The Enneagram.”

Over at The Gospel Coalition, Joe Carter has written a thoughtful and measured blog on The Enneagram. I'd encourage you to read it. With Joe, I've seen the shortcomings of this tool in my 15+ years of using it. I'm seeing it become an evangelical fad, of sorts. I had a whole chapter on it … Continue reading A Response to Joe Carter’s TGC blog “The FAQ’s: What Christians Should Know About The Enneagram.”

Chuck DeGroat Counseling, Culture, False Self, Narcissism, Psychology

Bill Hybels and the Future of the Church After #ChurchToo

When I read Phyliss Tickle's The Great Emergence five years ago, I couldn't help but think of that oft-misquoted line about Mark Twain's imminent demise: "Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated." I'd read Regele's The Death of the Church more than a decade before, but after watching the so-called Emergent movement emerge and stumble, never … Continue reading Bill Hybels and the Future of the Church After #ChurchToo

Chuck DeGroat Counseling, Failure, God is near, Lament, Narcissism, Psychology, Theology, Vocation and Calling

Too far to fall: The pastor’s worst fear – Failure

Failure. It's a f-word of pastoral ministry. It's the worst fear, the deepest dread. "I'd rather be diagnosed with a fatal disease than fail," one candidate wrote on his psychological assessment. "Failure - that's just too far to fall," said another. I was fired in 2003. It was my greatest vocational humiliation. After serving a … Continue reading Too far to fall: The pastor’s worst fear – Failure

Chuck DeGroat Counseling, Narcissism, Psychology, Spirituality and Formative Practices, Theology

When Narcissism Comes to…Church Doctrine (Part 1 – Introduction)

(v. 2) Narcissism is not merely a psychological phenomenon. It's a theological one, too. It concerns how we speak of and participate in God's life. In the coming blog posts, I'm going to highlight how this impacts key doctrines and themes that are often used and abused by narcissists, especially narcissistic pastors, for the sake … Continue reading When Narcissism Comes to…Church Doctrine (Part 1 – Introduction)