Messiah Complex

Nice guy. Perfect family. Cares for others. Attends church. Good speaker, too. Quality characteristics. We all would agree. Except when they’re combined with (spell it): P-R-I-D-E ~ Pride.

Evil seldom presents itself without a cloak. (If it did, who would buy into it?) I’m talking about the “Messiah complex” in particular. The above 5 characteristics could indeed be included in the profile of a person whose has one.

The Bible has something to say about the Messiah complex (I believe) in 1st Timothy chapter 3 and it’s relationship to leadership: “It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. He must be one who manages his own household well . . . and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil.” (1 Timothy 3:1, 4a, 6) Of course, this is counsel as regards the Church, but it applies to any organization.

The importance of having proven and godly character in other settings first (in the household of family, in the household of faith) and prior to an appointment to office/as a leader is stressed. It is the protection against the sin of pride (conceit). Which is really what’s at the core of a Messiah complex and behind the following…

5 characteristics of the Messiah complex:

1. An individual believes himself to be a savior.
2. He has an injustice/evil to make right.
3. He is unable to receive counsel even when shown to be wrong.
4. He embraces a hidden degeneracy in his own life which inevitably becomes known.
5. He has a twisted relationship with the true Messiah (Jesus Christ).

(The following sites were helpful in study: Wikipedia: Messiah complex and Psychology Today: Messiahs of Evil-Part 3.)