Narcissism — Leviathan — Shaneen Megji

Description

Shaneen Megji describes entrenched narcissism as a spiritual stronghold that develops over years of rejecting truth, repentance and God’s healing. She presents Leviathan as a spiritual force that sustains pride and resistance to correction.

She connects the beginning of this mechanism with the coexistence of hurt and being placed above others. A child experiences coldness, conditional love or rejection, while also sometimes being treated as exceptional and exempted from responsibility. Two contradictory beliefs develop: that they are deeply flawed, and that they are superior to others. The author associates these areas with the activity of spirits of rejection, abandonment, pride and entitlement.

On this foundation, a false self-image develops that must be protected to keep the underlying shame from being exposed. The person learns to manage what others think of them. Charm, appeals to pity, guilt and intimidation become ways of obtaining approval and obedience. Relationships begin to provide affirmation of personal worth, attention and resources.

Megji presents the development of this stronghold in five layers: wounds and a false identity, control and deception, exploitation of relationships, spiritual blindness, and putting oneself in God’s place. In her account, each successive layer protects those beneath it. A person brings others under their control and then builds justifications that protect them from acknowledging their own need for transformation.

The author connects Leviathan with the description of the king over the children of pride in Job 41. She applies the image of the twisting and fleeing serpent in Isaiah 27:1 to twisting conversations and avoiding responsibility. A conversation about harm done turns into accusations against the person raising it; the one responsible presents themselves as the victim. When the issue remains uncomfortable, they refuse to talk, withdraw contact or use the silent treatment.

She interprets Leviathan’s tightly joined scales as armour against correction. Arguments, accounts of suffering and passages from the Bible are rejected or turned against the person raising the issue. In her understanding, the heart of stone represents insensitivity to another person’s pain, while the untamable will means demanding to be served while refusing reciprocity. She also connects Leviathan with Python: the former sustains pride, while the latter is said to use control to constrict another person’s life and calling.

Constantly having what they see and remember called into question makes a person begin to doubt their own judgement. The other person speaks with such certainty and uses the Bible so fluently that it is easy to see them as more spiritually mature. Over time, making a decision without their approval becomes difficult. A fear develops that opposing them means opposing God.

Control begins to be called care, and speaking about harm is called rebellion. A family or church community may adopt this way of thinking and blame the person who exposes the problem. Megji describes how an influential person’s opinion gradually replaces seeking truth before God for oneself. She connects recovering discernment with trusting God again and holding to the truth, even when those around us reject it.

At the same time, a person may speak a great deal about God, prayer and revelations while continuing to mistreat those closest to them. When someone challenges their behaviour, they appeal to God’s guidance to justify their actions and avoid responsibility. Stories of spiritual experiences then serve to convince others that they should not question them.

Apologies can function in a similar way. When consequences arrive, the person cries, promises to improve and changes their behaviour for a time. When the pressure eases, they return to their old ways. Megji distinguishes regret over losing benefits from repentance for the harm done to others.

Genuine change means accepting responsibility without blaming the other person. The person acknowledges what they did, tries to repair the damage and respects the boundaries of those they hurt. They do not demand a reward for improving or expect trust to be restored immediately. The change remains visible even when no one is watching. Over time, humility, compassion and self-control grow.

Megji emphasises that a crisis alone does not guarantee such transformation. A person can lose their position, experience humiliation and admit that God is powerful, yet still be unwilling to submit their decisions to Him. Later, even a painful experience may be used to build an image of someone who has been through a great deal and is now especially spiritually mature.

This is why someone close to them cannot force their repentance. Further explanations, evidence and attempts to persuade may end in the same argument. The author encourages people to stop taking on the task of changing another person. She points to speaking truth, setting boundaries and entrusting to God what lies beyond one’s own influence.

In her teaching on Leviathan, Megji warns against trying to win every conversation and prove oneself right at any cost. She encourages examining one’s own heart, repenting of one’s own pride and handing the matter over to God as the righteous Judge. In prayer, we can bring Him the harm we have suffered, our exhaustion and our helplessness, leaving the outcome in His hands. Here she refers to Isaiah 27:1 and James 4:6: she attributes victory over Leviathan to God, and calls for humility and trust in Him as our response.

Sources

Shaneen Megji, The Demon Behind Narcissism No One Talks About (Leviathan Exposed)
https://www.shaneenmegji.com/blog/leviathan-the-spirit-of-pride-behind-narcissism

Shaneen Megji, Understanding the 5-Layer Demonic Fortress of Narcissism: How a Fortress is Built Over Time
https://www.shaneenmegji.com/blog/5-layer-demonic-fortress-of-narcissism

Shaneen Megji, How Narcissistic Abuse Undermines Your Spiritual Discernment
https://www.shaneenmegji.com/blog/how-narcissistic-abuse-undermines-your-spiritual-discernment

Shaneen Megji, The Narcissist and the Holy Spirit: Why Spiritual Transformation is So Rare
https://www.shaneenmegji.com/blog/the-narcissist-and-the-holy-spirit-why-spiritual-transformation-is-so-rare

Shaneen Megji, Why It's So Hard to Demolish the Demonic Infrastructure of Narcissism (Part 2): The Story of King Nebuchadnezzar
https://www.shaneenmegji.com/blog/why-it-s-so-hard-to-demolish-the-demonic-infrastructure-of-narcissism