Personality cults are common to every culture and society. It was common in the Old Testament - As they danced, they sang: "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands. 1 Samuel 18.7
It is found even in the New Testament - One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas "; still another, "I follow Christ." Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul? 1 Cor. 1.12-13
Lutherans revere Martin Luther; Methodists honor Wesley; Catholics revere the Pope; Mormons have Joseph Smith; and SDAs have Ellen G. White; America has the Founding Fathers.
But I have noticed that no one seems to have more heroes than we (yes, I am counting myself one!) Pentecostal/Charismatics or more loyal followers than those devoted to their favorite preacher/teacher/prophet. In my former denomination, shrines could have been built to certain names from Charles Parham on.
I have noticed that this forums most viewed threads are usually the ones that include the name of a current Charismatic celebrity and they are also the threads where passions pro-and-con become most enflamed.
But is this healthy?
Is the focus taken off the Great Example to lesser examples?
Is glory that belongs to Christ sometimes redirected to men and women?
Hey, I will admit, I have my heroes, too. Some of them are even Charismatics . None of them have television ministries, though, and none of them appeal for my money to keep their ministry afloat. But I have my hero all the same.
But, here's my question:
How healthy are these personality cults? (Cult, I feel, is the appropriate word, since one of the marks of a cult is the influence a dominating charismatic personality.)
Should we take a position against this tendency to idolize individuals and of blindly criticizing/defending them?
How prevalent do you think this phenomenon is?
\o/
It is found even in the New Testament - One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas "; still another, "I follow Christ." Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul? 1 Cor. 1.12-13
Lutherans revere Martin Luther; Methodists honor Wesley; Catholics revere the Pope; Mormons have Joseph Smith; and SDAs have Ellen G. White; America has the Founding Fathers.
But I have noticed that no one seems to have more heroes than we (yes, I am counting myself one!) Pentecostal/Charismatics or more loyal followers than those devoted to their favorite preacher/teacher/prophet. In my former denomination, shrines could have been built to certain names from Charles Parham on.
I have noticed that this forums most viewed threads are usually the ones that include the name of a current Charismatic celebrity and they are also the threads where passions pro-and-con become most enflamed.
But is this healthy?
Is the focus taken off the Great Example to lesser examples?
Is glory that belongs to Christ sometimes redirected to men and women?
Hey, I will admit, I have my heroes, too. Some of them are even Charismatics . None of them have television ministries, though, and none of them appeal for my money to keep their ministry afloat. But I have my hero all the same.
But, here's my question:
How healthy are these personality cults? (Cult, I feel, is the appropriate word, since one of the marks of a cult is the influence a dominating charismatic personality.)
Should we take a position against this tendency to idolize individuals and of blindly criticizing/defending them?
How prevalent do you think this phenomenon is?
\o/