Cult of Personality

Only recently have I become aware of this term, though I’ve seen it’s destructive nature played out many times over the course of my involvement in ministries through the years…

A cult of personality, or rather a personality cult, is a term describing the adulation of a single living leader. The person is many times characterized as being a “liberator” or “savior” of the people. In the secular world this is usually said in the context of leader such as Stalin, Hitler, or Castro.

In the religious world, we too have cults of personality. And while our personality cults may be a bit less totalitarian, they are rarely much different otherwise.

In a secular personality cult you might find large pictures, statues, and other monuments to the leader’s greatness and wisdom. The aim is to make the leader and the state seem synonymous, so eventually it becomes impossible to comprehend the existence of one without the other. In the religious realm you are apt to also see pictures, statues, and other monuments to the leader… but you are also likely to find titles, quotes, books, buildings, and other self-promotion tied to the leader.

Eventually, the religious leader’s personality and preferences take precedence over the ministry or cause they lead. Over time the leader begins to think that their status is as much a right as it is a privilige… their right to rule and lead however they please, no matter the casulties.

The propaganda and ‘monuments’, whatever they may be, help justify the (many times) harsh rule of the leader. The people are propagandized into believing that the leader operates as a kind and just ruler, when often the exact opposite is the case. Those who would speak out against the leader are removed from fellowship or otherwise punished for their speech/actions.

In return, the leader is typically able to act in great humility and modesty, allowing others to enact judgement on any whom might disagree. The leader is able to characterize the actions of those they lead as nothing more than spontaneous shows of affection by their people.

This divorce from responsibility, and reality, ultimately raises the leader to a status of greatness that they themselves cannot fill… the legend becoming too large for a mere man to fill… and eventually it all collapses, either the regime, or the sanity of the person who led it.

Pastors… ministry leaders… don’t let this become you, or your ministry. I am so thankful to not be serving in one.

Wikipedia