Among the variety of ideas that could be taken from my time at the CCDA conference this week, there's a more subtle and indirect theme that emerged from John Perkins... The danger of the personality driven ministry.
He led an hour long scripture-centered reflection each of the mornings. On three separate occasions he made these remarks regarding the role of personality and the church,
"I think the church has overemphasized personality."
"The church is layered with personality cults."
"Leadership in the Kingdom is not about one person."
I believe this 80-year-old former sharecropper, turned prophetic activist had his reasons for emphasizing this idea for such a time as this. Personality driven ministry is how ideas get spread, books get sold, etc. In a social media culture, personality is the predominant characteristic most people think they want in a church community.
But attractive personality is not what sustains the holistic development of people. It's not what calls people toward a bigger vision of justice and prayer
A question for pastors, church starters in particular... How do you intentionally discourage this with the people you develop and lead?
How do you expand the imagination and invite people beyond a spirituality based on your personality?
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