The Power of ‘Personality Cults’

Popular magazines and websites create lists of the biggest names and the fastest-growing lesser-known leaders. They interview the leader, then hold events to celebrate and award plaques to be hung in the lobbies and offices of these outstanding churches and leaders.  Admittedly, I have even worked at one of these churches—with those plaques on the wall.

Associations and groups hold these seemingly above-average leaders up as heroes. Even more concerning is when associations and groups begin to form around them. Solely based on a person and personality, crowds flock, wanting to lead just like them. Books are written, along with websites and training videos. Conferences are hosted to become the next (fill in the blank) church and (fill in the blank) leader.

Then suddenly—or at least so it seems—it all implodes as the leader themselves implode. Look back just a decade at some of the lists mentioned above. You will see buildings left empty and congregations left lost and confused. Staff members are devastated and jobless. Even more recently, there has been a series of documentaries and podcasts dedicated to studying these downfalls.

Worst of all is the impact on Student Ministry—the next generation of children and students who feel betrayed, leaving not just that church but Christianity altogether.

My email inbox, social media, and messages are filled with stories of hurt people in ministry—those hired to work at what seemed like a growing, successful church led by a dynamic leader. The attractive position and opportunity are almost too much to resist. The appeal is always the same: Come work for this fresh new church, only ____ years old, led by a leader everyone adores.

Many of the stories end the same, however. Even some of my own stories and experiences echo what others have shared; this is often why they reach out to me. Maybe you are reading this and have begun to feel a strange unrest in your spirit about where you are, or a place where you are interviewing (I John 4:1).

We leave college with a calling in our hearts to serve students and the church. We have been taught what we believe are clear lines between strange cults and solid churches. We hear the word “cult” and think of an oddly dressed man with a wild look in his eye, surrounded by an adoring, unquestioning group of followers meeting in secret. His words are never challenged, and when he speaks, everyone listens. He asks his followers to talk a certain way, dress a certain way, and live according to his rules.

We, as smart and educated youth workers, would never fall for that…would we?

A while back, I wrote some thoughts about “key leaders” and why they fail. As you look back at that list, I think you will see echoes of what many call “personality cults” inside today’s church. It is not a new phenomenon in history, and it is not even new in the Bible (I Cor. 3:18–23).

As more and more churches move away from denominations and associations, there is often less leadership accountability. While multi-site churches may offer accountability within their own structures, many spring up from a central site founded by a person without accountability—or with accountability that is no longer in place. Even in these churches, elders and leadership boards are sometimes chosen by the leader rather than by the congregation. Staff members are often hired only from within the church under the guise of “raising up leaders from within” or “protecting our unique culture.” Even more alarming is when leadership teams—paid and unpaid—consist primarily of a leader’s family, friends, and close relationships. A place where no outsiders are allowed in as insiders can become deeply problematic. Perhaps most concerning is when a “ministry school” forms around these churches and leadership structures to shape the next generation of leaders without accreditation, offering a “certificate” in place of a recognized degree.

As leaders in ministry—choosing to serve under another leader while guiding the next generation—it is so important that we beware of the power of “personality cults.” Here are four brief thoughts from my own experiences and the experiences of many others:

Beware of Following the Personality.
If a church is founded and shaped around a singular person and personality, be cautious. Personality inevitably shapes leadership. Organizations often take on the personality of their leaders. Beware when personality, personal preference, and personal pride become the dominant persona of a church.

Beware of Following the Practice.
If a church is rigidly committed to human practices or traditions not grounded in Scripture, be cautious. We all encounter the phrase, “We’ve always done it this way.” Watch out when sacred cows become golden calves—moving from the back room to center stage and becoming objects of devotion.

Beware of Following the Preaching.
If the speaking ability, style, and content of one person’s preaching become the only voice that can be heard, be cautious. We should seek churches with strong teaching and preaching that help us grow. But if a church is so tuned to one voice that no other can be heard, there may be a problem.

Follow Only the Power of the Cross.
The head of the Church is—and always has been—Jesus. He is the one we follow. The power of the cross is what gives the Church its strength. It is upon the Rock—Jesus—that every church should be founded, not on the latest rock-star leader—Peter, Paul, or Apollos. Beware, my friends, of the danger of following only a human leader and missing the opportunity to follow Christ in your calling to the next generation.