RIP: The Neutralizing of Preaching Personalities

Originally Posted by The Dean

It must be lonely in your little cynical world. Let's make a deal, Chan: you go on doing whatever people do on your planet and we'll keep enjoying ministries with flavor and personality. It's not idol worship but a multiplicity of ministries that is even borne out in the Bible by showing us the personalities of a quick tempered Simon Peter and a loving nature in John.

I assure you that my "world" (the kingdom of Heaven) is not lonely.

The men listed on this thread are all strong Word preachers. They just have personality to their ministries and that is what makes their particular ministry unique.

I don't doubt that they're strong word preachers. All the more reason not to elevate them to "personality" or "celebrity" status: it would be contrary to what they preach. It's still idolatry and you spit on the greatness of God as HE works in the lives of these men by elevating these men instead of elevating God.

[The Dean]

Originally Posted by Chan

It's still idolatry and you spit on the greatness of God as HE works in the lives of these men by elevating these men instead of elevating God.

Alright. Let me say this slow. Put your analytical mind to the positive side of this discussion and see if this helps.

We are not taking away from God at all. We are honoring God for giving us men whose ministry we enjoy.

Your self consumed superciliousness by saying that any of the righteous people posting how they enjoy the distinctly different anointings that God puts on various men's ministries as spitting on the greatness of God proves but one thing. The only idol being worshipped is the idol you've made out of yourself.

[tbpew]

Originally Posted by The Dean

Alright. Let me say this slow. Put your analytical mind to the positive side of this discussion and see if this helps.

We are not taking away from God at all. We are honoring God for giving us men whose ministry we enjoy.

Your self consumed superciliousness by saying that any of the righteous people posting how they enjoy the distinctly different anointings that God puts on various men's ministries as spitting on the greatness of God proves but one thing. The only idol being worshipped is the idol you've made out of yourself.

now what we have here is a vivid demonstration of a dichotomy of thought!

[Blubayou]

I have so enjoyed reading this thread. It has affirmed many things that my husband and I have been talking about in recent months. We have a wonderful pastor and admire and enjoy his preaching. We long for more preachers that preach with passion for the gospel and to be "plowed up" by the Word and for saints to have that life- changing encounter with conviction and repentance.

[The Dean]

Originally Posted by tbpew

now what we have here is a vivid demonstration of a dichotomy of thought!

Hey, did you just cuss at me?

[Felicity]

Originally Posted by The Dean

Alright. Let me say this slow. Put your analytical mind to the positive side of this discussion and see if this helps.

We are not taking away from God at all. We are honoring God for giving us men whose ministry we enjoy.

Your self consumed superciliousness by saying that any of the righteous people posting how they enjoy the distinctly different anointings that God puts on various men's ministries as spitting on the greatness of God proves but one thing. The only idol being worshipped is the idol you've made out of yourself.

Wow! I'm impressed!

[Felicity]

Originally Posted by The Dean

Alright. Let me say this slow. Put your analytical mind to the positive side of this discussion and see if this helps.

We are not taking away from God at all. We are honoring God for giving us men whose ministry we enjoy.

Your self consumed superciliousness by saying that any of the righteous people posting how they enjoy the distinctly different anointings that God puts on various men's ministries as spitting on the greatness of God proves but one thing. The only idol being worshipped is the idol you've made out of yourself.

Originally Posted by Felicity

Wow! I'm impressed!

*self consumed superciliousness*

Say that 3x fast. LOL!

Originally Posted by The Dean

Alright. Let me say this slow. Put your analytical mind to the positive side of this discussion and see if this helps.

We are not taking away from God at all. We are honoring God for giving us men whose ministry we enjoy.

Your self consumed superciliousness by saying that any of the righteous people posting how they enjoy the distinctly different anointings that God puts on various men's ministries as spitting on the greatness of God proves but one thing. The only idol being worshipped is the idol you've made out of yourself.

But to elevate these men to some sort of celebrity or "personality" status does not honor God and does not honor these men - all of whom I'm sure would balk at the very idea of being elevated in such a manner.

Chan,

Let me jump into the discussion here and tell you that what I referred to in this thread was the personality of the MINISTRY and not so much the personality of the MINISTER.

Their personality will bleed through just as your surely does. If not you would surely be some kind of boring to endure as a ministry.

Originally Posted by Steadfast

Chan,

Let me jump into the discussion here and tell you that what I referred to in this thread was the personality of the MINISTRY and not so much the personality of the MINISTER.

Their personality will bleed through just as your surely does. If not you would surely be some kind of boring to endure as a ministry.

To quote the original post:

* Have our attitudes towards the ministry become so jaded that we refuse to allow room for ‘preaching’ personalities into our sphere of influence?

It still isn't about personality (whether of the ministry or the minister), it's about the power of God working through that ministry. My prayer is to decrease as He increases and that certainly doesn't make allowances for my personality to "bleed through."