tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22646012.post8488037451469473131..comments2023-11-04T00:19:12.362+11:00Comments on I'm ramblin' again: Cult of Personality: Emptying the Cross of its PowerJustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04773963984084893424noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22646012.post-67965741522129877422008-09-06T14:27:00.000+10:002008-09-06T14:27:00.000+10:00Hey Justin...this is an interesting post; you migh...Hey Justin...<BR/>this is an interesting post; you might want to read my recent blogpost concerning a recent scandal at Hillsongs church. I'm not sure it relates..but somehow maybe it does.<BR/>have you heard of Michael Guglielmucci?<BR/>xanga.com/eunionEJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18202717602412488271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22646012.post-38201728668354969442008-09-05T13:49:00.000+10:002008-09-05T13:49:00.000+10:00Luke,I think I understand what you are saying. But...Luke,<BR/><BR/>I think I understand what you are saying. <BR/><BR/>But -- and I say this with all respect to you as a friend -- 'emptying the cross of its power' is not about robbing the message of a punch. So its not both ways.<BR/><BR/>I think that emptying the cross of its power is when, in the divisions created by 'power' and 'wisdom', people pursue the 'powerful one' and the 'wise one'. The reason it empties the cross of its power is that the cross is weak to the powerful, and foolish to the wise.<BR/><BR/>In other words, when the World heads UPWARDS, the cross heads DOWNWARDS.<BR/><BR/>The Christian message is a plain declaration of the truth -- said, in Paul's case, in fear and trembling.<BR/><BR/>I think I have that right.<BR/><BR/>Emptying the Cross of its power is not about people having existential angst about whether they are loving Jesus, or loving the preacher.<BR/><BR/>Let me know what you think, brother Luke.Justinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04773963984084893424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22646012.post-21172138083824746672008-09-05T01:38:00.000+10:002008-09-05T01:38:00.000+10:00maybe looking wider and reminding ourselves of the...<I>maybe looking wider and reminding ourselves of the uncountable ways God works *outside* of formalised preaching would ground everything more in perspective a bit? i dunno?? :)</I><BR/><BR/>Brilliant, Mandy. You just hit the nail on the head.Justinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04773963984084893424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22646012.post-65782309910419736592008-09-05T01:37:00.000+10:002008-09-05T01:37:00.000+10:00Luke -- not sure what you mean. But keen to hear i...Luke -- not sure what you mean. But keen to hear it.Justinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04773963984084893424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22646012.post-83971559819384871572008-09-05T00:40:00.000+10:002008-09-05T00:40:00.000+10:00ohhhh man, *sigh*why are we even such "fans" of al...ohhhh man, *sigh*<BR/><BR/>why are we even such "fans" of always talking about this stuff all the time ???<BR/><BR/>round and round in circles...;p<BR/>getting dizzy<BR/><BR/>(sorry justin!)<BR/><BR/>why do preachers always get so much attention anyway? maybe looking wider and reminding ourselves of the uncountable ways God works *outside* of formalised preaching would ground everything more in perspective a bit? i dunno?? :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22646012.post-88490944692503203232008-09-05T00:14:00.000+10:002008-09-05T00:14:00.000+10:00The danger is double-sided. The problem when a 'pe...The danger is double-sided. The problem when a 'personality' speaker preaches, there are those who - almost sub-consciously- flock to the personality (and risk emptying the cross of its power) and those who distract those who can't multi-task from listening to what the personality is saying, by raising the perplexing question of 'the cult of personality' and so also risk emptying the cross of its power, due to the torment caused by asking 'am I drawn to Jesus or the style of this preacher'. ;-)<BR/><BR/>LukeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22646012.post-59542421066785967752008-09-04T14:55:00.000+10:002008-09-04T14:55:00.000+10:00Great article Justin.Its a challenge to keep Chris...Great article Justin.<BR/><BR/>Its a challenge to keep Christ at the centre of our faith and believe fully in the power of the gospel (Jesus). The temptation we face daily is to put idols in the way of Jesus...and even Christian ones.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the challenge!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22646012.post-18275677264277042652008-09-04T14:29:00.000+10:002008-09-04T14:29:00.000+10:00Feel free to post a note, James.P.S. I am not talk...Feel free to post a note, James.<BR/><BR/>P.S. I am not talking about anything happening in Sydney. I don't want to dismiss the power of critique because someone is famous. <BR/><BR/>I just don't want to be involved in the cult of personality.Justinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04773963984084893424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22646012.post-32905043525197637572008-09-04T13:13:00.000+10:002008-09-04T13:13:00.000+10:00Timely and accurate.Do you mind if I refer to this...Timely and accurate.<BR/>Do you mind if I refer to this post in a facebook note? (of course just to give credit where credit is due, not because I am a fan :))Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01889467446441763139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22646012.post-67395508313355316082008-09-03T16:31:00.000+10:002008-09-03T16:31:00.000+10:00but so often people trying to warn others about th...<I>but so often people trying to warn others about this issue end up tearing down a godly person because they're 'famous' or can preach well...</I><BR/><BR/>Hey Samr -- yeah -- that ain't right. Good call.<BR/><BR/>But here is something I have seen: I've seen people with a legitimate concern *not* to empty the cross of its power - and so say things that Carl Truman has said -- and they just get told that 'it must be envy', or 'that's tall poppy syndrome'.<BR/><BR/>Maybe.<BR/><BR/>Maybe that's what they accused the Apostle Paul of. (Who knows?)<BR/><BR/>Or maybe it's a legitimate desire to make sure Christianity is a <B>cross-shaped</B> movement even in its agency, and not a movement of the Flesh.<BR/><BR/>Either way -- I thank God for all people who speak the truth. Especially when the truth is told by a non-hero, and out of the public eye, and before a God who sees all.<BR/><BR/>Oh, the power of that moment! (I wish we could see the power from God's perspective!)Justinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04773963984084893424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22646012.post-38535858693136335922008-09-03T16:18:00.000+10:002008-09-03T16:18:00.000+10:00Great post Justin. Can I be your fan? ;) Seriously...Great post Justin. Can I be your fan? ;) <BR/><BR/>Seriously, thanks for posting this stuff up. I love reading posts that point me back to the scriptures.<BR/><BR/>We're all susceptible to this issue, but so often people trying to warn others about this issue end up tearing down a godly person because they're 'famous' or can preach well, rather than pointing us back to our own hearts and to Jesus and his cross.SamRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17712877601195896353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22646012.post-34174392695267284042008-09-03T15:59:00.000+10:002008-09-03T15:59:00.000+10:00Yeah-- that's cynical. Unless you know something I...Yeah-- that's cynical. Unless you know something I don't know.<BR/><BR/>Doesn't this happen at every college: take the lecturer out for a beer, and become his/her best mate? <BR/><BR/>Isn't Truman describing something that happens all the time?<BR/><BR/>Tell me MPJ -- You are the professor!Justinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04773963984084893424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22646012.post-6125354458294575962008-09-03T15:57:00.000+10:002008-09-03T15:57:00.000+10:00Is it too cynical to point out that Trueman has ju...Is it too cynical to point out that Trueman has just let the world know that there are people who want to make him a hero? Should we be impressed by his humility?michael jensenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15379361601019023165noreply@blogger.com