A few years ago, a church co-worker rented a shop and announced, "Business is difficult these days, so I rented this place only to make it easier for believers to pray." His words deeply touched the congregation, elevating his image among the believers. Many praised him for his "great faith and love," and the shop soon became so crowded that visitors had to reserve time slots to pray.
However, one question lingered: why would this same co-worker, deemed "full of love" by the believers, watch elderly brothers and sisters endure the summer heat, fanning themselves with electric or palm-leaf fans during services, yet remain reluctant to install air conditioning in his shop? Air conditioning is not costly, and he is financially stable, receiving both a pension and a monthly church allowance of two thousand yuan. Purchasing one would not be difficult.
When a pastor privately expressed his confusion to another co-worker, he received a veiled warning: "Pastor, do you want to leave the church?" The pastor understood the implication that questioning the compassion of a prominent church co-worker could result in expulsion. The root of such a distorted church dynamic lies in the double-edged influence of "personal charisma," which, in some rural churches, often brings more harm than benefit.
Leading Believers into "Personal Superstition" and Losing Discernment
When the image of "selflessness" becomes deeply ingrained, believers tend almost to deify such a person's words and actions. Even when confronted with clearly unreasonable behavior, they justify it and turn a blind eye to contradictions.
For instance, when the church recently welcomed a new on-site co-worker, he rented a shop only one kilometer from the church, claiming it was "for convenient prayer." Yet, he went several years without installing air conditioning. Later, when another church invited him to preach temporarily, they decided not to retain him as a regular preacher due to his advanced age, though they still provided him with six months of allowance. He accepted it in full but repeatedly criticized the church leader among believers, accusing him of being "worldly" and unwilling to let him serve because of his age, even alleging that the allowance had been withheld.
Even more absurdly, when someone raises legitimate questions, the believers he "nurtures" perceive it as "bullying an honest and kind co-worker." Their blind loyalty can easily spark collective outrage. Such "uninformed devotion" diverts believers from the biblical principle of "proving all things," turning the pursuit of truth into uncritical submission to individuals.
Allowing Church Stability to Become "Subordinate to Personal Influence" Breeds Hidden Risks of Division
This co-worker established a separate prayer site one kilometer away from the church, actually drawing believers to his side. Such a group, sustained by personal charisma rather than a Christ-centered foundation of truth, is inherently fragile. Once the charismatic leader becomes envious, self-serving, or embroiled in disputes due to differing views, the "followers" attached to his personality can easily become a source of division within the church.
The root cause of prevalent issues in rural churches, such as "factionalism" and "splits driven by personal conflict," lies precisely here. Unity that lacks a foundation in truth is unstable and can collapse at any moment with the change of an individual's will. While such a following may elevate one person to prominence, it can also leave other faithful servants with no say in the church.
Distorting the Focus of Faith: Replacing Christ-Centeredness with Human-Centeredness
In such a church environment, raising questions can provoke resentment and lead to being labeled as "jealous" or "bullying." Even the genuine needs of believers are often subordinated to the leader's image-building. When the church's focus shifts from "glorifying Christ" to "protecting the leader," believers experience interpersonal pressure rather than Christ's grace, and the church naturally loses its true spiritual vitality.
Leaders who sustain their influence through personal "performance" are skilled at using rhetoric to package themselves and superficial displays of "warmth" to win people's hearts. When believers are swayed by this false charm, they not only fail to grow in the truth but also become enablers of a distorted ecosystem, perpetuating a cycle of "suppressed questioning and concealed problems."
For churches caught in the trap of personal charisma, transformation depends on each believer cultivating a conscious practice of "testing their faith." Believers should neither blindly reject their leaders' ministry nor forfeit their right to independent thought. Simultaneously, leaders must guard against the temptations of personal authority, humbly submit to the truth, and ensure their service is directed toward glorifying Christ and edifying believers. By reaffirming the core principle of Christ-centeredness—allowing truth to guide judgment and serve as the bridge of communication—churches can replace blind following with rational reflection and sincere dialogue, thus mitigating the dangers inherent in the "double-edged sword" of personal charisma.
(The article was originally published by the Christian Times and the author is a Christian contributor.)
- Edited by Katherine Guo and translated by Poppy Chan
