How to Explain the Power of God
The importance of personality
Occasionally updated and edited.
Copyright © 2009
So how did Ted Haggard's church manage to achieve mega status while the minister was immersed in perceived debauchery?
In my early years I heard glowing stories of the power of God ministering through human vessels such as John Wesley, Charles Spurgeon, Hudson Taylor and Dwight Moody. These were dedicated servants whose faith and sincerity allowed God to use them mightily, evident by high conversion counts, substantial followings and extent of their organizations.
It's cause and effect. Godliness is the cause that manifests itself in the effect of God pouring forth his manifold blessings. That falls short, however, when we observe Haggard's church. We see the effect without the cause. Therefore, another cause must be in play. And if the success of one mega ministry can be attributed to another cause, the success of all mega ministries can be attributed to another cause.
If we were to look beyond the power of God, we may discover that the notables of ministerial success were endowed with other attributes that account for their achievements. These attributes can be encapsulated in one word: personality.
By personality, I don't refer to the semantic notion that gets one listed in the High School yearbook as the most popular student. Rather, I refer to all the elements that comprise one's person. These include intelligence, innate ambition, people skills and, yes, natural likeability.
A friend once noted that, during his years in the office of a manufacturing firm, he would observe sales people come and go. He realized there were certain sales reps who were readily accepted while others received cold receptions. In time, he was able to identify those who would be greeted warmly by observing their appearance. They simply had a presence about them to which human nature is innately attuned.
During my tenure at Liberty University I observed this phenomenon in Jerry Falwell. Dr. Falwell was a powerful personality. When he walked into a room he commanded respect by nothing more than force of his presence. Similarly, a biography of Donald Trump noted that, even at the age of fourteen, his presence was commanding. Had Falwell and Trump exchanged life roles, Falwell would have likely emerged a mega millionaire and Trump the pastor of a mega church.
It is one's personality, not God's power, that elevates a person to lead a substantial ministry. It is for this reason that Ted Haggard, Jim Bakker, Jimmy Swaggart, Billy James Hargis and Bob Gray (Trinity Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Fla.) were able to reach the apex of success that is frequently attributed to God when, all the while, they indulged themselves in behavior that contradicts our perceptions of godliness.
That's not to say all ministers who lead mega churches are without credibility. It's to observe that their sincerity is coincidental. The success of Hudson Taylor can be attributed to the same cause as that of Ted Haggard: personality.
This theory can be easily tested. Take note of all the mega ministries and those who led them during their expansions. Then, take note of all the sincere ministers who are committed to godliness. Invariably you will find the mega ministries led by powerful human personalities, while sincere ministers commonly lead unsubstantial organizations which "only heaven" records the extent of their successes.
Allowing some room for nominal influences, one can observe the ministry of any individual and detect a corollary between the minister's success level and his personality. There is, therefore, a natural personality threshold that limits ministerial success that cannot be surpassed by sincerity, godliness or church growth seminars.
One gifted pastor reported visiting the lunch room of a fundamentalist Baptist college. Upon visually surveying the students, the pastor boasted that he could identify those destined to be successful pastors merely by observation. His observation was essentially the same as the office worker who could distinguish on sight those sales reps who would be greeted warmly and, more likely, achieve success.
March 3, 2009
