FROM THE PASTOR’S HEART
OP / ED BY DR. ROBERT KENNEDY
I have been giving much consideration to “the cult of personality” that is developing, more and more, in the American political system (and across the world), and it is amazing how many persons are being duped by it. I am not pointing to any one person here because while it might be most easily seen in the sporting and entertainment industries, it is also pervading the justice and religious systems and dominating the political systems of the day.
Let me paraphrase an article from Wikipedia (The Free Encyclopedia) that is focused on the upsurge of the cult of personality in the political systems of the world at the moment. It states that a cult of personality, or a cult of the leader, results from an effort to create an idealized and heroic image of a leader by a government, often through unquestioning flattery and praise.
Historically, it has developed through mass media techniques, propaganda, fake news, patriotism, and government-organized demonstrations and rallies. A cult of personality is similar to the climax of a story, except it is established by modern social engineering techniques, usually by the state or the party in one-party and dominant party states. A cult of personality often accompanies the leader of totalitarian or authoritarian countries. It can also be seen in some monarchies, theocracies, failed democracies, and even liberal democracies. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult_of_personality)
If, at all, you have an eye on what is taking place around the world with the upsurge of leaders like Prime Minister Viktor Orba’n in Hungary, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, who is now engaged in a parliamentary effort to take over the justice system, and what is taking place here is the United States with so many being drawn into the cult of Trumpism. In that case, you must state that the Wikipedia article is on target.
As stated, I am not just interested in focusing on the political leaders and systems but on what I noted in the first sentence of my opening paragraph, that it is interesting how many persons are being “duped” or “cursed” by the cult of personality. I see the destruction coming to individual lives and societies where personality cults have ruled. I am joining the biblical prophets to warn, “Do not trust mortals.”
Here is how the prophet Jeremiah said it: “Thus says the Lord: Cursed is the man who trusts in man And makes flesh his strength, Whose heart departs from the Lord. For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, And shall not see when good comes, But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, In a salt land which is not inhabited.” (Jeremiah 17:5-6 NKJV)
“Everyone take heed to his neighbor, And do not trust any brother; For every brother will utterly supplant, And every neighbor will walk with slanderers. Everyone will deceive his neighbor, And will not speak the truth; They have taught their tongue to speak lies; They weary themselves to commit iniquity.” (Jeremiah 9:4-5 NKJV, emphasis mine)
The prophet Micah also gives this strong warning:
Do not trust in a friend;
Do not put your confidence in a companion;
Guard the doors of your mouth
From her who lies in your bosom. (Micah 7:5 NKJV)
It is not because the prophets were trying to tell their audiences that they should never trust anyone. On the contrary, trust is a necessary quality for any successful relationship. But we must understand that we are open to deception if our trust is placed totally in any humanity. We are especially to guard ourselves against trusting political leaders seeking to control our minds and wills.
The biblical prophets wanted their audiences to understand that no person is to hand over their mind and will to be controlled by others. They wanted their audiences to understand that God was their final source of wisdom and strength. Only God’s kingdom will rule forever. So, all the expectations for help for deliverance from all the promises of politicians are a waste.
The bottom line is that if we expect to be truly blessed, we need to place our total confidence in God and God alone. Here is Prophet Jeremiah again:
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
And whose hope is the Lord.
For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
Which spreads out its roots by the river,
And will not fear when heat comes;
But its leaf will be green,
And will not be anxious in the year of drought,
Nor will cease from yielding fruit. (Jeremiah 17:7-8 NKJV).
Do I need to say more about putting our trust in mortals? I think not.
