I think this is an especially pertinent point of interest in a post modern, avant gard culture that is obsessed with figure head mentality, experimental ideas and cultural tribalism. The cult of personality as it were continues to linger. In this environment it is commonplace for people to gravitate towards characters or personalities who exemplify certain characteristics and proclivity's that they either identify with or characteristics and proclivity's that they are devoid of. It's a very externalistic and superficial climate. The other side of this coin is the crux of providing an appealing atmosphere or sub-culture that becomes the locus of attraction as a way to appeal to these sub-cultural tribes.
Within this culture personalities and atomospheres are embraced for all the wrong reasons. They are promoted or embraced because they are different, because they are dynamic, because they are 'controversial', because they are seemingly anti-establishment in rhetoric or theatrics, so forth and so on. I fear that when this is appealed to, though, all that is being accomplished is that of 'caricatures'. In other words, personalities attract only those folk who identify with those characteristics. This is disingenuous though. It is not so much the message that attracts people or the 'truth' that attracts people but the methodology, the theatrics or the personality. Tribalism carries the day instead of truism.
This creates a culture of superficiality and 'drones' who are committed to the new hype or the latest rhetorical fad instead of the message. (There are of course exceptions to this.)
Christ's own ministry underscores this point...Jesus attracted large crowds because of His dynamic personality and 'miraculous' ministry or activity that generated an electric atmosphere. However, we find that when He spoke difficult truths or when His rhetoric became perspectivally intrusive many abandoned Him.
I think it beneficial for ministers or ministries to counteract this generic 'attraction' or superficial 'gravitation' by balancing their respective 'cultural ghetto' or 'theatrical leitmotifs' with truths that are presented in a counter-cultural manner to that 'cultural market'. Is the church to be focused on such fleeting cultural dynamics?? I think not, for it inevitably breeds cultural relativism and cloistered communities. Of course we should become all things to all in order to win some (I Cor.9:19-23)....so long as we aren't reinforcing 'fleeting trends' (Rom.12:2) to the extent that those cultural traditions become the element of interest and not the message of the gospel.
Not only do we need to counteract the modus vivendi of advancing culture over message we also need to contend with promoting ministers over Christ. People have the tendency to also gravitate towards 'servants' rather than He whom servants serve as I have alluded to above. (To be sure these two are more often than not inextricably bound.) Whenever and wherever ministers do not counteract the attraction of people to personalities or personal allure they risk creating a loyalty and/or dependency upon themselves amongst the rank and file of their congregations. This is known as the 'fanbase' in the variegated sphere of entertainment.
Paul addressed the church at Corinth regarding this mentality of polarizing to figure heads. Some were following Cephas(Peter), Apollos, Paul et cetera. (I Cor.1-4) Paul repudiated this credulity and went on to describe those who who were romanticising 'men' as babes and men of the flesh (I Cor.3:1-5). Paul eventually interjected that they were to be regarded as servants of Christ and stewards of the gospel (I Cor.4:1) Paul consciously and deliberately counteracted figure head mentality by saying elsewhere, "follow me, as I follow Christ" (I Cor. 11:1). We must vigorously reinforce Christ within the hearts and minds of the church. He alone is head of the church..Ministers are but servants of Christ, under-shepherds of The good Shepherd!! We must not be in the business of making personal disciples but in making Christian disciples. Its not about personal followship but Christian discipleship.
Some will contend that Paul also listed Christ followers as an unhealthy faction in I Corinthians 1. This shows a superficial handling of scripture. For that would itself contradict Christ's own statement, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself pick up his cross and follow me" (Mark 8:34) Paul's remark in I Corinthians about those who tout following Christ exclusively was in the context of division. Paul's point there was not that following Christ was wrong but that using that attitude as an elitist claim that contributed to division.
We must make concerted effort to direct peoples attention to Christ and Christ alone. This means comporting ourselves in a humble manner that always defers to Jesus in all things. When aggrandized and honored we must respond by attributing whatever is being praised to the grace of our Lord. As Paul advanced, "I am what I am by the grace of God" (I Cor.15) and again,"Let him who boasts boast in the Lord" (I Cor.1:31)
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