Cult of Personality

[Valin]

Hugh Hewitt Blog

John Schroeder

Nov. 12 2017

 

In the 1780 Constitution of Massachusetts, John Adams wrote (Part the First, section XXX):

Quote

In the government of this Commonwealth, the legislative department shall never exercise the executive and judicial powers, or either of them: The executive shall never exercise the legislative and judicial powers, or either of them: The judicial shall never exercise the legislative and executive powers, or either of them: to the end it may be a government of laws and not of men. [emphasis added]

That phrase, “a government of laws and not of men,” is one of those things that has become cliché through repetition, but is neither cliché nor trite.  It is deeply and importantly meaningful.  Yet I notice that as our culture grows more focused on self, our politics grows more personality based than idea or policy based.  The last presidential election cycle was consumed with personality, as is the continuing media coverage of the presidency.  “I like” or “I don’t like” has replaced “I agree with” or “I do not agree with” in most political discussions I encounter anymore.  (Hmmm, do I detect a Facebook contribution here?)

This trend is troubling – and it is reflected in far more than our politics.  I see it in our churches as well.  I have seen way too many churches built around a pastor die when that pastor moves on in some fashion.  For institutions to survive, whether they be churches or governments or something else, they have to be about more than the people involved at the moment.  There is little doubt in my mind that many of the radical changes that have happened in our culture in my lifetime are due to the fact that our institutions no longer stand as they once did.  They are now often fickle and transient things, driven by a personality rather than something greater than any one person, standing as a bulwark in support of some ideal.

 

(Snip)