Is Charismatic Leadership Alone Sustainable for a Pastor?

Charisma is Not Enough

Charisma is a human gift. But in biblical theology, what a charismatic pastor has is the anointing from God, a God empowerment to carry out his calling. Not to be confused as a charismatic church which means, spiritual gifts church. And definitely not a worldly charisma type one alludes to which is really speaking appealing, engaging, compelling personality, and that could all be done without God. Person like world famous guys but without Godly personalities. That’s common grace. Remember Jesus said you cast out demons and heal the sick, but I do not know you, away from me into darkness of hell!

It will be hard sustaining a church just with a very charismatic leadership, because succession will be very problematic.

Besides, due to lack of accountability structure, a highly charismatic leader runs the organization with such power, it is just susceptible to temptati0ons and fall from the devil.

That’s why the best church structure should be in an established denomination with structured accountability and oversight, caring and support.

Our flaws and insecurities will be transformed, not by self-transformation, but by coming from realizing and experiencing the grace of God in Christ

Just because even though a leader is truly an inspiration man who is truly after God’s heart, he fumbled and fell on the way eventually. The whole structure of charismatic movement independently run, is a flawed set up for failure, especially with  a charismatic anointed leader on top.

I would argue that our flaws and insecurities will be transformed, not by self-transformation, but by coming from realizing and experiencing the grace of God in Christ, who was willing to pick us up from mud and mire, from total depravity, to transform us to be spotless because of his substitutional death on the cross, and his eventual resurrection. This will transform a Christian, not a charismatic figure.