cult of personality

Look in my eyes, what do you see?

The cult of personality

When I was a young Bondo, I can remember at various times wishing that I was Charlton Heston fighting the Planet of the Apes or Rocky Balboa or Han Solo. I many times wished I could be Kenny “the Snake” Stabler leading the Raiders past the Steelers and Dolphins. And, even though I knew I would never have the thighs for it- I dreamed of bowling over defenders like Earl Campbell.

As I got older, I saw who really got the women and found myself aspiring to be David Lee Roth or Sammy Hagar. Man I loved that dude’s hair. Still do.

I know you anger, I know your dreams I’ve been everything you wanna be

I’m the cult of personality

 

People have always been susceptible to celebrity worship. Hero worship. Blindly following a person based upon image. If David Lee Roth had revealed in an interview that he ate cockroach excrement for breakfast I would have found it endearing. Sammy Hagar really DOES believe there are alien bases on the dark side of the moon- wow! how enlightened the “Red Rocker” is!

I exploit you, still you love me. I tell you one and one makes three

I’m the cult of personality

We know that God works through people. He can work through every one of us. We are commanded to love one another and treat everyone the way we want to be treated. It is a natural instinct to like, appreciate, and enjoy other people- we are social creatures. If you are not grounded in God and seeking Him first- this leaves you extremely vulnerable to social snares. The Adversary knows how powerful celebrity is- how much we love our heroes- and takes full advantage of this.

You gave me fortune, You gave me fame
You gave me power in your God’s name
I’m every person you need to be
I’m the cult of personality

This has indeed been around a long time. One example of it is given in 1 Samuel 8 and the reason for it is explained:

⁴ Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, ⁵ And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. ⁶ But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the Lord. ⁷ And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

The people rejected God and sought a celebrity. They wanted a “star” like everybody else.

Put God first. People will inevitably make mistakes, let you down. Celebrities and glitterati have a false message. Their lord is not our Lord.

For anyone interested, I included the lyrics and video from Cult of Personality that was quoted from above.  I originally liked it because it is rock-n-roll baby, but today I appreciate the message. Anytime a light shines out of a dark place, that is a good thing.

 

“Cult Of Personality”- Living Colour
(And during the few moments that we have left we wanna talk right down to earth in a language, that everybody here can easily understand)

Look in my eyes, what do you see?
The cult of personality
I know your anger, I know your dreams
I’ve been everything you wanna be

I’m the cult of personality
Like Mussolini and Kennedy
I’m the cult of personality
The cult of personality
The cult of personality

Neon lights, Nobel Prize
When a mirror speaks, the reflection lies
You won’t have to follow me
Only you can set me free

I sell the things you need to be
I’m the smiling face on your TV
I’m the cult of personality
I exploit you, still you love me
I tell you one and one makes three

I’m the cult of personality
Like Joseph Stalin and Gandhi
I’m the cult of personality
The cult of personality
The cult of personality

Neon lights, Nobel Prize
When a leader speaks, that leader dies
You won’t have to follow me
Only you can set you free

You gave me fortune
You gave me fame
You gave me power in your God’s name
I’m every person you need to be
I’m the cult of personality
I’m the cult of
I’m the cult of
I’m the cult of
I’m the cult of
I’m the cult of
I’m the cult of
I’m the cult of
I’m the cult of personality