PERSONALITY DISORDERED CHURCH

By Akin Ojumu

By far, the Corinthian Christian assembly is the most dysfunctional Christian congregation we find in the Bible. Compared to any other church at the time, the Christians at Corinth were the most problematic. This was a congregation bedeviled with serious issues and beset with numerous grievous failings. 

Unlike Apostle Paul’s other epistles where serious doctrines and deep theologies are the focus, the entire Book of 1 Corinthians – except for a few references here and there to theology and doctrine – was dedicated to correcting the various foibles of a problematic congregation.

The Corinthian Christians brought into the church life all the vestiges of their pagan existence. Among the congregation were folks who patronized the temple prostitutes for sex – which was the culture of that ancient city. There were those who, for the fun of it, dragged fellow Christians to courts. Some of the Church members took pride in committing fornication and incest; they boast about sleeping with their fathers’ wives. 

Cliques and a deep line of divisions existed among them. While some were for Paul, others were for Apollos, and then there was also the Peter’s fan club. Discipline was lacking and abuse of liberty was rampant. The women were insubordinate, and the people abused the roles God intended for men and women. Selfishness and pride were the order of the day. Idolatry and demon worship was standard practice. Spiritual gifts were counterfeited and adulterated. These people were just wild.

Compared to the hot mess that gushes out of the contemporary Church, though, I think the Corinthian Church has gotten a bad rap. If he were alive today, I’m pretty sure that Apostle Paul would have blushed with embarrassment at the mayhem and pandemonium that characterize the modern-day Church.

In our day, the Church has gone mad. Within the Household of Faith are Christians – and I use that term loosely – who exhibit a variety of personality disorders of the “Cluster B” or “Dramatic” type. Both on the pulpits and in the pews are men and women who show signs and symptoms of histrionic personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, and narcissistic personality disorder.

Histrionic Personality Pisorder (HPD)

People with histrionic personality disorder have intense, unstable emotions and distorted self-images. Their self-esteem depends on the approval of others and does not arise from a true feeling of self-worth. They are flamboyant with an overwhelming desire to be noticed and often behave dramatically or inappropriately to get attention.

While persons with histrionic personality disorder have good social skills, they tend to use these skills to manipulate others so that they can be the center of attention.

People with histrionic personality disorder:

1. Are uncomfortable unless they are the center of attention

2. Act very dramatically, as though performing before an audience, with exaggerated emotions and expressions, yet appear to lack sincerity

3. Dress flamboyantly or provocatively and behave seductively

4. Are overly concerned with physical appearance

5. Shift emotions rapidly

6. Constantly seek reassurance, affirmation, and approval from others

7. Are self-centered and rarely show genuine concern for others 

8. Appear fake or shallow in their dealings with others

9. Threaten or attempt suicide to get attention

Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD)

People with narcissistic personality disorder also seek attention, but they, unlike those with histrionic personality disorder, feel superior to other people and think they are entitled to praise and special treatment. A major difference between the histrionic and narcissistic disorders is that someone with narcissistic personality disorder is very focused on how special they are, something experts call “grandiosity.”

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

People with borderline personality disorder have strong emotions that change rapidly and are very worried about people abandoning them. A major difference between histrionic and borderline personality disorders is that people with borderline personality disorder feel more despair and show more suicidal behaviors.

Flamboyance and extravagance are defining attributes of the modern-day Church. You find in today’s Church Gucci pastors, Louis Vuitton preachers, and Chanel clergies. Then there are the rainbow ministers who are known for their obsession with bright colors. From head to toe, they are decked up in matching vivid colors that scream “look at me.” One day, it’s red shirt, red suit, and red shoes. The next day, it’s yellow shirt, yellow suit, and yellow shoes. The same color coordination applies when it’s green, orange, or blue.

Contemporary preachers love to put on a show. Morbidly fixated on highly curated stage appearance, they invest an inordinate amount of money on public relations, flashing lights, and eardrum bursting music; their obsession borders on the histrionics. When they mount the pulpit, what they preach is the gospel of self-glory and not one that gives God the glory. They are always the hero of Bible stories. 

Pumped up with ear-scratching and inundated with people-pleasing performance, Church folks are spiritually numbed and totally insensate to what’s a biblically acceptable worship. Having been programmed into believing that their GO is Senior Adviser to the Almighty God, impressionable congregants hang on to every word that comes out of their daddy-in-the-Lord mouth as though it’s a divine ordinance. To challenge what their pastors say is to challenge God Himself.

Whereas the Lord Jesus and His disciples, on several occasions after they had performed mighty miracles, would plead with the people not to tell anyone about what they’ve just experienced and witnessed. 

Not so with contemporary showbiz preachers who have perfected the act of self-promotion. In fact, pastors of today make sure they broadcast the miracles they purportedly perform to anyone who cares to listen. Their social media platforms are littered with professional produced videos promoting stories of all sorts of miracles.

I mean, modern-day pastors never cease to boast and brag about how they powerfully healed headache, back pain, waist pain, joint pain, and leg pain. The curious thing about all these supposed miracles, though, is that they always seem to have happened at some other crusades somewhere else in Kutuwenji.

You need to ask yourself: “Is this me? Is this my GO or Apostle or Prophet? Is this my Church?”