Brian Dodd with CHURCH LEADERS published an article today about “The Cobra Effect” – a theory created by German economist Horst Siebert in 2001. Siebert hypothesized that leaders can make situations worse when their decisions cause unintended consequences.
During the pandemic, countless church leaders told their congregations it was not necessary to come to church, as they could experience church online from their living room or telephone. Although well meaning, these leaders never factored in The Cobra Effect.
The unintended consequence was that, in many churches, 60% of the congregation chose to stay at home after the doors reopened and giving fell dramatically, as sitting at home often negated the conviction to give, or give as much, for church operations. These issues were surely not the intent of the pastors.
The CHURCH LEADERS article may be read HERE.
My brothers and sisters, I’ve seen The Cobra Effect in action in my personal life, at work and in church.
I know first hand that in business, or in my case, government work, that solid, trusted, creative and effective management begins with a leader who FIRST has the wisdom to assess the existing situation, in part, by sitting down with the organization’s managers and even lower-level employees to inquire about their needs, goals and their assessment of how things have been going. This approach results in the necessary trust to make changes in how business is conducted and increases the likelihood that future guidance and policy changes will be effective – with much less risk of unintended consequences!
It’s more complicated in the church, as church leaders (and especially pastors) need to seek the Lord’s wisdom and guidance in how to establish, lead and grow the church so that Jesus is always the focus and that the co-laborers (read: staff and congregation) are properly equipped to share the gospel and avoid the trickery of the evil one.
When a new leader walks in the door assuming that because a certain model or approach worked at his or her last church that it will work just as effectively at the new church, then trouble may be afoot. Even though familiarity makes us comfortable, sometimes this approach has the strong potential to create resentment or even act as a disincentive for others to collaborate and offer their experience, resulting in a missed opportunity for enhanced creativity, effectiveness and efficiency. In other words, a less effective witness.
The pastor (and other vision-casting leaders) of the church absolutely holds a high responsibility to lead according to the bible and the prompting of the Holy Spirit, but when a leader starts to realize that he or she is directing church operations at all times and in all matters exclusively as a “one-way street” without any consultation or collaboration (because who else could possibly hear as clearly from the Lord), then perhaps it’s time to prayerfully take a step back, seek the views of other mature Christians, and reassess.
Proverbs 11:2 (NLT)
“Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”
Praise Jesus forevermore!
