Let’s just get this out of the way up front. I might be the only pastor I know who hasn’t yet read The Tipping Point or Blink by Malcom Gladwell (although, given the proclivity of those in ministry circles to quote Gladwell, I kind of feel like I already have). Now…
I heard Gladwell on NPR yesterday talking about his new book Outliers: The Story of Success. I started listening because he was trying to answer the question, Why do Asian kids outperform American kids in math? Of course, they were talking about Asian kids from Asian countries, and how cultural influences shape different skill sets and values — as an Asian American who scored higher on the verbal portion of the SAT than the math section, I am living proof that there is no inherent Asian predisposition to being good at math.
In any case, what really caught my attention was a brief aside where Gladwell spoke about why Korean airlines sometimes have trouble in the cockpit of their planes. Basically, it boils down to Korean culture’s excessive deference to authority and the inability to speak plainly to the boss.
Which got me thinking…
Sounds a lot like Korean churches.
I believe in the recovery and redemption of our God-given identities and cultures. However, there are certain things that need to get tossed. Despite the obligatory church-speak about humility and servanthood, many of us have firsthand experience with the “I’m the boss and you are my minions” ethos of many Korean churches. I know of a senior pastor who had the nerve to stand before a congregation of several hundred and offer this disturbing syllogism: God wants us to serve Him; we serve God by serving the church; and we serve the church by serving the pastor. Um, right.
Picture that church as the airplane Gladwell describes: The plane is heading the wrong way or, worse, about to crash. The pilot, important and in charge, steadfastly maintains the course while happily ordering people around. All the while everyone knows, but is too afraid to say, that something isn’t right.
Of course, in the end, this will to dominate and assert authority affects churches of all cultures and ethnic backgrounds.
Although I’m not a type-A, aggressive sort, I can see how this mentality of the pastor having the final say has influenced my thinking as well. I want to do my part in ending this cycle of excessive deference to authority and, instead, guide our church into becoming a community of mutual submission, of humble love and service.
headsparks* 
wow, great analogy. i’ve heard the ‘we serve the church by serving the pastor’ thing. really tacky and unbiblical. grrrrrr….
I’ve heard the “we serve the church…” thing as well. I’ve also heard the phrase “blindly follow” the senior pastor spoken as a directive by a senior pastor. I would add painful to the short list of adjectives.
Just curious. Would you elaborate a bit on how this mentality of the pastor having final say has influenced your thinking, how that is changing and why?
BTW, I read Blink, but I’ve been told Tipping Point is better.
David — Yes, I’m growling with you… although it’s turning more into learned helplessness…
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Kathy — Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting! Painful is right. I’m so sorry that you actually heard a senior pastor demand blind loyalty. Unbelievable.
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That’s a great question about how, exactly, this mentality influences me. Of course, the biggest influence is the frustration of dealing with this mentality from first gen pastors (though, I suppose it’s important to note, not *all* of them). However, I think I feel an even greater disappointment from next gen pastors a little bit further along the path than I am who — either because of their own hurt or lack of time — are unwilling to offer any wisdom or guidance to people in my situation. I don’t expect mentoring (I understand how time-crunched we all are), but often the mentality is, “Well, I’ve done my time so good luck. No one helped me, so why should I help you?”
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So, as far as change is concerned, I find myself wanting to do what I can to break that cycle of isolation and discouragement. I’m not sure I have any wisdom to offer, but at least to be a sympathetic ear for the sake of the Kingdom.
Hi Dan,
I don’t know about Gladwell’s books anymore. I enjoyed both The Tipping Point, and Blink, thinking they were brilliant insights right after I finished them. But now, I’m beginning to think he’s just a good storyteller, who just brilliantly packages what many folks already know….
Am I being too harsh? Well, maybe. And maybe because the excerpt I read about Asian kids doing better than some others at math is ultimately somehow related to Asians coming from rice growing culture that demands persistence, etc. It’s a good story. It has tremendous intuitive appeal. It “makes sense” in that it sounds right. But to go from that to somehow implicitly suggesting causation between rice-growing culture and better math performance? I’m not impressed!
– Sam
Sam – I hear what you’re saying. It seems kind of sketchy to make such broad generalizations from what seems like anecdotal evidence. But, then again, from his perch on top of the NYT best sellers list, I doubt Gladwell cares much what I think!