The “Bloomberg Effect” in leadership
Americans across the country have joined New Yorkers in their recent outrage over New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s decision to exclude prayer, clergy, first responders and their families in the ceremonies of the tenth anniversary of 9/11. But Bloomberg is making sure there is plenty of room for politicians at the event.
This behavior is what I call the “Bloomberg Effect,” the tendency of leaders to lift themselves up, even if it means snubbing real heroes or trying to elbow in on honor deserving of God.
The “Bloomberg Effect” isn’t reserved for politicians, but can be seen among any kind of leaders, and is common within the church. In many churches, leaders are given seats of honor on a stage in front of a congregation, and much of the verbal praise offered in a service is directed to leaders. Many preachers so consistently saturate their sermons with stories of their own lives that church members hear more about the details of the leaders’ lives than they do of the life of Christ!
As leaders wade into the social media world of our modern culture, it’s common to seem them “retweet” to their followers tweets of praise made about them, or see Facebook posts from a leader commenting about how some other leader had spoken so highly of them, and how humbled they were by the gesture (just not humble enough to refrain from sharing it with their social media audience)!
When Jesus saw the “Bloomberg Effect” among the religious leaders during His earthly ministry, He strongly condemned their self-glorifying behavior, describing it this way:
5 “Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels. 6 And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues. 7 They love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi’,” Matthew 23:5-7.
Then Jesus spoke directly to the concept of the “Bloomberg Effect” in Matthew 23:11-12, “11 The greatest among you must be a servant. 12 But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Many leaders deserve an appropriate expression of “praise” for their work, but it shouldn’t come from themselves. When a leader is lifted up, it should be because God has done the lifting, or those served by the leaders are expressing appreciation.
Who’s doing the lifting in your church?
Scotty
September 9, 2011 at 6:30 pm
When I see someone RT a compliment someone made to them, I just want to throw up in my mouth a little.
Love your perspective. "The Bloomberg Effect". Perfect.
September 9, 2011 at 7:43 pm
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it, and thanks for sharing your thoughts here!
September 10, 2011 at 11:13 am
We were visiting a church couple the other day and they were complaining that they didn't get the "position" they wanted in a class we're starting when they thought they should. I always thought the object was to 'serve where needed'…
September 10, 2011 at 1:58 pm
Linda, you were right! This desire of people to lift themselves above others is about as un-Christlike as we can get. Yet, your recent experience is a common snapshot of what we see in the church. No wonder the church is increasingly dismissed by the world.