As a young pastor, my greatest joy comes from helping people grow in their understanding of God and His Word. However, one of the most significant challenges in ministry is assisting people to recognize when they still have more to learn. Especially when speaking from the perspective of a man 50 years younger than them! This difficulty reminds me of a psychological phenomenon that has gained much attention lately — the Dunning-Kruger Effect. From my non-psychological perspective, the concept offers some insight into spiritual growth.
What is the Dunning-Kruger Effect?
I’ll probably make the explanation simpler than it needs to be, so now I’m writing humbly without any authority on the subject. The Dunning-Kruger Effect describes how we gauge our understanding of any given subject and how that perception affects our behavior. The main thrust of this effect asserts that when a person has some experience while still having a low level of competence, their confidence level tends to be higher than their ability. The other side of the coin describes people who have developed a high level of ability but their perception of themselves causes them to be timid and insecure about their abilities.
In application, this impacts several areas of the Christian life. A new Christian might read a few verses of their Bible, attend a study and feel they have mastered Scripture. While their enthusiasm is commendable, their limited experience can lead to overconfidence. They might take verses out of context or assume simplistic interpretations. When someone feels certain they understand God’s will or the “right” way to do church, they may become critical of others. This attitude can fracture relationships within the body of Christ. “Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way” (Prov. 19:2 ESV). We’re to “not think of” ourselves “more highly than” we “ought to think” (Rom. 12:3 ESV). Overconfidence may lead to a reluctance to receive correction or instruction. Spiritual growth requires humility and a willingness to learn from others, whether you’re a pastor, mentor or fellow believer.
The flip side of things shows up when believers with great ability and potential sell themselves short and neglect their service in ministry because they don’t think they’re qualified enough. How many times have you heard someone say the reason they struggle to share their faith is insecurity about saying something wrong? I’ve heard that a lot. It’s heartbreaking. Another consequence has reared its head in my life. When we feel inadequate, we force ourselves to believe that our knowledge or experience is simple and should be easy for others to understand. When I worked in the secular world, I was frustrated with trainees’ difficulty learning a task or concept. My competence made me a bad teacher.
Solutions for the Dunning-Kruger Effect
The solution to these issues is humility. We must recognize that we have more to learn and learn to connect with people who are learning lessons we’ve already conquered. Christians never attain full knowledge. If Paul could explain that “now we see in a mirror dimly,” we should make it a habit to study Scripture regularly and seek out godly teaching consistently (I Cor. 13:12 ESV). Let’s commit to lifelong learning.
God designed the church as a place where believers grow together. Because “iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another,” we should be open to listening to others and delight in constructive criticism (Prov. 27:17 ESV). Let’s surround ourselves with people who encourage and challenge us to grow in the faith.
The Dunning-Kruger Effect reminds us that overconfidence is a barrier to growth, but humility opens the door to deeper understanding. Whether you’re a pastor guiding a congregation or a believer seeking to grow in your faith, remember that we all have room to learn. Let’s commit ourselves to the lifelong journey of knowing God more fully and glorifying Him in all we do.
