Are we worshipping work?
A Christian counters cultural worship
Reading time: About 6 minutes
Every week I receive emails from Forbes, Fortune, and other “executive” business publications that highlight trends in the workforce.
The common themes of the “post-pandemic” news repeatedly tell me about mass layoffs from tech companies, demands from corporations to their workers to return to their offices, the lack of Human Resource professionals, and the migration (or preparation of quitting) from employees who need more pay and benefits. They’re concerns I think about a lot as someone who manages a staff and also someone who lives in an income bracket where I make too much for aid and yet not enough as inflation costs rise.
We are in the middle of a cultural shift that the pandemic ignited within the workforce and within the hearts of the American culture. I believe that shift has deeper roots than the very real concerns from individuals that their family, income, and mental health needs are not being met. I argue that this cultural catalyst represents the lack of stability in God in a popular culture that believes what author Natasha Crain so elegantly puts as:
Feelings are the ultimate guide, happiness is the ultimate goal, judging is the ultimate sin, and God is the ultimate guess.
(From her book, “Faithfully Different: Regaining Biblical Clarity In A Secular Culture)
Real Struggles
This essay does not deny the validity of America’s current struggles, but argues there are also deeper issues at play. Let’s look at some statistics gathered from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce1.
United States Labor Shortage: "If every unemployed person in the country found a job, we would still have 4 million open jobs."
Women roles have shifted from job pressures or lack of childcare: “women are participating in the labor force the lowest rates since the 1970s. In the spring of 2020, 3.5 million mothers left their job, driving the labor force participation rate for working moms from around 70% to 55%.”
“In the spirit of entrepreneurship, some employees either left work or stayed unemployed to open their own businesses. Over the last two years, nearly 10 million new business applications were filed and in 2020 alone more than 4 million new business were started.”
These statistics do not account for the lack of parental leave available to parents in America, the parental responsibility of child care, or the narratives of “work-life balance” that seem to haunt us. (I have linked to additional articles on all of those topics for more data for you to explore.)
The shift in culture
With the lack of stability in finances, mental health, community, and more; it is no wonder to me that we may all feel more fragile. This combined with the polarizing political climate has escalated our country into an eggshell environment that has little for people to lean on.
One way this has played out since 2020 has been in the need for finding a spiritual worldview that fits individualistic needs. The prolonged isolation and major adjustment in lifestyle coupled with the insecurity of our world (not just our local environment) created a tremor for internal foundations to be shaken if they were unstable beforehand.
People should question their beliefs and seek knowledge. We should look at why we believe what we believe.
But if we ask what the effects are of copy-paste worldviews we end up with more limitations than ever in the pursuit of our ultimate freedoms.
We see this when advocates of accepting everything and everyone aggressively admonish individuals who want to stick with one core set of beliefs or religious background. (I’d like to note that although I am writing this as a Christian, I see this trend happening from individuals of all religious backgrounds).
Bringing it back to our work
If Americans are spending more time thinking about work, depending upon work to feed them socially2, and looking for new workplaces that provide them with more value, we need to ask what they value to begin with.
A really interesting Google search to “What do Americans value?” leads you to a document provided by the United States State Department3 that reads:
Americans value independence and self-determination, placing importance on the role of the individual in shaping his or her own identity and destiny through one’s choices, abilities, and efforts. Independence fosters one’s ability to be self-reliant and self-sufficient, to be able to do what is necessary to create a fulfilling life for oneself and one’s family.
Even the United States government identifies our nation’s core values to be the reliance of one’s self. Where is there room for a higher wisdom? How do we handle hardships if there is a core belief that good things (happiness, wealth, satisfaction) only happen if we pull ourselves up “by the boot straps” and conquer this American Dream?
Of course from a Christian standpoint we strive for a different message than the one seen here: to die to self in our pursuit of Christ. See any of these verses4 including:
“And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.’” Luke 9:23
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2
(Ironically, we can see those who consider themselves as Christians in America can often associate themselves more with nationalism than denying their individualism in pursuit of Christ.)
If we live in a culture that is ever shifting it’s morality and we have no foundational values to stand on apart from society at present, are we creating a workforce that looks to it’s employers for satisfaction? Moreover, are we striving to find true Peace in Christ or are we looking for our ultimate goal to be happiness within our work?
The Bible tells us a lot about work. We learn that even before the introduction of sin, God created us to do his good works. Only after the Fall did we feel the toil and weight of labor.
As an employee and employer I present some questions for you to consider if you’re wondering if your work has become an idol:
Are your work commitments outweighing your family or worship time?
Do you find yourself jumping from job to job in pursuit of ultimate happiness?
Are you pursuing greater income to help serve your family and ministry or are you doing it purely for personal gain?
Do you see career advancement as a way to climb ladders or do you also view job opportunities to help uplift your community and mentor others?
When were moments that you defined your value by your produced work rather than how God sees you? (See Ephesians 1-2)
What foundational worldview can you rely on when everything falls apart? (Think of the pandemic! Many of us lost our jobs, had family roles reversed or severed, etc).
This topic could easily be a book. I realize I’ve planted a lot of seeds you may not agree with or maybe you’ve read this and felt you’re finally not alone as you witness the cultural shift happening. Personally, I have worshipped work for too long. It is a daily battle I struggle with as I try to advance my career and fulfill my family’s need to have a present and loving wife, mother, sister, and daughter.
Have I left your views challenged? To be fair, I’ve challenged myself on this topic too. Let’s talk about it!
It’s just one reason I created my new 12 week email course Build A Value Based Business. I’ve spent the past decade thinking about how my workplace has shaped my values and how I have shaped my businesses. You can find out more here.
P.S. The archives for Motherhood Minute are unlocked right now so you can read as much as you please!
https://www.uschamber.com/workforce/understanding-americas-labor-shortage
https://www.americansurveycenter.org/research/the-social-workplace-social-capital-human-dignity-and-work-in-america/
https://www.state.gov/courses/answeringdifficultquestions/assets/m/resources/DifficultQuestions-AmericanValues.pdf
https://www.openbible.info/topics/dying_to_self