My Only Beef with Dr. Laura

Manuscript of Speech given to Redeemer' Marketplace Ministries Dinner 2006It is not typical of me to have a negative comment to share about any “conservative” radio personality. Those who know me know that I am a pretty big fan of Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Larry Elder, Hugh Hewitt, Matt Drudge, and yes, Dr. Laura. I not only enjoy Dr. Laura’s show for her content, but I actually take a lot of encouragement in the popularity of all the aforementioned shows. It is easy to be discouraged at a lot that happens in the world, but my own take is that if a show advocating the traditional family values that Dr. Laura believes in has that large of an audience, perhaps there are more people out there who believe in some of the same things that I do than one might think …However, despite her courageous stance against adultery, against fornication, against abortion, and her vocal advocacy of parents raising their own children, and of the marriage covenant, etc., there is one thing Dr. Laura does repeatedly that just irks me beyond belief. And as you all know, I am not really here to talk about Dr. Laura tonight, but actually the church at-large. If it were only Dr. Laura who is guilty of this thing that irks me so much, I doubt I would even mention it. However, it is because I believe that the church is so incredibly guilty of this same thing that I feel compelled to address it. Indeed, I believe many of us here tonight are guilty of this behavior or mentality that I consider to be so incredibly anti-Biblical, and counter-productive in our society. And what I am referring to is the dangerous inclination to view one’s job, career, and work, as a mere means to an end, rather than what Os Guiness calls, “a calling”.There is no doubt that one’s work and career are, indeed, a means to an end. The pragmatic benefits that come with a paycheck are not in dispute. Nor is the reality that one may very well have to live with a job they do not like for the purpose of meeting various responsibilities and obligations. However, it would be my belief that that situation ought to be very temporary. For as much as one may need a paycheck, and indeed many may love the material gratification that often accompanies a paycheck, I have no doubt that God views our careers differently. Paul wrote to the Colossian church that we are to “do our work heartily, as for the Lord, rather than for men”. I would argue exegetically that the “men” referred to in Colossians 3:23 also includes our spouses and children. While providing for one’s family is a requirement, I think that Dr. Laura, and many in the church, short-change the beauty of the marketplace when they imply that the sole objective of work is paycheck production. When we “work for the Lord”, we are asking him to use all that we have, and all that we do, to impact the world. A teacher who has the chance to impact children; an attorney who gets to represent and protect an innocent client; a doctor who heals the sick; a mechanic who makes it possible for people to drive to and fro; all of these “jobs” contain an element of dominion – an element of transforming the culture. When I hear Dr. Laura say things like, “Well maybe you ought to quit that job so you can spend more time at home”, I wonder if it is only the family responsibilities being considered, or if the vocational calling is receiving due consideration and weight. I suspect it is not being considered.There are no easy answers when it comes to defining what a Biblical balance ought to look like on this issue. I am not at all convinced that the advocates of “careerism” like myself have achieved a perfect harmony on this issue. However, I can safely say that when I look at the mentality advocated in the broad church, it generally is one that is quite good at reminding us how important our family obligations are, yet very remiss in reminding us that God wants us to excel in our work. Indeed, as the Proverbs say, one who excels in his work will be a “leader before men”. It is quite important that I utilize my career and job to feed my son and wife. But what kind of lesson do parents give their children when they subtley imply that that child is the center of the universe? “I play with you each evening. I spend time with you all weekend. And when I am away at the office, I am only doing it so that I can support you.” Is that a healthy attitude to demonstrate to our children? At what point does self-righteousness and pride turn into baby worship and idolization? I believe it is sad that in a culture that so desperately needs to hear the pro-family message, and be reminded of pro-family priorities, that the church itself ends up falling off the horse on the other side, as Martin Luther said of the drunken peasant. We seem to do a great job at telling dads they need to be home by 5:00 every evening, and moms need to stay barefoot and pregnant, yet I feel we have failed in our balance to also preach the message of excellence in our work – of viewing it as a calling.What exactly does it look like to have this comprehensive view of our meaning, our purpose, and our lives? Do we only do excellent work because God is honored by it, or is there more to it all? My contention is that there are not just nice “side effects” to a dominionist view of our professions, though there surely are, but rather that the very essence of our lives is to perform excellently in the marketplace. When God has asked us to glorify Him in our jobs, He has told us that our work is our “lot in life” (the book of Ecclesiastes). The very first question of our catechism is “What is the chief end of man?” The answer is to, “Glorify God in all that we do, and to enjoy Him forever”. I believe it is very important that the Christian church never define “glorifying Him” and “enjoying Him” as nothing more than obedience and worship. When we take our jobs and careers as seriously as He wants us to, He is glorified. And when we are working at something day in and day out that we have a passion for, we are most certainly enjoying Him.I have heard it said that the most miserable thing a person can experience is to be in a bad marriage, whereas the best thing one can experience in life is to be in a great marriage. I suspect that is very true, as I know first hand the depths of joy and experience and meaning that my five years of marriage has brought me. However, I would also add to the quote that one of the miserable existences one could have is to be in a job that they hate, and one of the greatest joys available in life is to be in a career that makes you happy – that excites you – that you feel a passion for. That joy and contentment can come if one pursues the calling that they believe in, and does not merely take a job for the sake of having a job. “Dead end” job is a voluntary expression, for God created us to find a career path that will enable us to “enjoy Him”. It is our very chief end. Eric Liddell, the great Scottish and Sabbatarian sprinter who was the subject of the Oscar-winning movie, Chariots of Fire, stated that when he ran, “felt the pleasure of God”. I pray that it be the case for all of us when we go to our jobs – that we feel God’s pleasure. He certainly has intended it that way.As Dr. Vigen Guroain has so wisely pointed out, we do not teach kids to read, and to write, and to think, merely so that they can become authors, or teachers, or carpenters, but rather, because they are human beings. We ought not be teaching our children right now that their education and career development is merely to create future teachers, authors, and carpenters who will have kids to support, but rather that they are human beings who have dreams, ambitions, and goals. Those dreams and ambitions ought to be God-honoring. And they ought not to be realized only on our vacations or weekends. Ideally, shouldn’t we be living out our dreams and ambitions, every day from Monday through Friday?Vertical mobility in a company is not something to feel guilty about; it is something we ought to be encouraging. Having to work late every now and then is not something to be shunned, but rather appreciated. Taking about work at a Saturday afternoon BBQ should not be “off limits”, but should be cultivated. I could go on and on with various examples, but I would challenge my brothers and sisters in the Lord who are here tonight to re-evaluate the mental approach you have taken to this subject. Do you find the word, “workaholic”, to be a profane word, or do you believe it is an over-used taboo that is used to judge those who dare to succeed, and dare to chase their life’s ambitions? My exhortation tonight is not at all to suggest that Dr. Laura’s heavy emphasis on family and parenting is off kilter; rather, I am suggesting that her view of family and values is ENHANCED when we incorporate a love for work into the mix. A healthy balance – that is all I am saying. But if we are to take seriously God’s mandate to us that we have dominion over this planet, I believe we are going to need to love our careers. Deep down, I suspect Dr. Laura loves hers … And that is definitely one lesson that I have no beef with her about at all.