Consider the following story of a Spiritually Schizophrenic CEO.
He desperately wanted to have a life with more meaning and broader impact. He deeply desired to invest his life doing something that mattered most to God and assumed that this meant that God was calling him to serve more in his church, perhaps even as a staff member, helping to fulfill his church’s mission.
At that point one of his colleagues hit him with a barrage of questions:
- “Tell me about your work–what has God been doing in your life Monday through Friday?”
- “Who have you been influencing?”
- “Have you ever considered that maybe God has plans for you in the workplace? Ministry plans through your job?”
The CEO responded…
“Huh, well, I…I guess I haven’t ever thought of my actual ‘work’ in terms of mission or ministry before.”
Clarifying Spiritual Schizophrenia
A doctor would describe Schizophrenia as a psychological disorder which causes a person to have a split between the rational and emotional parts of the brain. The word “schizophrenia” comes from two Greek words, which literally translated means, “to split the mind.”
The CEO in the above story is a classic example of spiritual schizophrenia. He had a disconnect in his thinking, putting God/ministry and work/business in two separate compartments.
The Cause of S.S.
Spiritual Schizophrenia is an increasing epidemic. It is caused by a short circuit in our thinking that tells us that our work/business life is not spiritual and should be kept separate from God, our faith and our ministry. This condition has gone viral and has infected countless believers in their work life, essentially causing them to shut God off and live as Atheists during their work week.
The consequences are severe: a lack of enjoyment, instead of living for God 24/7; a dissatisfaction with work; hypocrisy, which causes many people to reject Christianity, and the increased secularization of the work world, turning more and more toward selfish and destructive ends, to name a few.
The Cure for S.S.
The cure, as with many disorders and epidemics, begins with a huge shift in our thinking. As Christians and leaders “in” our work, we MUST BELIEVE…
1. Everything in the World is His. (Doesn’t that include our work?)
“…all things were created by Him and for Him.” (Col. 1:16b)
“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it…” (Psalm 24:1)
2. Everything Has Intrinsic Value and are Acts of Worship if Done for God’s Glory.
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Cor. 10:31)
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord…” (Col. 3:23)
3. We are All in the Ministry. (Whether Pastor, Plumber or a Consulting Firm CEO)
“All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation…” (2 Cor. 5:18)
So, what do you think? Do you have any spiritual schizophrenic tendencies? Maybe the following diagnostic questions will help:
1. Do I behave one way at work and another way at home or church?
2. Do I rarely think about God at work?
3. Do I think that work is cursed or is just my job, or business?
4. Do I think pastors or missionaries are more blessed than I am?
5. Do I feel that my work does not matter to God and has little spiritual value?
Oh, by the way, the CEO I mentioned above? His name is Doug Spada and he is now the Founder and CEO of a ministry called WORKLIFE. KWM is partnering with WORKLIFE to help equip and empower leaders by providing you with resources to live more freely, avoiding the short circuits that can disconnect your faith in Christ from your work and ministry.
I’m excited to be able to offer one such resource for a LIMITED TIME. It’s called Monday Morning Atheist, by Doug Spada. In it you will discover…
- More about Doug’s journey out of Monday Morning Atheistic living,
- Other short circuits that cause us to switch God off at work,
- And how to repair those circuits in a way that will transform your life, the lives of others, and bring greater glory to God!
It’s a great resource. Obtain your copy today. Consider giving one to your Pastor or to another Christian business leader or colleague. It would also be a great resource tool to use with others in a small group setting, helping you to grow together in your worklife ministry. Just click on one of the OPTION links above: single copy option or 5-Pack Option.
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