Sarah Hamersma,
Economics,
University of Florida
[Jan 24, 2010] —
It is easy to see ways in which the quest for tenure could seem antithetical to the lifestyle and goals of a Christian.
Clearly we know that as Christians we are to seek the kingdom of God, not a place among the world’s intellectual elite. This sometimes means spending time in ways that does not maximize our research productivity. It often means relationships are of greater importance to us than to many others in our line of work.
However, I think we sometimes exaggerate the “tension” between academic excellence and living out our faith. As an assistant professor reflecting on my own place on the tenure track, I have found comfort in seeing the ways in which God’s calling to me as a Christian can enhance, rather than detract from, my work as a researcher.
It seems to me that in the context of my academic work, being a Christian means my motives are more distinct than my actual output. For example, my priority as a Christian academic should be to build community and build knowledge, not build a personal empire.
But if I truly care about building community and knowledge, I’ll be doing what the rest of the world observes as “networking.” I will likely find collaborators if I am doing this, and some will become meaningful relationships in my life as well as improving the quality of my work.
And if I truly care about serving society with my work, then I would want to do work that examines something important, is not redundant, and will be published where it can have some influence. I think my colleagues – whether Christian or not- would be delighted to see me succeed in this pursuit!
In the end, I believe my motives as a Christian scholar are often quite consistent with the performance that will be judged by my peers. In doing this work, I will also make dear friends along the way — some of whom I would never meet at church! Perhaps I will also be more relaxed than others on the tenure track, knowing that I am seeking God’s guidance rather than man’s approval.
And hopefully, by God’s grace, I will get tenure.