Wake Up, Look Up

Hello, everyone. Thanks for listening to Wake Up, Look Up, a podcast where we connect events happening in real time to the gospel of Jesus Christ. I'm Zach Weihrauch. And in today's episode, we're asking the question, should we fire DEI? This is prompted by an article in The Wall Street Journal looking at the DEI practices of Morgan Stanley and how unsuccessful, at least in the eyes of the journalists, the that program has been.

Actually, Morgan Stanley has received backlash from their DEI practices stemming all the way back from 1993 and then being amplified in 2020, from both sides of the DEI argument. Those, that want to see more inclusion, more celebration of diversity, even, preferential treatment being given to up underrepresented groups feeling like Morgan Stanley is not doing enough. And then opponents on the other side who feel that those practices are unfair or unnecessary, feeling like they're doing too much. It is interesting to me that some of the strongest criticism of these programs come from minority staff members who feel largely sidelined by these programs, feeling as though what Morgan Stanley unintentionally has done is created a finite amount of opportunities that have to go to underrepresented groups, but then, unintentionally creating a culture where none ever go beyond that. So once those slots are filled, in the words of one manager, we have met our diversity quota.

That's what they told a recruiter who was suggesting they hire more underrepresented people. The program has largely focused on metrics. The way we know we're an inclusive workplace is we hit these numbers. The way we know we're not being unfair to anyone is that we we accomplish our formula, but people are not agreeing with that. In fact, there have been number of lawsuits which has led to changes and watering down programs.

It's also created a bit of a culture clash with division and unity being, buzzwords that are used differently by the two sides. How should we as Christians think about DEI initiatives at companies like Morgan Stanley? Well, I will say this. Micah six eight tells us that God wants us to care about justice. We are to love people, to be humble, and to pursue justice.

And to the degree that anyone is being treated unfairly, that anyone is not being given a fair shake, that is an issue of justice, and it is one that we as Christians don't get to punt on. However, what the Bible tells us is that injustice is an internal reality. It lives in my heart, and it lives in yours. The truth is, as James warns us, most of us have inherent biases. I I know I do.

I wish I didn't, but the truth is, in different rooms, I'm more or less comfortable. Around different groups of people are more or less comfortable. You're not gonna change that reality in me by holding me to some standard outside of me. You you can give me a mathematical formula, a quota to hit. You can tie my compensation to whether or not I hire certain groups of people or I promote them, and I'll do that because I like to achieve.

And most people at companies like Morgan Stanley are like me. They'll jump through the hoops. They'll do the things you ask them to do in order to make more money or to put a certificate on the wall, but you're not actually changing what's going on inside of them. Proverbs four says that everything we do in life comes from our hearts. Jeremiah 17 says the heart is desperately wicked.

Who can save it? Well, the answer isn't a company initiative or a government program. The answer is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Christians can lead the way here first by consistently and constantly taking our own hearts to Jesus saying, I know I'm a sinner. I know there are things in me that I don't want to be there.

Show them to me, Jesus, through the power of your holy spirit. And then through your scriptures, change me to echo the words of David who said, create in me a clean heart. That's what I need, and that's what you need. It's a willing, joyful kind of change. A move towards my neighbor no matter where they come from or what they look like or who they are that actually results in tangible change.

It's Christians who are saying everyone's made in the image of God. Therefore, everyone has value. It's Christians who are recognizing that inclusion starts at the cross. We are all desperate sinners in need of a savior. So as Christians get into positions as managers or or hiring directors or leaders, we can lead the way by valuing all people and treating everyone fairly, not because HR told us to, but because we actually believe that.

These programs in the end become self defeating. They have to discriminate, against some people positively, which is always gonna result in discriminating against other people negatively. And we just go around and around chasing our tail. One minute talking about fairness to this group. One minute talking about fairness to that group.

Companies and governments cannot do what only the gospel can, which is why we as Christians living out our faith can actually point a better way. Should we fire DEI? Maybe. But let's make sure when if and when we do, we hire the gospel in its place. Hey.

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