When it comes to bureaucracy and administration I have been blessed with significant privilege. Many others have taken on much of that work and so freed me up to focus on other things. I have not worked in industries as heavily regulated by compliance and administrative as others do. So I must confess that when it comes to this kind of work I am a big sook. I admit it. But I am not alone. The particular frustration, despair and numbing sense of futility that we human beings feel in the face of mounting piles of seemingly endless and often apparently senseless administrative tasks is one of the peculiar features of the modern world. A malaise, an ennui, a grey kind of dull suffering.
Administration and compliance is one of the little but destructive effects of sin, folly and incompetence. Because of the sin, folly and incompetence of the human race all of us have to spend a substantial chunk of our lives logging into portals and filling out forms and completing training modules. Further, bureaucracy creates a new theatre for human sin, folly and incompetence: as the federal government’s ‘robodebt’ debacle demonstrates.
But dwelling on negatives isn’t great for one’s mood, nor for one’s godliness. So here are some matters of spiritual self-talk, I strive to engage in.
Thank You Father for the Provision of Human Authorities
Speaking in the original context an imperfect, non-Christian government, God still says, through his apostle:
The authorities that exist have been established by God … For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. (Romans 13:1, 4)
Good order, justice, safety and equity are all good aspects of human society; they are good for everybody, including me. They can help the spread of the gospel and the health of the church. The routines and standards of bureaucracy many not be especially relevant or beneficial for my particular life and ministry, but they are designed to have a positive effect on the society as a whole. That’s worth a bit of battling away at the admin for—taking a hit for the greater good.
Thank You Father for the Conveniences of Technology
True, there are times when life would be easier if I could just talk with a human being face to face, rather than log into an online interface and navigate through fields and drop-downs and Help FAQ pop-ups. However, recent technology has also spared us all a great deal of printing and posting; spared us a lot of going into an office during business hours and waiting in a queue.
Thank You Father for Others Who Work Hard for Us in This Area
In the church, each of us are members of one body, however different our roles may be (Romans 12; 1Corinthians 12). In society at large, we each have our lot in life, contributing to the common good (Ecclesiastes 3:22, 5:18–19, 9:9; 1 Corinthians 7:17). Many people work hard at the particular work of ensuring things are done safely, honestly and so on. By and large they are not The Enemy. Perhaps they could do it better some ways. Most likely The System they are working within is unintentionally corrosive on human flourishing in some way or another. But rather than ruminating on that, I should also stop and take the time to thank God for my fellow believers, or my fellow human beings, who serve the common good in this capacity.
Thank You Father for the Opportunity to Love Others—Especially the Vulnerable
However imperfect, obstructive and inefficient it may be, admin—especially compliance admin—is designed to help people (and animals and plants and soil and so on). Insofar as these mind-numbing jobs contribute to that end, I can thank God for the opportunity to do a good deed. It is a pedestrian good deed. It is a good deed that is mediated, and so somewhat alienated from the actual beneficial outcomes it aims at. But nevertheless it is a way I can set aside my own convenience to make sure other people, especially vulnerable people, are cared for, provided for, included, listened to, protected and so on.
So quit your moaning and groaning and whining and whingeing, Mikey: just fill out the webform, buddy, to the glory of God for the love of your neighbours.
