Christianity and the American Dream
Jenny Smith and I had an interesting conversation yesterday about the American Dream and its possible influence on Christianity. I proposed that the two have merged, making for a lot of Christians confusing "God's plan for their lives" with the American ideals of financial success and independence, and achieving all of one's personal goals. I ask myself if this is what God really wants for His children. What did Christ mean by the "abundant life"--having a big house, successful job, a shiny SUV and/or worldly recognition? How much of what *I* want for my life or feel motivated to do is from God, and how much is simply ambition that is at least unrelated to God's plan, and, at worst, a "hindrance" to it?
I realize that I may be wrong about my observations, but I am reflecting at very least on my own motivations and desires. I have a secret subconscious idea that God will be happier with me if I achieve the aforementioned Dream. It is my opinion that this is an incorrect way of understanding God's will for me, given that it is selfish in nature, and I wish to get at the heart of what the kingdom of God should look like.
I am blogging this in response to a comment left by Jenny yesterday on my previous post. You should read it before the following paragraph, which is my response to her comment. I decided to blog about this because I am interested in getting others' ideas on the subject as well. Please feel free to speak your mind openly in any comments you should leave.
Jenny--I see where you are coming from, but I think that I disagree with your definition of the American Dream (and it is with the following perspective that I spoke yesterday). I think the American Dream is an essentially selfish ideal: I want to be all I can be, rise to the top, achieve all of my goals. It's not about (if we get really honest with ourselves) helping others achieve THEIR goals. Capitalism is based on self interest, after all. I think we see Christians being more benevolent in their version of the Dream, trying to help others succeed. But even still, I am trying to step back and ask myself what God wants for His children, starting from scratch. Forget what my culture tells me and seek His inspiration. I want no influence but what His Spirit reveals through the Word. I am admittedly a bit jaded, though, so I appreciate your pointing out that Christians are still generally interested in helping others achieve as well.
Am I way off here? Anyone have any thoughts?
posted by Jenn @ 1:59 PM
19 Comments:
Let's get the American Dream straight before we talk of its merging with anything else. We may not even be able to agree on what this dream is, or why we should call it 'American' and not something more universal. Let's skip the success, ambition, and fame stuff, which I believe has been common to selfish ambitious people everywhere at all times (and which I think isn't particularly part of this dream) and focus on the property part of the dream -- which I think is at the heart, or at least has been the heart of the dream, if there even is a common one, for most Americans over most of our history.
Is it the dream that one wants a 'big house' or simply wants to own one's own house -- without interference from a government, benevolent or otherwise. Having one's own place, where you can live as you wish, raise your kids as you wish, and worship God as you wish... I see nothing wrong with this.
Man was made to be a cultivator of a specific place. He was put in a garden by God for him to manicure and take care of. Having some land, and a home, stems from this same desire to cultivate which God put in there from the beginning. This was part of his purpose for making us. To desire a home may be a far off dream for some, and that's why it has become so coveted. Industrialism may have tried to destroy this dream, placing people in crowded, rented buildingd, but the wealth of land in our country has countered those forces, bringing the dream of private property within the realm of the possible for those who work hard and save money -- two other things, perhaps aspects of this dream, which aren't necessarily evil in themselves.
Thank you Shane. I think your perspective is enlightening. I agree that to desire land and property is not an evil. I guess what I am getting at, though, is the drive to have these things, thinking that it is God's will (mandate) that we have them. What I still wonder is what Christ meant by an "abundant life". Is it home ownership? I suspect not, yet some might think so. Scripture is popularly misquoted as saying that money is the root of all evil, when really it is the LOVE of money it says is the evil. I think we can substitute the word "land ownership" for "money" and get the same meaning (since they bpth relate to wealth), and that is what I am getting at. Is our drive to own a home ("the Dream") getting in the way of what God might really want for our lives? Jenny pointed out interestingly yesterday that during th Middle Ages, being in poverty was considered a valuable position.
I think I see what you mean. It reminds me of a quote by C. S. Lewis about how we ought to order the pursuits of our lives individually and corporately, related to Jesus' statement, 'Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.' (Matthew 6:33)
"....every preference of a small good to a great, or a partial good to a total good, involves the loss for the small or partial good for which the sacrifice was made. Apparently the world is made that way. If Esau really got the pottage in return for his birthright, then Esau was a lucky exception.
"You can't get second things by putting them first [like perhaps a nice house, financial security, and job success]; you can get second things only by putting first things first. From which it would follow that the question, What things are first? is of concern not only to philosophers but to everyone.
"To preserve civilization has been the great aim; the collapse of civilization, the great bugbear. Peace, a high standard of life, hygiene, transport, science and amusement - all these, which are what we usually mean by civilization, have been our ends. ... Perhaps it can’t be preserved that way. Perhaps civilization will never be safe until we care for something else more than we care for it.
"... What is the first thing? The only reply I can offer here is that if we do not know, then the first, and only practical thing, is to set about finding out."
-- C. S. Lewis (1898-1963), God in the Dock [bracket comment by me]
Yeah, that's what I'm getting at. Thanks for the Lewis quotes. That man had a lot of good things to say.
Um, I think I was working with the definition of the American Dream as the ideal that people can achieve whatever they set their minds to; that everyone has an opportunity to succeed, converting their 'nothing' to 'something.' I guess I realize that the idea of the American Dream is very selfish, but I also think that it is beloved in our society and that people love to hear stories about how individuals have made their Dream. In a way, I think the American Dream is very paradoxical, being both very selfish and yet also being very inclusive.
Jenn, what a great topic.
This is one of those things I think about a lot without coming up with good answers. I certainly agree with you that materialistic prosperity was not what Christ had in mind when he spoke of "abundant life." All of His disciples, as far as I know, died penniless, but their spiritual lives prospered beyond their wildest dreams.
With so much in material blessings we receive, the only verse that comes to my mind is the admonishment that "from those to whom much is given, much shall be required." That is a scary proposition to me because my own giving record is deplorable in light of how much God has given me.
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John Lin had a book, which I've now inherited but haven't read yet, called Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger by Ronald J. Sider. As the title suggests, this book is about how people in our society, Christians included, think mainly about what we can do to make life more comfortable for our own families. We forget our mandate to help the poor. The questions these posts raise make me want to read the book. Or loan it out if anyone wants to take a look.
Jenny, I'm sorry I misunderstood your definition. I didn't mean to misrepresent you. Hopefully other people were not fooled by my interpretation and got it straight from the source.
Some good conversation you've got going here, Jen.
I recently realized something about all the passages in the Bible that talk about people being rich or wealthy. Like Matthew 19:24 for instance "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
I'd always thought about rich man in this passage being someone I considered wealthy. A Hollywood mogul, a founder of Microsoft, etc.
However, God allowed me to see that compared with most of the people on planet earth, I am quite wealthy. Just by virtue of being an American at this point in history, I fit the description of a rich woman. Suddenly those verses applied to me and not just some rich guy out there.
That was a pretty startling way for me to consider some of Jesus' words.
I'm reminded of Peter Gabriel's lyrics in his song Big Time. "I'm on my way, I'm making it... I’ll be a big noise with all the big boys/ There’s so much stuff I will own / And I will pray to a big god / As I kneel in the big church..."
Laura--I came to the same realization myself.
I agree that we are very wealthy. Yesterday I came across a passage in a popular Christian devotional of the first four centuries, the Shepherd written by Hermas, brother of Pius, bishop of Rome. It's from the first half of the second century. Hermas was a wealthy man in Rome and was concerned about how his wealth and business dealings could divert his heart from God. In a vision, an apparition appearing like a shepherd spoke to him and said, "You know that you slaves of God are living in a foreign land. For your own city is a long way from this one. If, then, you know your own city, where you are about to live, why are you preparing fields, expensive furnishings, buildings, and pointless rooms for yourselves here?
. . . You foolish, double-minded, and miserable person! Don't you understand that all these things belong to another and are under someone else's control?
. . . So take care. Since you are dwelling in a foreign land, fix nothing up for yourself except what is absolutely necessary . . .
Instead of fields, then, purchase souls that have been afflicted, insofar as you can, and take care of widows and orphans and don't neglect them; spend your wealth and all your furnishings for such fields and houses as you have received from God.
For this is why the Master made you rich, that you may carry out these ministries for him. It is much better to purchase the fields, goods, and houses you will find in your own city . . ."
Great quote Shane! Thanks for sharing.
Happy New Year, Jenn. May this year be full of blessings for you.
Happy New Year, Jenn. May this year be full of blessings for you.
Wow, Jenn's first 2005 posting must be really really good if she is spending this much time working on it :)
Do I have to move you to the strong, silent types list???
Thank you, Matt.
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