Livin' the Dream

What is "the American Dream"? The moment I asked the question you likely had an idea in your head of what it is even though I don't know that anyone has ever actually defined it in my hearing. What is it?

The term was first coined in 1931 by James Truslow Adams in his Epic of America. "The American Dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement." Specifically denying that it references expensive cars and high wages, Adams says it is "a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position." It is built on American freedom. It includes the notion that anyone who works hard enough can achieve prosperity, success, upward social mobility, all the things that make life good. Work hard, work free, and you can pull yourself up by your bootstraps and fulfill your full potential. The American Dream.

You can almost hear the majestic, patriotic music in the background with the words. It makes you want to stand proud, to strive for all you can be, to get what's coming to you. But ... is it Christian?

The American Dream places a primary focus on "me". It is aimed at "what I can achieve". It's about "getting what I want." It's interesting. Nothing in the concept asks, "Is your full potential a good thing?" If it is a social order that allows each individual (because, you see, America is all about individualism) to reach his or her innate capabilities, is "innate capabilities" a good thing? Doesn't it imply--require--that these capabilities be good? And, as such, wouldn't it require the belief that humans are innately good?

It's disturbing when you think about it. Laid side by side with a biblical worldview, the two come into a variety of serious conflicts. One says, "Be all you can be." The other says, "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." (Rom 3:10-12) One says, "We are all basically good" and the other says, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom 3:23) and "The wages of sin is death." (Rom 6:23) One says, "You can accomplish whatever you want" and the other says, "Apart from Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5), "The flesh profits nothing" (John 6:63), and "those who are in the flesh cannot please God." (Rom 8:8) One says, "Work and accomplish" and the other says, "Work, for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." (Phil 2:13) One says, "Look out for Number One" and the other says, "With humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves." (Phil 2:3) One says, "Do what's best for yourself" and the other says, "Do all for the glory of God." (1 Cor 10:31) One says, "Make the most of yourself" and the other says, "Deny yourself." (Matt 16:24) You know, it doesn't take long before you start to wonder if there are any points of agreement between the two ideas.

So why is it that this notion of "the American Dream" has so saturated American Christianity? We seem to have taken that whole "Reach your fullest stature" concept, tacked on a church service or two, and called it "Christianity". Entire ministries are built on "your best life now" and "God wants you to be healthy and wealthy." Less offensive but equally predicated on the concept are the heavily therapeutic, "God loves you and will solve your problems in life" approaches. And may it never be that Christians should be asked to sacrifice for any reason. That's just not ... American. But it is Christian. Maybe we need to reconsider our Christianity of the American Dream. Maybe we're missing some important issues.

Some thoughts on the 4th of July.