God, Save Me From The American Dream

CNN recently ran an opinion piece by David Platt, who wrote Radical: Taking Back Your Faith From The American Dream (which I highly recommend reading). The article gives you a taste of what he goes into in depth in his book, and the timing is rather fortuitous seeing as this time of year is marked by many of the hallmarks of the American Dream.

Here are a few highlights from the article (you can read the whole thing here):

“We American Christians have a way of taking the Jesus of the Bible and twisting him into a version of Jesus that we are more comfortable with. A nice middle-class American Jesus. A Jesus who doesn’t mind materialism and would never call us to give away everything we have. A Jesus who is fine with nominal devotion that does not infringe on our comforts. A Jesus who wants us to be balanced, who wants us to avoid dangerous extremes, and who for that matter wants us to avoid danger altogether. A Jesus who brings comfort and prosperity to us as we live out our Christian spin on the American Dream.”

“…many of us are realizing that Jesus has different priorities. Instead of congratulating us on our self-fulfillment, he confronts us with our inability to accomplish anything of value apart from God. Instead of wanting us to be recognized by others, he beckons us to die to ourselves and seek above all the glory of God.”

“I believe God has a dream for people today. It’s just not the same as the American Dream. I believe God is saying to us that real success is found in radical sacrifice. That ultimate satisfaction is found not in making much of ourselves but in making much of him. That the purpose of our lives transcends the country and culture in which we live. That meaning is found in community, not individualism. That joy is found in generosity, not materialism. And that Jesus is a reward worth risking everything for. Indeed, the gospel compels us to live for the glory of God in a world of urgent spiritual and physical need, and this is a dream worth giving our lives to pursue.“

That last line really could be the thesis statement behind his book – the idea that the American Dream isn’t just detracting from, but totally contradictory to the gospel. It’s not that having a house, a nice family, money in the bank, safety, or a successful job are bad in and of themselves; it’s the idea that we let those things terminate on themselves to serve only our own purposes rather than God’s purposes, which brings the glory to us and not to God. It’s our own socially acceptable way of breaking the first three commandments (and probably the tenth one too). Since none of those things satisfy, we keep going out for more and more and more, and since none of those things justify, we keep finding other ways to check things off on our list of “good behavior”, believing the lie that just like we can earn that bonus on our paycheck, we can earn our own righteousness.

In Platt’s book, he explains the toll this is taking not only on our own spiritual lives but also on those of the needy:

“The price is certainly high for people who don’t know Christ and who live in a world where Christians shrink back from self-denying faith and settle into self-indulging faith. While Christians choose to spend their lives fulfilling the American Dream instead of giving their lives [not just our money - our lives!] to proclaiming the kingdom of God, literally billions in need of the gospel remain in the dark.” (pg. 14)

His statements are not without Biblical foundation:

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? – Micah 6:8

Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? – Isa. 58:6-7

Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. – Ps. 82:3-4

Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. – Luke 12:32-34

And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved… Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. - Acts 2:44-47 & 4:32-35

This is not what you’re hearing in most American churches. The central figure of our belief system is Christ, God in the flesh, who humbled Himself to serve and save. We read about the tremendous sacrifices made by believers all throughout the Bible. We read the Scriptures listed above, and many others that put forth the same calling. And yet we feel like we are good Christians if we remember to thank God for our BMW. The God of the Bible did not come to earth to live, die a bloody, horrible death, and reconcile us to Himself so we could be content with our toys instead of Him.

While we may hear this and think, “Well, but that’s not what people really do; surely that’s an exception rather than the norm.” we have to ask ourselves who we’re taking leadership cues from – other people, or God? It doesn’t matter what most people do if it’s not what the Bible commands. It sounds very uncomfortable, and it is, but in a culture of instant gratification and “looking our for number one” we forget that Jesus didn’t call us to comfort, but to obedience, and that “number one” isn’t you, it’s Him.

Again, in Platt’s book, he says,

Are you and I looking to Jesus for advice that seems fiscally responsible according to the standards of the world around us? Or are we looking to Jesus for total leadership of our lives, even if that means going against everything our affluent culture and maybe even our affluent religious neigbors might tell us to do?” (pg. 121)

So then, what will we do? Will we go on putting cultural norms above what the Bible says, or will we wake up to the truth found in His Word and sacrificially seek God and serve others, no matter the personal cost?