America, God's Idea - The American Dream Part II

The following posts come out of the belief that there are those that are actively seeking to destroy America and everything for which she stands. Obviously, I am not alone in this belief. Books have been written, the airwaves full of talk show hosts and television shows that are speaking to this concern. These next few posts are simply my observations and thoughts about what seems to be taking place.

 

To clarify my position, I believe in America because I believe the nations were designed by God for a reason. He is the One who set the boundaries, and He tells us why in Scripture. Unmistakably, God is for boundaries; and the nations are without a doubt, His idea.

 

This fact is made clearly obvious in Genesis 11:7-8 when God confounded the languages at the Tower of Babel. Further, all end time prophecies center around the fact that necessitates the need for a division of nations remain, for those end time prophecies to be fulfilled.

From God Divided the Nations by Noah Hutchings:

“Scripture affirms that mankind is divided into nations, races, and languages according to the will of God so that His purpose for man and the earth might be fulfilled.  The apostle Paul declared that God not only brought about this separation, but He created boundaries so that the nations would stay divided.”

In Acts 17:24-26 we read:

²⁴God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

²⁵ Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

²⁶ And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

 

This Scripture makes it undoubtedly clear God intended the nations as part of His creation.

 

Therefore, that leaves us to better understand that America is also God’s idea. He allowed America for a reason, at the specific time needed; and He was intentional in her purpose. I believe our Founders sought Divine guidance and direction from the God of the Universe as they continued in their idea and design of all that is America. That design and purpose of this new land was choreographed with the Constitution and the fulfillment of that document came to be known as the American Dream – a land better; a life better for God’s glory. The American Dream is living in Freedom without the constraints of a worldly government controlling our lives.

 

If America is truly God’s design, what right do we have to destroy it, or idly sit back while others try?  Lately, we have seen quite a bit of redefining of the “American Dream”. That’s what I hope to address in this post.

 

So with that belief as preface, I will continue in my thoughts about where America is headed. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that to destroy America one would have to destroy the American Dream. Do you think that would be difficult?  Well it sure seems like it would be.  I mean, what is there to find fault with in the American Dream?

 

Everything about it is good:  Living in freedom (freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to privacy); desiring a good home; raising ones family; working hard; and striving to make one’s life better are all a part of the American Dream. Coming out of poverty to success; maybe from a country less privileged to seek citizenship in the greatest nation on earth is also what we think about when we try to define the American Dream. Striving for excellence…basically seeking “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” are all a part of this treasured concept dating back to the inception of the Constitution.

 

Still, we have those that would seek to destroy it.  Wow!  For what purpose? And how?

That is what I hope to address in these posts. I am only going to touch the surface; simply the obvious. I will leave the in-depth politics and ideologies of it all to those more qualified.  I only hope to promote thought and discussion among people like me – the normal citizen simply trying to get along in these crazy times.

 

Obviously, if one is going to seek to destroy something, especially something as great as the American Dream, it would need to be redefined.  It would need to have faults exposed. The concept – what it truly is – would have to be changed in the minds of Americans. We will have to make something good, now something evil.

 

The “counter culture” groups (yes, they were counter culture) in the 60’s attempted this. They were fairly successful. The hippies (or rather those promoting this ideology) were fairly effective in reaching a generation to reject material things. But that wasn’t really what it was all about. Thoughts and patterns were changed during this time. We experienced a culture shift and it wasn’t good. I will write more about that later.

 

But for now I want to write about the present. We are once again seeing an attack on the American Dream. It is coming from quite an unexpected source, however – the church.

 

It’s actually a brilliant strategy.  What better place to convince Americans about the evil design of the American Dream than where evil thoughts, desires, and actions have traditionally been warned. Further, to completely destroy the concept of the American dream, this is the group of Americans that most needed to be reached – Christians, and the church.  Basically, there was a need to go to the place where the last of the conservative thinkers tend to gather.  Others had already been effectively targeted and reached in the 60’s and beyond - using the media, our colleges, and public schools.

 

Certainly none of this happened overnight. Churches basically also needed to change. The Church had to be infiltrated – if you will – with a more liberal mindset taking place. There needed to be a focus off Scripture and even off politics; because the politics that tended to be in the church were mostly conservative. And contrary to what you want to belief or have been taught – politics ARE in the church and always have been. We have simply turned “politics” into a dirty word.

 

Further, the Holy Bible has the answer and solution to the ills of the world, so we certainly can’t have people looking there. Scripture could be used out of context however, if it would back up any points that are needed to change the hearts of those targeted. A little truth is mandatory if falsehoods are to be trusted and believed. But aside from using truth to the necessary advantage, the strategy mission would have to be carried out using the social aspect of the church – aiding the poor, helping the downtrodden; all worthwhile goals especially useful when it can be twisted to make America’s riches look like greed. Thus, I believe the “social gospel” was born.

 

Now, certainly, Christians and most Americans want to do what is right.  We believe in helping others; aiding the downtrodden; feeding the hungry. We desire to do what we can when others are in trouble. We are instructed to do so in Scripture. It is ironic and also amazing that because of the American Dream, Americans have always been able to do just that.  America has always been the first to offer aid, come to the rescue, basically the Super Man of the world showing up wherever needed. We have this “in us” because of our Judeo-Christian roots and heritage. It is for no other reason – look at any other nation that lacks Christ in their foundation and you will see what I mean. The irony comes in the fact that what has enabled us to be the Super Man of the world is what is now under attack.  Americans are being redefined as selfish, puffed-up, fat, rich, selfish, barely human beings living for what else – ourselves and “the American Dream”. More than that, Christians are also being defined in this way, but not simply by non-believers. We are also being defined that way by other “Christians”.

 

Richard Stearns in his recent book The Hole in Our Gospel devotes an entire chapter entitled “Putting the American Dream to Death”. In this chapter he states:  “Aspiring to material comfort and success are not necessarily core Christian values. [True!] A person who dreams of becoming wealthy so she can indulge her every selfish fantasy is not in alignment with God’s ideals.”

The rest of Mr. Stearns' statement is also true, but who is he to say that Christians are doing this? That certainly isn’t my view of the American Christian, though of course there may be many (unsaved) Americans that have not come into a greater understanding of the Bible that the majority of Christians in America should and do have. But it certainly isn’t up to Richard Stearns to determine that.

After attempting to guilt the reader into his way of thinking, Stearns forgets that to be a "good steward of what God has given us", that should also include protecting what God has given us in the design and fulfillment of all that is America. Stearns caps it all off in the final sentence of that chapter when he informs us: “If we’re in God’s game, we need to put the American Dream to death, because God’s game is a different game altogether.”  Yep, it sure is…but Stearns is forgetting a larger part of the "game" of which he is speaking. Furthermore, to state that American Christians don’t understand from Whom their blessings flow, is a slap in the face to those of us who might not agree with Richard Stearns.

Rob Bell, controversial “Christian” author, (I call him a heretic) has written books about the changes in the “American” Christian, advocating a liberal political mindset and seemingly a good deal of disdain for America. I hate to even give him space here, but he is dangerously influencing Christians, especially those of the younger generations. Bell is trying to change fundamental Christianity to something far more liberal with many false teachings. I believe his liberal view of "politics", is why.

Pastor and author, John Piper, has video after video which seem to attack the American Dream when he states:  

“What a tragedy in America. This is one of the biggest tragedies in our culture that billions of dollars are invested every year to get people my age to waste the rest of our lives…on retirement.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_ep5gkjCLE  Every time I listen to this video, I am once again angered by the guilt he tries to place on Christians (as well as non-Christians) with his message. His video conveniently forgets the fact that many of those millions of retirees he is lambasting in the video are not even Christians, so how can we expect them to act any other way. He uses a high statistical number (billions of dollars) to make his point about wasting lives, but non-Christians are included in those high number stats, as well. Again, we can't expect them to act like Christians - or rather, how Piper believes Christians should act. He is targeting a source that will in no way bring others into the Kingdom. But rather, he denounces the American Dream that which - by my way of thinking - is one of the most important means that will aid in bringing the Gospel so that others might come into the Kingdom.

Or:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSl_SCQkaYg  - What Piper fails to mention here is that it is America and Americans that are the ones who are taking care of the downtrodden of the world whom he considerately and compassionately shows in this video.

 

Now I am in no way a proponent of the “prosperity gospel”; but the bottom line is, we don’t have to bash America to get people to think about, consider, and live for the Lord. This only aids and I will even say joins forces with those that are actively seeking to destroy America and our Christian roots.

 

My point in bringing up these examples is not to attack anyone’s ministry; but I have to ask why are we suddenly seeing this visceral attack of Americans and our way of life in the Christian community?  I'm not saying these men are purposely out to destroy America. I can't say that; I don't know these men. I believe most are largely unaware of the harm that is being done.  But I have to ask why is this happening? Again, It only aids those that seek to destroy America. Someone has intentions. It had to start somewhere...think about that.

 

Those going along with the attack on this concept called America, fail to realize if not for the riches we have been blessed with by the American Dream, we would not be able to bring this aid to the world that men like those I have mentioned, certainly seem to desire. What some don’t seem to realize is once our nation is no longer built upon making ourselves better, we will no longer have the resources to be the ones that answer every call to a hurting world.

 

The first to come to this land, came out of a desire to worship freely and to share the Gospel to those they may encounter here. This is documented fact, regardless of what the modern day history books may tell you. “Thoughts of a better life” has been our desire since the beginning of our nation. And there is nothing wrong with that. God put this desire into the hearts of those that founded this idea called America. The United States of America was born to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the American Dream and the capitalistic system that has allowed us the means to do so.

 

The American Dream IS America. It is who we are, why we were conceived in the hearts and minds of not only our Founders, but from those that first set foot in this land looking for a better way.  When we try to change it, dismantle it, criticize it, we aren’t just attacking God’s servants who helped create America generations ago, we are also attacking those patriots that are actively working in the present to maintain America, and all for which she stands. "It's a dirty job, but someone has to do it." But really, even more important than all of that, when we attack America or allow her to be attacked, we are attacking God’s idea and God's plan. You up for that?

 

If it is truly God that orchestrated the birth of America – and He did – then what right do we have to destroy it? If America is God’s idea, don’t we have a responsibility to be good stewards of what He gave us?  And I don’t mean stewardship only in economics, but I mean stewardship in protecting all that we have in America. That involves protecting our rights, our Constitution, our government. What right as Americans, as Christians, as citizens do we have to destroy, or allow others to destroy what God has done? 

 

I will write more thoughts about this later. Join me?

 

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By way of the Constitution, America's design and purpose was choreographed by the Founder’s deep belief and trust in God. The "American Dream" has simply become the dance. America offers a land better; a life better, a means to bring aid to a hurting world - for God’s glory.