God’s Dream vs. the American Dream
page 1 of 3by Scott Bessenecker
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Affluenza
In many countries, the religious sites are the main tourist attractions. Tourists flock to see things like the emerald Buddha in Bangkok, Thailand. Muslims, Jews and Christians alike make pilgrimages to the Holy Land to see hundreds of places of religious significance. Burial sites like the Pyramids and the Taj Mahal have religious overtones. The new interest in Celtic spirituality is spawning tours of Irish monasteries. But what about America? What are the sites of religious significance that attract worshipers from all over the world? Certainly Disney World must rank up in the top five tourist locations in America where people can partake of American spirituality. Amusement is a key component of the American religious experience. But I'd like to focus for a moment on the Mall of America as one of our key American holy sites because it combines both the sacrament of amusement and the sacrament of shopping.
Consumerism is a form of worship in our country and the mall is where we go to draw strength and fellowship with other "converts." The Mall of America employs a wardrobe therapist (a kind of high priestess) and boasts a chapel called the Chapel of Love where more than 4,000 couples from around the world have gotten married. And what center of spirituality would be complete without a seminary? The Mall of America hosts the National American University. "The first-ever college campus in a mall offering courses in 17 study areas." I would think their course offering in business ethics would be stellar because you could do so much research right there on "campus."
This paper is titled "God's Dream vs. the American Dream." I am focused on one aspect of the American dream: materialism. After a brief survey I will compare this materialism with God's plan for anyone who would come after him.
But before I get started I need to acknowledge that there are parts of the American dream that are good. Truth is often more complex than either the anti-American contingent or the "rah-rah USA" proponents would have us believe.
So before I start I want to say that the part of the American dream that says I can pursue Jesus with my whole heart, soul, mind and strength without fear of harassment from police is a really great part of the dream. The part that says I can even give a seminar like this without being shut down by government authorities is amazing. And as flawed as our legal system can be at times, the American dream that insists that I am innocent until proven guilty goes way beyond the reality in many other nations.
So though I am deeply saddened by aspects of Americana, I don't want us to completely ignore places where this experiment in democracy has gotten it right.
Accumulation
The story is told of an American businessman at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village. A little boat with just one fisherman docked at the pier. Inside the boat were several large yellow-fin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.
The Mexican fisherman replied, "Only a little while."
The American then asked why he didn't stay out longer and catch more fish. The fisherman said he had enough to support his family's immediate needs.
The American then asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"
The Mexican fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siesta with my wife, Maria, help out a little at my church. Then, each evening I stroll into the village where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life, senor."
The American scoffed, "I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats. Eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman, you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then L.A., and eventually New York, where you will run your expanding enterprise."
The Mexican fisherman asked, "But senor, how long will this all take?" To which the American replied, "15-20 years working 80 hours a week."
"But what then, senor?" the fisherman asked.
The American laughed and said, "That's the best part. When the time is right, you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions."
"Millions, senor? Then what?" asked the fisherman.
The American said, "Then you would retire, move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siesta with your wife, help out a little at your church. In the evenings you could stroll to the village where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos."
The quest for wealth can be almost as intoxicating as wealth itself. Part of the American dream involves accumulation. You find this out very quickly when you buy a house. It's not enough for there to be one lawn mower in the neighborhood - everybody has to possess their own lawn mower. The same is true for just about anything you might use on occasion, like a ladders. Is it really necessary for everyone on the block to own multiple ladders? What about garden hoses or paint brushes or swing sets? Does one square block really need 30 punch bowls for that one time a year it might get used, just so everyone can have their own and not have to borrow one?
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