“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you."
John 15:18-19
The "American Dream" is completely backwards from what Jesus teaches. The American Dream, in a nutshell, says "acquire more money, acquire more fame, acquire more success, acquire more, acquire more, acquire more. Your treasure is your stuff." Jesus, on the other hand, says, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
I have an incredibly difficult time hearing part of the pledge of allegiance that says, "one nation, under God" because the American Dream removes us from being underneath God and places us above Him, often removing God from the equation altogether. Sometimes, I think it would be much more appropriate to change the pledge to say "one nation, against God." Non-Christians are not the only ones who get caught in the trap of the American Dream, either; Most Christians (including myself) struggle with a constant desire for more of something, whether it be money, romantic love, or recognition. The definition of 'holy' is to be set apart from the world, but worldly desires and distractions are always getting in the way of purely worshiping Him.
A couple of years ago, I made the decision to only listen to Christian music in my car. At any given time, my radio is tuned to one of three Christian stations. In a way this has been a tremendous blessing, allowing my mind to be filled with music about God so that my thoughts wander in His direction rather than hearing music and having my thoughts wander around the topics of sex and alcohol, the focuses of many secular songs. Listening to nothing but Christian music (as much as I can control) has been refreshing, but I have noticed that I have become extremely disconnected from pop culture.
I generally view disconnection from pop culture as a plus. My life is more centered on the Lord than it once was. My thoughts are much cleaner than they once were. Perhaps my attitude has been most affected by my fast from secular music. I find myself frustrated much less often, especially in traffic. However, there are some drawbacks. It has become increasingly more difficult to connect with non-Christians because music is no longer a common ground to stand upon.
Music is simply one example of the many ways Christians can disconnect themselves from the world. However, where I struggle is determining how much disconnect is healthy. In John 15:19, Jesus teaches that we "do not belong to the world," so detaching ourselves from a reliance on the worldly is certainly necessary. On the other hand, we as Christians are called to love the people of the world. If we have nothing in common with these individuals, how will we be able to connect with them in a way that they receive our love?
Complete isolation from the worldly is not what Jesus intended. In fact, He set the prime example by having meals with tax collectors. But where is the point of balance? I believe the point of balance lies in the issue of reliance. If we rely on something or someone in this world, then it becomes a god in our life. However, it is extremely easy to make excuses and try to justify that which we rely on. It is also easy to be completely unaware that we deal with the issue of reliance.
The most effective test of reliance is separation. Is it difficult to separate myself from that which is worldly? If that thing or person was taken away from me, would my footing be shaken? Would separation be painful? If yes, then reliance exists. We should be so consumed in our mission to spread the Gospel that we delight in letting go of everything else.
Unlike the American Dream, the focus of the "Christian Dream" should not be what we acquire; rather, it should be focused on what worldly things we let go of. After all, we did not bring anything into the world, and we cannot take anything out of it. No possession belongs to us; each one is the creation of God to be used for His purposes. Instead of relying on that which is worldly, use it to further His kingdom. Just be sure to keep a loose grip!
