The American Dream

The words of Amos ring true today. I like the way he makes a distinction between the “needy” and the “poor”. While the “poor” belong to the “needy” classification, the “needy” include so many more than just those without financial means. “Hear this, you who trample the needy and do away with the poor of the land, saying, ‘When will the New Moon be over that we may sell grain, and the Sabbath be ended that we may market wheat?’— skimping the measure, boosting the price and cheating with dishonest scales, buying the poor with silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, selling even the sweepings with the wheat. The LORD has sworn by the Pride of Jacob: ‘I will never forget anything they have done.’”

Man, that Amos could preach. But what does that have to do with today? Well, let us think about our lives, our priorities, and about how much time God spent concerned with the needy and the poor. Let us think about God’s dream and contrast it with the American Dream. What is the American dream? Is it two cars, a big screen television, a nice home in the suburbs, skipping along merrily without many hiccups in life? Are those the items that make up the American Dream?

This post isn't to take away from what all of on this message board consider the American Dream, but I would like people to think about the rampant materialism we all find ourselves wrapped up in.

I am a typical American Dreamer, but also love Jesus and want to live up to his calling. I hope this post can help spur myself as well as others to think twice about our lives and priorities.

Peace, Brian

"Let us think about God’s dream and contrast it with the American Dream. What is the American dream?"

The term "American Dream" means many things to many people. At the beginning of America's history, however, those brave souls who crossed an ocean and endured hardships we can only imagine, sought liberty. By 1776, they were able to frame their philosophy in a Declaration of Independence which acknowledged Creator-endowed life and liberty, the ongoing care of Divine Providence, accountability to the Supreme Judge of the World, and the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God as a standard by which all valid human law would be measured.

Eleven years later, they were able to structure a self-government for "We, the People," which would "form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare (commmon good), and secure the Blessings of Liberty."

That was their "American Dream."

Out of that concept--the first of its kind ever established as the basis of government--came all the wonderful blessings of freedom and prosperity which later generations mistook for the "American Dream." In other words, the "dream" of liberty for individuals, for which the Founders struggled and sacrificed, gave birth to the opportunity and economic propsperity which followed.

Today, after generations of neglect of the principles incorporated in their Declaration and Constitution, we expect the "blessings" to remain, while we ignore the ideas and principles which produced them.

We need to reinterpret our definition of "American Dream" to mean much more than economic prosperity. For without liberty and acknowledgement of the "Source" of that liberty, America will lose it all.

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