The over-arching theme of this chapter is that the American Dream teaches us to rely upon our own power, when we ought to rely upon the power of the Holy Spirit. But the American dream isn’t all bad; it teaches us to be hard-working and successful, and use the talents God has innately put in us. So that is good. However, there is a dangerous temptation to begin thinking that our greatest asset is our own ability.
James Truslow Adams is credited with coining the phrase, “American dream,” and spoke of it like this: “a dream…in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are.”
Platt continues:
So is there anything wrong with this picture? Certainly hard work and high aspirations are not bad, and the freedom to pursue our goals is something we should celebrate. Scripture explicitly commends all these things. But underlying this American dream are a dangerous assumption that, if we are not cautious, we will unknowingly accept and a deadly goal that, if we are not careful, we will ultimately achieve.
The “dangerous assumption” is the belief that our greatest asset is our own ability. How many times are people in America encouraged to believe in themselves? Definitely in most high school graduation speeches. It’s easy for us as Christians to say, “No, of course I don’t assume that. God is my greatest asset and source.” But do we really live in that belief? I know I don’t as much as I should. Do we live in our own security or are we truly dependent on God for our needs?
The “deadly goal” is death, which is what we achieve when we pursue our own desires through our own power. And under these circumstances, we will always attribute our accomplishments to our own glory. When we achieve our goals through our own power, we don’t attribute glory to the Father. In Adams’s words, we will be “recognized by others for what [we] are.” Platt: “This, after all, is the goal of the American dream: to make much of ourselves. But here the gospel and the American dream are clearly and ultimately antithetical to each other.” In the gospel, we are confronted with our complete inability to accomplish anything of value without Christ.
God actually delights in our inability and is always showing us through numerous examples in Scripture and in our own lives, our need for Him. Why? To make His name great! In the story of the battle for Jericho, God chooses a strategy through which only He could get the glory. Platt: “This is how God works. He puts his people in positions where they are desperate for his power, and then he shows his provision in ways that display his greatness.”
But it’s not just during the week that we struggle with ignorance of our dependence upon the power of God. I would say that the majority of churches significantly struggle with an American dream mentality in how they approach their programs. They structure their methods and programs in ways that emphasize their own ability and ingenuity.
Consider what it takes for successful businessmen and businesswomen, effective entrepreneurs and hardworking associates, shrewd retirees and idealistic students to combine forces with a creative pastor to grow a ‘successful church’ today. Clearly, it doesn’t require the power of God to draw a crowd in our culture. A few key elements that we can manufacture will suffice.
First, we need a good performance. In an entertainment-driven culture, we need someone who can captivate the crowds. If we don’t have a charismatic communicator, we are doomed. So even if we have to show him on a video screen, we must have a good preacher. It’s even better if he has an accomplished worship leader with a strong band at his side…
Anyways. I think it’s good to be relevant to our culture, but when it leaves behind the power of God, even in the planning of the programs, then it’s crap. We ought to diligently seek the direction of God through prayer in everything that the church does. Not relying on the next new strategy or “next big thing” to keep us relevant, but relying on God’s power to do something great despite our weaknesses. Relying on the power of the gospel; living in genuine love, which draws the hopeless to the hope we have in Christ.
But what is strangely lacking in the picture of performances, personalities, programs, and professionals is desperation for the power of God. God’s power is at best an add-on to our strategies. I am frightened by the reality that the church I lead can carry on most of our activities smoothly, efficiently, even successfully, never realizing that the Holy Spirit of God is virtually absent from the picture. We can so easily deceive ourselves, mistaking the presence of physical bodies in a crowd for the existence of spiritual life in a community.
The reality is that it doesn’t matter how many resources the church has. The church I lead could have all the man-made resources that one could imagine, but apart from the power of the Holy Spirit, such a church will do nothing of significance for the glory of God. In fact, I believe the opposite is true. The church I lead could have the least gifted people, the least talented people, the fewest leaders, and the least money, and this church under the power of the Holy Spirit could still shake the nations for his glory.
Just look at all the stories in Acts where God powerfully uses His followers who are completely desperate for Him. Acts 2:41 says, “So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about 3,000 souls.” 3,000… and notice the language, “were added”. Who added them? God.
I pray that God will continue reminding us of our dependence upon Him, and help us to live in that reality.
