Debunking the American Dream

 

“He has brought down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up those of lowly position; he has filled the hungry with good things, and has sent the rich away empty.”  Luke 1:52-53

The American Dream was originally proposed by James Truslow Adams in his book The Epic of America, written in 1931, as, “not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of a social order 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, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position.” Essentially, it is getting away from the old hierarchical structure where you were born into your status and there was no other way to attain it. But the root of this “dream” is a pull yourself up by your bootstraps and make it happen mentality. It attributes a person’s situation in life to how hard they have, or haven’t, tried.

One of the first key problems that stands out to me from this mentality is the shame it puts on someone who is of a lowly position in this world. It says that where they are at is their fault because they haven’t tried hard enough. Let’s be honest, you’ve heard, and maybe even thought, these things about the homeless community today. “They’re just looking for a handout and don’t want to work for a living.” “They like living this way and wouldn’t change if you gave them the opportunity to.” “Their circumstances are the result of their bad choices and they deserve it.” I’ve heard all these sentiments and much more. But here’s the truth, homelessness is not an epidemic of choice. Do you know a single person who, while living in a comfortable home with their family, would choose to live on the streets, exposed to the elements, not knowing where their next meal would come from, in constant danger? No, I don’t either. Did a series of other choices lead to the situation they are in? Probably, but what I’m saying here is that people didn’t intentionally set out to become homeless. People in this situation came to it in various ways, sometimes by financial circumstances other times by mental illness or addiction, but once there, they were trapped by it. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to rent a place to live today? Beyond that, imagine how difficult it would be to get a job when you have no address and no way to shower in the morning. Yes, there are services, some helpful and some not, out there to assist people in overcoming these circumstances, but they are a drop in the bucket of the need. What I’m getting at here is, homeless people are not homeless because they didn’t try hard enough in life. 

The other problem with the idea of the American Dream is that we are still born into a status and position, even if it has nothing to do with royalty or nobility. According to Britannica, “Hard work alone is often not enough for families or their children to get ahead, especially if they are low-wage earners.” It goes on to explain that Black and Hispanic women are the least likely to improve their position in life. We’re all experiencing the disillusionment to some degree because Britannica shared that of those born in 1940, 92% earned more than their parents, but that figure drops to only 50% for those born in 1980. Could it be that entire generations are just not trying hard enough? I don’t think so.

Here's the Thing: The American Dream is a nightmare. It traps you into the lie that it’s all up to you and if you don’t succeed, it’s all your fault. The truth is found in James 1:17 (NIV), “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” Our blessings are not the result of our hard work, but a gift from God. It is to Him we have to look when things are hard, AND when things are good. In God’s upside-down kingdom, it is the lowly who are lifted up and the hungry who are fed good things. So what does God prize in life if it’s not stature, wealth and fame? A humble and pure heart that seeks Him, that’s what God is looking for!

             

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