The American Dream Exchanged for an American Nightmare

The term The American Dream was first made famous by James Truslow Adams in his book The Epic of America published in 1931. Ever since then that term has permeated our national consciousness to a place where it almost seems to be welded into our American psyche. We are the people of the dream. We are the nation that is the embodiment of human vision at its best, so we believe. Sometimes lately, the concept is restated with the related term American Exceptionalism. This indicates our future is believed to be more driven by our work ethic than our spiritual and moral sensibilities.

The original ideas that drove our European founding fathers were expressed in different language. When William Bradford writes in his Of Plymouth Plantation concerning the Pilgrim’s motivations for establishing their colony he records,

Lastly (and which was not the least), a great hope and inward zeal they had of laying some good foundation, or at least to make some way thereunto, for the propagating and advancing the gospel of the kingdom of Christ in those remote parts of the world; yea, though they should be but even stepping-stones unto others for the performing of so great a work.

They came here not just for religious liberty but also to spread the light of Christ to what they understood to be a very dark continent. He speaks of the dangers from the native tribes memorably explaining,

…And also those which should escape or overcome these difficulties should yet be in continual danger of the savage people, who are cruel, barbarous and most treacherous, being most furious in their rage and merciless where they overcome; not being content only to kill and take away life, but delight to torment men in the most bloody manner that may be; flaying some alive with the shells of fishes, cutting off the members and joints of others by piecemeal and broiling on the coals, eat the collops of their flesh in their sight whilst they live, with other cruelties horrible to be related.

So, the original American dream was that of preaching the gospel and expanding the evidence of God’s kingdom and law. It was a vision based upon spiritual principle and Biblical motivation to carry a morally stronger civilization to lost people on an uncivilized continent. It was the introduction of the gospel light that had saved pagan Europe from itself a thousand years before. The pilgrims were not genetically better. However, they did possess a knowledge of grace and forgiveness in Christ that they were compelled to share with the people who were here ahead of them. Jesus taught that a light should not be put under a bushel, and that His people were to be like a city set on a hill. This was often the language and imagery our founders used when describing America and our mission in this world. America was understood to be a light to the world because we had been enlightened by Christ and His gentle civilization.

Over the centuries the concept of America being a light for Christ has been slowly forgotten and then replaced by what was called the American Dream. Everyone seems to have a different definition for the American Dream but generally it is described in terms of:

• Financial success
• Personal Liberty
• Equal treatment under the law
• Private property rights
• Other aspects of a desirable society

Now, all of these concepts are found as aspects of Christian civilization. There is Biblical teaching to support each idea. Yet, the pursuit of these benefits of Biblical culture while forgetting the God and teaching that under girded them is a fatal flaw. We are left with a societal structure wobbling on rotting posts and columns. Short of Biblical teaching, there is nothing to support our hallowed assumptions. We are reverting to the philosophies and eventually the conditions of those we once evangelized. Without Christ and His word the American Dream becomes the American nightmare. In the American nightmare financial success becomes nearly impossible, personal liberty is exchanged for slavery, and the central government is the party that is free to do as it wishes. Equal treatment under the law evaporates as the law is increasingly geared to ensnare rather than promote justice, and private property rights are superseded by government property rights. All of these describe the crushing and elimination of the American Dream.

However, what we must understand is that it is not these actions themselves that are at the root of our weakening belief in America. Rather, it is our abandonment of the righteous underpinnings, the unconcern for the building of the kingdom, and the embracing of worldly principles that crushes the dream. Scripture repeatedly promises nations blessing for obedience and cursing for disobedience. The cursing is the nightmare and the blessing is the dream. When we return to faith and obedience then the nation can once again be blessed. The dream is the building of the kingdom of Christ. We the redeemed and our children must lead the way back to the faith of our fathers if the American dream is to be restored.

For Christian Culture,

Don Schanzenbach 2-18-12