“Having it better” is a subjective concept. Who is going to define what that means? I’m convinced that powerful interests which “control the media” have used the American Dream to their advantage by creating a culture where materialism and consumerism have become the primary force in our lives. “Having it better” for some means a bigger house, more cars, a better school, and more money than the previous generation. We believe that we fail to achieve the American Dream if we don’t achieve these goals. But how can the American Dream continue to expand for each future generation if it continues to be based on the accumulation of material things? Is there a limit to how much we own? At what point is enough, enough?
Have we turned the American Dream from opportunity and freedom to our ability to use and maximize our credit cards? Can we spend our way to the American Dream as individuals or as a nation? The media culture must convince us that having it all is the American Dream and without it we cannot be happy.
Is achieving the American Dream and building the Kingdom of God the same goal? Or are they different? Some would suggest that Christianity reflects a value system that is more consistent with media culture values than Biblical values. If achieving the American Dream as defined by today’s media culture has become the new primary goal for Christians, it would certainly suggest that serving God and placing Him first in our lives is no longer our primary goal. If all of this is true, it helps to explain why Christianity has lost its influence within our society. Shouldn’t faith be the primary influence on culture rather than the media?
No comments:
Post a Comment