What is man's chief end? Americans answer this way: to glorify himself and live in comfort and ease forever. American evangelicals think no differently. Ask Christian college kids WHY they choose their major. And the answers at times will depress you. It's not the vocation that's the problem but the motive. So now we have Christians missing from certains sectors of society because those areas don't pay well. It's SICK!!
When Christians puruse the American Dream they have totally adopted a pagan worldview. For example, the purpose of college is not to get a good job and live a comfortable life, forever and ever, amen. Christians worship the success and comfort idol in the same way as unbelievers. Why should you get good grades? The average Christian sellout with answer something like this, "so I can and get a good job later." This is a great expression of unbelieving thought. As if the purpose of one's vocation is to serve ones own vocational interests. And it gets worse as Christians camoflouge their pagan worldview under the "do all things to the glory of God" motto as if all things bring him glory! The glory of God somehow has become make a lot of money and pursue a life of comfort.
Doesn't it just make you sick to think that many Christian kids in college or soon there after do not see the purpose of their gifts, interests, and abilities to serve God and other people. That's right, Christians use what God has given to serve Him and others. If Christians really believed this then the smart science kids in college, for example, would not always go to medical school but some would end up doing something like teaching high school. But hey, there's no money in that.
And Christian parents (especially baby boomers) are worse. They tempt their kids to serve the idols of comfort, success, and ease of life under the guise of a Christian work ethic. You need to do well in school so that you can go to a good college, get a good job, marry the "right" person, and live happily ever after in the suburbs with a mini-van, soccer camps, private schools, and so on. This motivational scheme is absolutely Godless and cannot be found anywhere in Scripture.
Ahh, the American Dream, this brilliant invention of the Enemy is leading Christians right into a sea of idols and since evangelicals understand Christianity to mean "live like the unbelievers except for church on Sunday" like stupid sheep they are headed for the slaugther and they don't even know it.
Nowhere in the Bible are Christians encouraged to work hard for the material rewards. I wish someone would tell this to Christians in America. The American dream in motivated by and grounded in pagan idolatry promoting material success, ease, and comfort at all cost.
Wouldn't it be great if Christians were motivated to pursue vocations because God revealed some of the needs in the world and gives the interest and ability to meet some of the needs in the world. But hey, there's no money in thinking like that, right? So some of you instead of pursuing what Yahweh laid on your heart sold out and pursued what Volkswagon and Century 21 laid on your heart.
What does mean for a Christian to be living a "successful" life?
(editorial note: I write this as a currnet struggler with pursuing the American Dream and a former pre-med student who, after becoming a Christian, had his motives exposed: money and prestige, and followed God into something that was from my heart to serve him and other people)
Posted by anthony at July 24, 2003 11:51 PM | TrackBackAmen! I see this kind of attitude and thinking in my youth group all the time. It is the struggle of being a youth leader: how to motivate teenagers to love Christ and desire the things that are close to the heart of God, instead of the things that the world says are important. It breaks my heart to see "my" youth living life to please themselves and to be successful in the eyes of man. They just don't seem to get it. There seems to be a disconnect between chritianity and their daily lives. I am all ears to anyone that knows how to make the gospel real and alive in the lives of my youth, who seem to have open ears to what the world is saying and deaf ears to the gospel.
Posted by: Laini at July 28, 2003 02:42 PMOn an unrelated matter, I noticed your list of upcoming travels. Uh, it is nice to have a record of where you will be at every moment of your life! I also noticed where you are taking vacation and couldn't help to think that you may be doing more than just "hanging out with friends." Just come right out and say it: You are going there to look for a wife! I hope that it is a fruitful vacation....!
Posted by: Laini at July 28, 2003 02:48 PMLaini,
Yeah, with youth is where I saw it the most (especially after teaching at a college prep Christian school). That's a tough group to talk to about these things. You're on the "front line" fo' sho' !!
Posted by: Anthony at July 30, 2003 09:53 AMOk, you totally busted me with the wife thing. But we'll keep this between us. Cuidate mucho!!
Posted by: Anthony at July 30, 2003 09:54 AMAmen again and again. So completely right. I'm down here watching summer camp happen at a Bible school and seeing the same exact attitude in about 97% of the counselors. This breaks my heart. After a year or two or more of Bible they still know nothing...
It's a complicated matter. On one hand, we are told that a man who doesn't provide for his family is worse than an infidel, so getting an education to aid in providing for your family is a good thing. And if you are a good steward of your money, there's nothing inherently wrong with making a lot of money. The problem is the most people -- including myself -- aren't usually good stewards of their money.
Posted by: John at August 2, 2003 11:50 PMJohn, wow, you're exactly right, stewardship is a huge issue. And of course there's nothing wrong with making a lot money but the condition and motive of the heart related to that is the issue. Pursuing the "making of money" just for the sake of having it is idolatrous. Without rich Christians there would be no charity. So wealth can't be a problem.
But the idea that "getting an education to aid in providing for your family" is what Christians need to think about more deeply. Namely, we need to ask what, then, is the purpose of education? If we look at Daniel, for example, the purpose of his education was service of God and other people, not a future economic safety net. Christians have become utilitarians with respect to education. Education from a Christian perspective used to be about learning about God's world and being broadly equipped to do whatever God might call a person to do vocationally. Even, now for Christians, education is not directed at discerning one's calling but the utility of the economic result. Is education's only value an economic one? This is exactly why kids don't want to learn information for the sake of knowledge but want to get good grades because of the long-term economic consequences. People don't care if they learn anything or not.
According to last census, only 20% of adult Americans even have a college degree. And education is actually not necessary in order to provide quite well for one's family. Middle-class Christians interpret providing for one's family in terms of own a home in a nice neighborhood, have 2 cars, taking vacations, etc. And a person can provide quite well for you family without ever going to college or pursuing the American dream. You don't have to become a partner in your law firm in order to provide for you family.
I would be more comfortable if Christians thought like this, "I'm getting an education in order to pursue and prepare for God's calling in my life vocationally." If we pursue God and not economic safety then we will find that Jesus' words are true that if seek first the kingdom of God all the other material things in life will be taken care of.
But you're hit the nail on the head when you said that it's a complicated matter.
Posted by: Anthony at August 4, 2003 04:22 PMYou're also right that you can provide for your family without a college degree. I know this personally, because I haven't yet finished college, and my wife and I are doing alright. I am planning to go back to college, but my main reason for finishing a bachelor's degree is that it's a means to an end. With a bachelor's degree, I can go to seminary and prepare for service in the church.
I also agree that the focus of education shouldn't just be on being able to make money. I like the way you put it -- "I'm getting an education in order to pursue and prepare for God's calling in my life vocationally." He will provide for our needs if we are following Him.
Posted by: John at August 5, 2003 08:50 AMHey, John, that's a sweet reason for doing college. I wish more people thought about college as a means to better service regardless of the major.
Posted by: Anthony at August 6, 2003 10:02 AM