I’ve visited The Work of the People before, but it’s been a while. Here are a couple of videos they’ve posted recently that are worth watching. Check them out.

• The Worship Industry featuring Brian McLaren

• Eight Dollar Hot Dog featuring Chris Seay

One question they ask in the second post is: “How do we deal with this tension of living the American dream, but also living a life that God has called of all of His sons and daughters?” I wonder… is it even possible to “live the American dream” and live the life Jesus has called us to?

According to Wikipedia, the American Dream is “the idea held by many in the United States that through hard work, courage and determination one could achieve prosperity.” I’d say that describes it, for the most part, as I’ve always understood it. My question: is that compatible with living as a disciple of Christ? Aren’t there a lot of conflicts between living that dream and dying to self?

I suppose most Americans, and probably most Christian Americans, are at least attempting to live that dream, and I have certainly been among them. This all reminded me of Switchfoot’s song “American Dream”, where they talk about the American dream’s relation to money and the desire for living for something more. Here are the lyrics:

When success is equated with excess
The ambition for excess wrecks us
As top of the mind becomes the bottom line
When success is equated with excess

If your time ain’t been nothing for money
I start to feel really bad for you, honey
Maybe honey, put your money where your mouth’s been running
If your time ain’t been nothing but money

I want out of this machine
It doesn’t feel like freedom

This ain’t my American dream
I want to live and die for bigger things
I’m tired of fighting for just me
This ain’t my American dream

When success is equated with excess
When we’re fighting for the Beamer, the Lexus
As the heart and soul breath in the company goals
Where success is equated with excess

I want out of this machine
It doesn’t feel like freedom

This ain’t my American dream
I want to live and die for bigger things
I’m tired of fighting for just me
This ain’t my American dream

‘Cause baby’s always talkin’ ’bout a ring
And talk has always been the cheapest thing
Is it true would you do what I want you to
If I show up with the right amount of bling?

Like a puppet on a monetary string
Maybe we’ve been caught singing
Red, white, blue, and green
But that ain’t my America,
That ain’t my American dream

This ain’t my American dream
I want to live and die for bigger things
I’m tired of fighting for just me
This ain’t my American dream

So, is it possible to live “the dream” and live for “bigger things” at the same time? I say the answer is no. And it’s troublesome that so many Christians I know see no conflict there.