Blue Space » 2009 » January

01.12.09

The American Way vs. The Way

I have written a lot recently about the disillusionment I have with what I believe to be the hijacking or distorting of the American way or American dream. There are elements of the American way or American dream that are beautiful, but it seems that I have become distracted from the fact that “The Way” is more pure and more beautiful. “The Way” I speak of is the same as what Jesus spoke of in John 14:6. His way entails many things chief among them being trusting in His sacrifice on the cross as your only way to reconciliation with the God of the universe. In my opinion, this is absolutely preeminent. However, today I would like to highlight another component of “The Way.” I’m sorry to say that it is a component that isn’t very easy, and being fully committed to it will definitely lead to some frustration from time to time. Furthermore, it is a component that seems to compete with many elements of the American way. You might not feel the competition, but I have experienced it and continue to struggle with how to reconcile the two.

James 1:27
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

I know that “religion” has received a bad rap in our current culture. “Religion” in our culture is often short for rules, and most people would prefer to use the world “spirituality.” This isn’t a bad instinct at all, because I hope that what most people intend is that they are less focused on rules and more on people’s hearts. If that is the case for you, you are in good company. It is a prevalent theme of how God and Jesus view humans. Let’s just say that “religion” in this verse means action driven by one’s belief system. When I think about religion in this way, I get a big lump in my throat and am deeply distressed that the American church isn’t fulfilling all of its duties. I’ll admit I hardly ever run into any orphans and most of the widows I know seem to be doing pretty well due to the affluence of our society. However, I am less than active in seeking out orphans and widows that are in need. This is something that I plan on rectifying for the remainder of my life. I would challenge you to consider this and do the same.

And just in case you are unsure if James really represents God’s true feelings on widows and orphans take time to peruse the other scripture that expresses God’s passion for protecting them. The following is a partial list: Deuteronomy 10:18, 24:17-18, 24:20-21, 26:12, 27:19, Psalms 10:14, Psalms 68:5, Jeremiah 22:3, Zechariah 7:10.

Author: Joseph Wendel | Permalink | 3 Comments | Daily Entries

John 14:6

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The American Way vs. The Way

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