Americans May Not Be As Mature As They Think They Are

The Barna Research Group, a Christian polling and social studies organization, recently published some new trends that are taking place in the mindset of the majority of Americans. Among these trends is included the idea that Americans, generally speaking, have a high opinion of themselves and they accept themselves unconditionally. The following comments were included in its report: “Barna studies underscored the fact that Americans have a high opinion of themselves - and lingering reservations about others. Despite their self-satisfaction, many Americans want to continue to change and grow.

“Among the terms that more than four out of five adults selected to describe themselves were loyal, reliable, independent thinker, supportive of traditional family values, clear about the meaning and purpose of their life, making a positive difference in the world, and well-informed about current events. More than two out of three also noted that they are open to new ideas and easily adapt to change.

“The prevailing paths to maturation, however, are usually not characterized by planned or intentional development; instead, engagement in a series of adventurous experiments seems to be the norm. When it does occur, growth takes place rather unpredictably, and the changes accepted are typically adopted on the basis of feelings. Most Americans, it seems, are willing to change as long as the pathway promises benefit and enjoyment, and generally avoids pain, conflict and sacrifice.“

I read this report with a great deal of interest, and frankly, a great deal of concern. I am convinced that this information is accurate; it seems to hit the nail on the head for many young Americans that I have known. However, I react with a great deal of concern because these sentiments express some fundamental errors, and to some extent, sinful attitudes, for those who would call themselves Christian. It is true that the Barna Group does not indicate that these trends reflect Christian Americans in particular, but rather all Americans in general. However, I see the same trend spilling over into the general Christian mindset, and setting dangerous precedents for the future. I can summarize the problems with this philosophy of life under three main headings: naiveté, arrogance, and selfishness.

First, Americans who sincerely adopt this way of thinking and living are expressing some gravely naïve ideas. To begin with, it is naïve to be extremely self-satisfied and believe that one can grow and change. Change of character does not come easy for any person. Change only takes place when one is disciplined and determined that he or she will pay the price. Such an attitude only comes about when one is unhappy with the way he or she now is. People fool themselves if they think they can really change and grow while they are perfectly self-satisfied. It is also naïve, if not completely hypocritical, to consider oneself loyal, reliable, and filled with other good attributes, yet have lingering reservations about others. The study says, in effect, that Americans, as individuals, generally thoroughly trust themselves, but they don’t trust anyone else. It has been my experience that people typically exhibit doubts about others in the same way that they think they themselves would react in given situations. For example, I am convinced that a man who has a bad problem with jealousy often feels jealous over his wife, because deep down, he knows that he, himself, would be (or is) unfaithful if he had the chance.

Second, Americans who feel good about themselves within this framework of living are actually taking on an attitude of arrogance. It would be arrogant for me to be so smug about my own virtues of loyalty and reliability, yet be uncaring, uninvolved, and untrusting in the lives of others. It is also arrogant for me to believe that I should be able to be completely happy with myself and yet continue to “get better” in growth and change. The idea that I should be able to change without sacrificing my comfort and ease is arrogant, because, in effect, one says, “I am so good I don’t have to move out of my comfort zone in order to change.”

Third, Americans who believe that they have “already arrived” in that they are enormously self-satisfied and they are only “willing to change as long as the pathway promises benefit and enjoyment, and generally avoids pain, conflict and sacrifice“ reflect an attitude of selfishness. Individuals who take this point of view want to keep their cake and eat it at the same time.

I am convinced that the typical church in America is heavily subscribing to these same ideas. For this reason, I believe our churches are getting lazy and uncommitted, and are paying little heed to the biblical virtues of humility, sacrifice, and service. God has called us to be in the world, but not of it. Jesus told us to take up our cross, and deny ourselves, and to follow Him. But He also warned us that we had to count the cost for doing so. We as Christians need to consider the example that Christ set for us, and determine that we will not love the world, nor the ways of the world. “And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:38)

James Sanders
Pastor, First Baptist Church
sandersjc@yahoo.com