Americanism vs. Jesus
In 1969, singer Peggy Lee released the song, “Is that all there is?” It was a surprising change for her, from upbeat melodies to a song that questioned whether it was worth going on, if that was all that life had to offer.
It was downright depressing, and ironic because it was written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, who had penned a bunch of happy pop tunes, including “Hound Dog,” “Jailhouse Rock,” “Yakety Yak,” “Kansas City,” “Leader of the Pack” and “Chapel of Love.”
That song came to mind because Pastor Don used the phrase in a recent sermon in which he questioned the quest for ever more worldly goods. I have been on that quest.
Years ago, feeling under-appreciated at my newspaper, I decided to do some free-lance writing. And not just one article, but an entire trade magazine. Every article in that issue would be by me, interviews with users of the product and the company’s system. The fee would be $2,000 and the promise of future assignments of the same type.
And so I did the work and eventually got paid. But there were no future assignments and no more of the appreciation, which was what I really wanted. What I hadn’t yet learned was that the praise of the world is fleeting, the money spent for who knows what. For example, how many today could tell you anything about H.L. Mencken, an American journalist based in Baltimore and nationally known in his lifetime (1880-1956) for his books and commentary?
Is it wrong to seek fame and national attention? I would say that it depends on what you do with it. If, as we see various celebrities and sports figures doing today, we use fame to raise money for good causes or to argue that the poor and suffering should not be forgotten, then fame can be a good thing.
But it can he hard to step up, to let go of the riches of the world. Consider the conversation Jesus had with the young man who seemed intent on becoming a disciple.
In Luke 18 18-23, the man asks Jesus “what should I do to inherit Eternal Life?”
Jesus replies, “But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and your mother.”
The young man replied he had obeyed all of these since childhood.
Jesus said, “There is still one thing you haven’t done. Sell all you possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. The come, follow me.”
“But when the man heard this, he became very sad, for he was very rich.”
Unlike the other disciples, who had left their homes and families to follow Jesus, the rich man could not give up his riches in this world for heavenly treasure.
As I’ve become more closely acquainted with the gospels and their lessons, I have tried to absorb this one. But our American culture reinforces the idea that to be successful, we have to put up a good front, to have the newest, the most technologically advanced products. These things have many uses, but chief among them is showing them off to our peers, to demonstrate that we not only have the best, but we understand the technology very well. We seek to show that we are not only well off, but well-versed in the science of these things.
In my case, the risk of getting these things is that I might have to explain why I did.
“Isn’t that a complicated (and complicated) way to make a phone call?” some of my friends might say when I show off my new I-phone. Most don’t, because I am someone who hesitates to get something new when the old still works, So it keep it so long that when it needs work, the tech looks at me as if I’ve brought a Model T into his store, then says, “I’m not sure we can get parts for that anymore.”
At one time there were small shops that specialized in fixing old and outdated products, but most have closed now. I have lamps that are perfectly functional accept for the fact that the cords have disintegrated, dried out by age.
What I need to remember is that there are things that we can accumulate that will never dry out and crumble. Those are the treasures of heaven, as Jesus spoke of in Mathew, Chapter 6, Verse 19: “Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt and where thieves break through and steal.”
Instead, Jesus said, lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, which are impervious to the things of this world that corrode worldly goods.
And accumulating heavenly treasures has another benefit, because to do that we must do the right things. And, Jesus said, “For where you treasure is, there will be your heart also.” The shiny car and the gadget-filled phone will eventually end up on the scrap heap, but our hearts will be heaven-bound if we remember what really lasts.
