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    God Bless America: the Discourse Between the American Dream & Christianity
    God Bless America: the Discourse Between the American Dream & Christianity
    God Bless America: the Discourse Between the American Dream & Christianity
    Ebook120 pages1 hour

    God Bless America: the Discourse Between the American Dream & Christianity

    By Adrian Mack

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    About this ebook

    If you are a Christian, the support beam of your life is the Cross. Christians must weigh life and devote themselves to whatever it is that carries the most weight.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAuthorHouse
    Release dateOct 29, 2013
    ISBN9781491822074
    God Bless America: the Discourse Between the American Dream & Christianity
    Author

    Adrian Mack

    Adrian Mack is a development officer at a private school in Durham, North Carolina. He serves as a commissioner on the Durham City Council’s Human Relations Commission, championing diversity initiatives for the city. Mack also is the CEO of the Mack-Welch Pi Lambda Phi VA Omega Alpha Scholarship Fund, a scholarship that assists members who need financial aid for fraternal dues. In his spare time he enjoys public speaking and interning at Bull City Vineyard Church, and is a fitness enthusiast. Mack has a Master of Arts in Christian Studies from Duke University Divinity School, will receive a Master of Arts in Christian Ministry from Liberty University, and has a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Virginia.

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      Book preview

      God Bless America - Adrian Mack

      Contents

      Acknowledgements

      Introduction

      Part I   The Founding Principles

      Part II   Identity: Individuality vs. Community

      Study Questions

      About the Author

      Endnotes

      38423.png

      Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

      1 John 2:6

      38425.png

      Non nobis, non nobis, Domine,

      Sed nomini tuo da gloriam

      Acknowledgements

      God and I have been on a journey together that has revealed a lot about my life. I love that God surprises us with God’s mercy and blessings, often when we least expect it. My parents, Billy and Linda, are my biggest fans. I love to quote Kobe Bryant when he said, My parents are my backbone. Still are. They’re they only group that will support you if you score zero or you score 40. My sister, Celena, and her husband and son, Javier and Alex, keep me focused and constantly add laughter to my life, as though I do not get enough humor on a daily basis. My three friends, Brian, April, and Adair listened to me rant for hours about my thoughts that are detailed in this book, while also offering advice on the topic. I also would like to give a shout out to Sandie Shoe, Cindy Garcia Metzger, Ruby Bea Peters, Syvil Dunlap, Allie Mendelsohn, Betty Perdue, and my mentee, Stuart M. Williams.

      Dedicated to my grandparents, Mr. Flanders, Sofia Velez, and Caitlin Conyers

      Introduction

      The idea to write a book had been on my mind since I was in college. I would credit several classes, professors, and students from the University of Virginia and Duke University, as well my personal life experiences, for establishing the foundation that has enabled me to articulate my views in this book. In the summer of 2012 I went through a huge discernment process about the American Dream. After much deliberation during my time in grad school at Duke, it was time for me to decide which career path I was going to pursue. Everything I learned during my one-year master’s program was put to the test in my life as I stood at the edge of entering the real world.

      I have always considered myself a Christian, and my relationship with God has grown more intimate over the years. I am so glad that I answered God’s call to go to divinity school. Duke Divinity introduced me to courses that changed my view on the world, God, and Christianity. I only experienced a glimpse of Duke Divinity by enrolling in a new, one-year program in Christian Studies, as opposed to the traditional three-year Master of Divinity degree. I did not feel an initial call to ministry, so I chose the one-year program because it was intended for those who wanted to know how to live out their faith in their vocation, whatever it might be.

      In many sections of this book, I may appear to be generalizing when referring to Americans. I realize that all Americans do not act or think in the ways that will be discussed. The concept of the American Dream, set forth by governmental principles, has been tainted by sin—like everything else in this fallen world. As Christians, we must not only remind ourselves to put God first, but also must have a clear articulation of what we mean by the phrase, Put God first. I will connect themes like vocation, our perception of the nature of God, and marriage, to name a few, to show how sin is embedded in every aspect of life. But to begin, I invite you to walk down memory lane with me to see the environment that shaped me, along with my faith, in viewing the world the way that I do.

      I was born in Rocky Mount, a conservative, predominantly white, rural town in southwest Virginia. I come from a middle-class family, where the importance of hard work, faith, love, and generosity was instilled in me at a young age. My father is a great man, humble in spirit, and very logical in mind. He grew up in a large family that did not have a lot of money, but they were a tight-knit bunch and they did what they had to do to survive during a time when the nation was going through many racially charged moments. Based on the stories his family has shared, I would consider them sharecroppers, and they also did other skilled jobs. I like to think of my father as a Renaissance man. He graduated from high school but did not attend college. He was a pipe fitter for Norfolk Southern Railroad, and he did masonry work on the side. My father is able to do a lot of skilled work, including architecture, carpentry, and plumbing.

      Secretly, I told myself—in a sincere way, of course—that I would grow up to be equal to or greater than my father, but as I grow older and become more aware of my own flaws, I can only hope and pray to be half the man he is. Because my father has worked so hard, he has a lot of issues with his knees and back that have affected his ability to work to the extent that he wants. He manages to play golf and enjoy other hobbies, but he is always limited by these impairments. I have seen my father experience a lot in life, both good and bad. As a child, I remember hearing him explain to the family that there had been a layoff at work that had affected him. My sister showed emotion at hearing this news, but at that age I did not quite understand entirely what that meant. My mom did not show as much emotion, but stayed strong and championed my dad and family on. Thanks to God, he did recover his job, which he held for many more years until he became disabled and retired.

      My mother is a strong woman who grew up on a farm with a large family. Her father served in World War II, and her mother was an educator. Her family also had to work hard to survive during the post-war era from the 1950s to the 1970s, and they too understand how vital family unity is in life. My mother attended a community college and currently works for the Department of Corrections, Probation, and Parole.

      My parents’ experiences and words of wisdom influenced my political, social, and religious views. I saw how unequal society was, and I saw how those who worked hard sometimes were not able to advance themselves because of institutions that were in place. I also realized the possibilities that a person can achieve with the right support and values, and with God. My own experiences as I grew up reinforced these beliefs; yet, life has changed how I view the world.

      In light of my upbringing, I think it is interesting that society often judges a book by its cover, as the old saying goes. While I have never tried to deceive people about my family history, and I do not try to act better than anyone else, I think many who have met me develop an image in their minds of what my life is like based on my credentials: I graduated from what most people would consider two very elite schools, I have a respectable occupation, and I have been blessed to be able to network with amazing people.

      When I am talking to new acquaintances, they often ask superficial questions about my family. They assume based on my education or profession, or my style of dress, that I am either rich (or at least well-off), have very educated parents, or both. Recently, a woman I met at a social event for work asked what my father did for a living. When I told her that he worked for the railroad, she began talking about

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