Are Americans God's chosen people? Are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness the biblical goals of the Christian faith? Does what best suits a person's individual need automatically coincide with God's will?

Many people have grown up thinking so. But these beliefs are not biblical. They are not Christian in their origin. They are a result of what author Pat Apel defines as Americanism.

Americanism is a combination of history, people, places, and customs that shape and form the way we perceive ourselves, our rights, and our nation. It's the world view, unique to our nation, that confuses and mistakenly blends the American Dream with the Christian faith.

It misleads us into a cultural Christianity that avoids sacrifice. That denies the need for accountability. That spurns discipline. A false faith built on materialism, selfishness, and the search for "the good life." It's impossible to escape. It's subtle, at times. And it's dangerous.