What about utopia? In today’s atmosphere, the hope for cultivating a perfect world seems to drive many men and women to continue various political, social, and environmental efforts. However noble their intents may seem, they are wrong to try to achieve the “perfect” world.

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. (Colossians 3:2) ESV

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In short, “Utopia” is a lie.

The word’s very etymology points to a place that does not exist. “Utopia” is a compound word that means “nowhere” in Greek. Still, the word persists as a conceptual expression for an ideal, perfect world. Every culture has a different idea of what a utopia ought to be, and that’s the problem. Everyone’s idea of utopia can never be the same.

The West is obsessed with multiculturalism.

Let’s say you plan to make a pot of your famous stew, but some key ingredients are missing. “Well…” you say, “… I’ll just go to the pantry and figure something out.” Upon entering the pantry, you find that some key ingredients are not only running out but the remaining items are categorically opposed to the dish you are trying to cook. Regardless, you use these “ingredients” anyway. What started as a pot of your famous stew now has to include some mothballs, white vinegar, and pickled eggs to finish it off. On top of that, you decided to grossly overuse some of the ingredients because you wanted “to promote equity.” Obviously, the “stew” is ruined.

This illustration seems odd, but bear with me, because this is exactly what the doctrine of multiculturalism (in pursuit of utopia) is doing to the United States and other nations. Supposedly born from fundamental values of equality and human rights, the crusade for including and championing all cultures into one society has taken center stage in a modern idealization of utopia.

In contemporary culture, multiculturalism has become the vanguard lens from which many view current events. Herein lies a trap. All the room left by “open-mindedness” has made for an utterly unique culture where naivety and hubris are championed over the practical sense and biblical clarity that much of the Western world was founded on.

While all men are created equal, not all cultures are created equal. The  Founding Fathers delineated the God-given rights of citizens. They recognized our intrinsic value that results from being created in the image of God. Our humanity and basic human rights do not depend on or stem from man, but from God.

Today, this belief has been bastardized to fit postmodernist ideals and, by extension, political agendas. Nowadays, the basic inherent value of life has been replaced by the supposed inherent value of all cultures. This is backwards thinking.

Many cultural practices are diametrically opposite to American ideals, and some are inherently evil. While America is a “melting pot,” as a free Republic, there is no place for the Islamic culture of Jihad or the Chinese culture of financial totalitarianism, to name a few.

Mankind will never reach “utopia,” and multiculturalism will never reach it either. This doctrine will only weaken America’s structural and cultural integrity by trying to mix oil with water, all to achieve a state of civilization that does not (and cannot) exist. America isn’t big enough to abide by the traditions of dozens of other cultures.

But what of “the perfect world”? Surely, a place of utter harmony could exist?

If not, why are humans constantly seeking such a place? This search for utopia points to a more profound desire in the heart of everyone: a desire to be with God. Our passion for God often comes out as a desire for “heaven on earth.” But unlike utopia, a relationship with God is within reach. His perfect society is also real and described in the Bible. But according to His promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:13 ESV).

The apostle John described this new earth as well:

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” (Revelations 21:1-7) ESV

So what’s the bottom line? Mankind will never produce a utopia. No-holds-barred multiculturalism is dangerous. The only hope for a perfect society is in God.

If society is going to be healed, believers must understand that man’s machinations can never produce true peace. Only spiritual reconciliation can invite God’s peace and His promise for a New Earth into our lives. We should set our minds on God and nothing else.

Photo by Martin Adams on Unsplash.