I grew up in the suburbs, in a stable home with two parents. My neighborhood’s streets were filled with children playing in safety. I had outstanding teachers. I attended a private Christian liberal arts university. And of course, I am white. I have never been singled out because of my skin color. I did nothing to deserve these privileges.
What should a person do with the privileges that come from family, wealth, education, location, and ethnicity? Feel guilty?
The tendency of most people is to use their privilege to protect and perpetuate their privilege. An article in The Atlantic points out that a few years ago the average white family possessed wealth of $247,500. The average black family possessed wealth of $8. Clearly, privilege in the United States includes both race and class. The article points out that the gap between the top 9.9% (leaving out the ultra-rich, the top .1%) and the 90% below is growing greater. The author writes, “We have left the 90 percent in the dust—and we’ve been quietly tossing down roadblocks behind us to make sure that they never catch up.” Privilege is being used to guard privilege.
The Son of God shows us what to do with privilege, and it is the opposite of protecting it. A famous “hymn of Christ” in the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians says, “Being in very nature God, he did not consider equality with God as something to be used to his own advantage.” There it is. Jesus the Son of God shared God’s divine identity. All privilege was his, all power. Yet it is not in God’s nature to serve himself. The first humans, made in the image of God, sought equality with God so that they could use it for their own advantage. Jesus, the image of God, had equality with God, but used it for the advantage of others. The first humans sought to cross the infinite gap between created human creature and eternal Creator. Jesus crossed the gap in the other direction, the Creator entering his creation as a human being. Instead of humans becoming gods, God became human.
“Being in very nature God, he did not consider equality with God as something to be used to his own advantage.” Instead, he “emptied himself, taking the very nature of a servant, being found in human likeness.” That seems like enough, but it goes farther. “And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself.” Far enough? Not yet. “By becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross!” This little “hymn” (Philippians 2:5-11) traces the journey of Jesus to the point where he could not possibly go any lower. He used his privilege to save the world through his suffering love.
So what should we do with our privileges? “Have the same mindset as that of Christ Jesus,” we are told. A person cannot be united to Christ without sharing his mindset. Did you have the opportunity for education? Do you have wealth? Do you have business experience? Do you have a happy home? Use it all for the sake of the world. Do good. Help the poor. Give. Start a foundation. Make room for a foster child. I have friends who have fostered and adopted more kids than I can keep track on. I see them as heroes. They have found their life calling, to love children that Jesus loves.
I wrote recently about an incident that occurred in the California town where we lived for ten years. That was one example out of hundreds of what life is like there. We met many good people there – schoolteachers who chose to teach at their local schools, people with a long family history in the town. They deserve credit for not leaving even after all the lockdowns at the local schools. The reason we moved there and stayed there was because the words of Philippians 2 are imprinted on my heart. Over the last few weeks I am again meditating on them. This is the heart of the gospel. This is the heart of our attitude, the answer to the problem of unequal privileges. If Christ gave up his privilege to die on a cross, can I not make some small sacrifices to serve others? I was grateful for the wealth of others throughout that time; they used their privilege to generously support my family as we planted churches, started a thrift store, and led community development projects.
I wrote about Moses and Janien, a couple leaving the comfort and opportunities of Europe to serve the poorest of the poor in Malawi. They don’t consider themselves to be making a sacrifice; they are simply following Christ. Our church supports a woman who serves as a doctor in Gabon. She has given up the opportunity of making a large salary in the United States, instead raising money so that she can serve the poor. We received word recently that she is sick with COVID-19.
What does the example of Christ and the attitude of Christ look like during the time of the coronavirus? Inequalities are more visible than ever. Some have incredible privileges. In the United States, the reputation of Christianity is taking a beating, as those with power seem to be using their privilege to retain their privilege. There is no other solution. The privileged must follow the example of Christ. It is time for a movement of millions who share the same mindset as that of Christ Jesus. Come join the humble heroes who throughout history have served Christ and the world without thought of their own privilege. In the end, they were glorified along with Christ. He obeyed unto death, and death on a cross. “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place.” The way up to the highest place is the way down to the cross.