Privilege: a Wake-up Call
Posted in The Historical Faith and tagged with America, Christianity, Church, God, Money, Possessions, Poverty, Privilege, Wealth on June 21, 2010
I don’t remember what I was doing, but somehow I stumbled on a website that would tell you demographic stats on specific US zip codes.
For kicks, I entered the zip code I grew up in.
For whatever reason, the results surprised me.
Compared to the rest of the US, this zip code has:
- a high number of high school and college graduates
- a high median income (though Kansas has a fairly low standard of living)
- a higher than average number of married couples
- 2/3 of adults working in white collar jobs
- only 4% of its residents below the poverty line (national average is around 15%)
I was born into privilege.
Not only am I a part of the 4.5% of the world population who lives in the US, I’m among the 6% of that population that has a Master’s Degree. While I myself don’t quite make enough to reach the US median household income in the US, it’s just me, so obviously my costs are much lower than most.
I was born (and raised) into privilege.
I thank God for the blessings He’s given me and my parents who gave me so much, but that’s not what I want to talk about.
I’m a numbers person, so when you show me my blessings numerically, it really sinks in. I’ve always known that I was overwhelmingly blessed, but when everyone around me is too, it’s easy to forget.
These thoughts were already on my mind, when I started reading Radical.
Here are a few things that David Platt said that stood out to me:
“We are an affluent people living in an impoverished world. If we make only $10,000 a year, we are wealthier than 84% of the world, and if we make $50,000 a year, we are wealthier than 99% of the world.” – p. 194
“But the reality is, if you and I have running water, shelter over our heads, clothes to wear, food to eat, and some means of transportation (even if it’s public transportation), then we are in the top 15% of the world’s people for wealth.” – p. 115
“The reality is that most everything in our lives in the American culture would be classified as a luxury, not a necessity. The computer I am writing this book on, the spoon and fork I will eat my dinner with later this evening, and the bed and pillow I will sleep on tonight (in additon to many other things in my life) are all luxuries.” – p. 127
All this merely starts to illustrate how blessed we are in America. Yet we, the Church, wrap ourselves up in our own cares, ignoring the extensive needs of those all around us (even if we have to close our eyes to them). If you’re like me, these facts might make you pause for moment, but then you shut them out because they make life too uncomfortable.
I don’t want to live comfortably at the expense of others (and that’s what it is…I don’t “deserve” a better life and haven’t earned it…I didn’t choose to be born here, to my parents).
I’m still thinking through what the implications of all of this. I don’t have everything (anything) figured out.
While I don’t have much “stuff” by American standards, I’m sure if I added up the costs of everything I owned, I’d be shocked. I do have more than I need.
I’m sorely tempted to give some of my income away and turn around and spend the rest on my own excesses. I can placate myself by saying that I give more than most. But would I except that excuse from my own child? ”Mommy, I know I didn’t clean up my room like you asked, but I spent 2 minutes more on it than any of my friends.”
That’s not what God has called me to.
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June 21st, 2010 at 6:46 am
Very challenging, indeed.
.-= Cheryl´s last blog ..And the winner is… =-.
June 21st, 2010 at 7:48 am
Yes, if you ever take the time to look at those statistics, it makes you stop & think…
But honestly, sometimes, it doesnt feel like I’m one of the wealthiest or have the best of things… & then you see pictures & video of other parts of the world & you do see how truly blessed we are to be living in the place God has put us…
June 21st, 2010 at 8:14 am
Very thought-provoking indeed. Sounds like a great book to read to gives all a wake up call! We as Americans are absolutely gluttoness compared to the rest of the known world (myself included!)
June 21st, 2010 at 8:30 am
I tend to agree with you on this topic. However, I think it is easy for us to get caught up in our own “poverty” and our own ideas of what poor and struggling are because we don’t often see or hear what’s going on in other (third world) countries. So it makes our situations relative. To us situations x,y, and z are bad because we don’t know any different. It’s very challenging and difficult to put oneself in another’s shoes and really feel and understand what they are going through, really have empathy, when we have never actually had to endure such hardships…not even close. So I think it’s right and good to be challenged in this area to recognize how truly blessed we are but to also recognize that just because a situation here would be fantastic for a family or person in an impoverished nation, does not mean it makes it any less horrible for us. Being poor and impoverished in Africa is fairly normal and, hence, the people are more….well, used to it for lack of better words. We would handle being in their situation far worse than they actually do. I hope that doesn’t make me sound like a horrible person because I certainly don’t want to come across as ungrateful or unempathetic. That is not my intention.
.-= Liz´s last blog ..My Dad =-.
June 21st, 2010 at 9:18 am
I left this on an old post….but I left an award on my blog for you! Go check it out!
.-= Kerri´s last blog ..Weekend from the Pit. =-.
Twitter: heythere_ann
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June 21st, 2010 at 10:52 am
I don’t think anyone should feel guilty or uncomfortable about growing up priveleged. Like you said, it is its own blessing… as long as you still have a good head on your shoulders and can recognize you were priveleged in the first place.
While it’s great to want to give up your income to help others, I have always felt that giving up your time is just as important. Anyone can stuff a check into an envelope. Peace corps? Even doing something like serving at a soup kitchen? ot as many people think of that.
.-= Heather´s last blog ..Calligraphy – I Freakin’ Love This Stuff! =-.
June 21st, 2010 at 6:45 pm
Thank you for the timely reminder to never complain about anything, anymore. Ever. I have an embarrassment of blessings in my life, and gratitude is the only thing that makes it even reasonable.
Knowing that we have been blessed and are born into priveledge means (to me) making sure that all you do with those blessings go towards making the world a better place. This doesn’t mean impoverishing yourself, but rather using those gifts (talent, education, freedom from economic hardship) to do things that only those in that position can do: invent, create, contribute. Better the world, because you can, and because others are not so fortunate to be able to.
June 22nd, 2010 at 9:28 am
That is why I am starting to teach Emma to help others who don’t have as much. Right now it is something easy she can understand (volunteering at the animal shelter) but soon it will be making a monthly trip up to a poor section of DC to hand out food to the homeless with a local church. She is growing up in an extremely fortunate and privileged childhood, and I don’t want her taking that for granted, or becoming selfish.
But thank you for this reminder.
I really like what the commenter above me said.
Twitter: springraine
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June 22nd, 2010 at 1:17 pm
Wow, those numbers are really thought provoking. Thank you for the reminder– this is why I like to go on mission trips every year or so- I need it to open my eyes again and again!~
June 22nd, 2010 at 1:49 pm
I have so much more than I need and many wants. Many could not say that. Stopping from SITS! Great post.
Twitter: caitysparkles
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June 22nd, 2010 at 5:44 pm
What a powerful entry. I needed to read something like this today. I was also born into a privileged background and was very fortunate to have lots of great opportunities, including a good education. I need to always remember to use it wisely and to my fullest capabilities.
June 23rd, 2010 at 11:14 am
Well written. I switch between being thankful for all my privilege to being a little self-loathing for it. Vincenzo has been asking lately if we’re rich (I don’t know why) and I tell him yes, we are. We live in an old split level house and wear clothes from Fred Meyer and our chairs have all been brokena and glued back together, and we are RICH.
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