davidleong.info

much of my urban ethnographic|anthropological reading of late has prompted a lot of self-reflection on issues of class and privilege. particularly, i’ve been amazed at how insular class values are among those in the middle class. i’m sure every class categorization has some stereotypical boundaries, but my thoughts on the middle class have been most preoccupying because i grew up in a typical middle class environment. my parents both graduated from college, they have professional vocations, i grew up in the suburbs, i always went to good schools and was encouraged to perform academically, my peers came from similar backgrounds, and i never wondered if there would be food on the table or a roof over my head.

i’m grateful for all these things. but as i’ve come to understand the many privileges that my middle class affords me, it’s caused me to confront a lot of the middle class myths about other classes, particularly the “lower” class. middle class myths perpetuate falsehoods about people who are not middle class, mostly aimed at the poor. poor people are “lazy” or “immoral” or somehow at fault for their own circumstances. they didn’t study hard enough in school or they can’t hold a job because they’re “irresponsible.” they’re “leeches” living off welfare and government hand-outs. and most important of all, if they could just get it together- like so many of us middle class folks have had to do- then they could easily lift themselves out of poverty.

these are dangerous myths, but they are also widely embraced by many. and while there is a grain of truth in some of those assumptions for a small fraction of those living in poverty, the vast majority of the poor are oppressed by the systems that sustain these myths through the institutional injustices of racism, classism, and elitism.

what’s bothered me the most about all of this is the role that evangelicalism has played in perpetuating these oppressive myths. obsessed with individual responsibility, the classic protestant work ethic, and skepticism about the social gospel, evangelicals are probably one of the most prejudiced groups against the poor. and sadly, this anti-poor bias has tainted everything- the structures of our churches, our reading of scripture, and even our basic perception of God- heck, the majority of americans think that the bible says “god helps those who help themselves!”

what it basically comes down to is that for the vast majority of christians, your class values overrule your faith values every time. and this is why churches are almost always socioeconomically homogeneous, why ethnic diversity is vogue and class diversity is not, why urban missiology is vastly unpopular, why suburban megachurches are thriving and inner city parishes are dying, and why some “postmodern hipsters” talk a good game but can’t put their money where their mouth is.

meanwhile, the majority of the global, urban christian church is sending missionaries to america to help convert us back to the bible- which states pretty clearly (if you just learn how to read it) that god has a special concern for the poor, the oppressed, the marginalized, the disenfranchised, the voiceless, the orphan, the widow, the hungry, the naked, the thirsty,  the prisoner and all the least of these. but we’d much rather campaign for our building funds and reshuffle the deck in an endlessly recycling sea of roaming consumer-driven middle class christians more concerned with self-aggrandizing therapy then a world of justice and peace.  just toss a little patronizing charity their way and pat yourself on the back.  keep avoiding those ghettos.  keep blaming the poor for their own problems.  keep hoarding your wealth for your own useless amusement.  and keep convincing yourself that you’re following jesus and not killing him like the pharisees.  after all, ignorance is bliss.