Was Jesus Privileged?

Quite frequently, I hear discussions in the media about privilege, especially white privilege. Usually this word is invoked to stifle the conversation of the one who is privileged in favor of the one deemed less privileged. As I considered this prevailing phenomenon, I could not help but ask, Is this concept biblical? Should we evaluate members of society based on external characteristics and matters of choice, apportion to each a degree of privilege or lack thereof, confess our inability due to our inexperience to properly consider and address contemporary issues due to inherent privilege, and join the social justice movements of our time that seek to undermine the institutions of our country due to this inherent structural injustice that so pervades every fabric of our society? If so, where do we stop? Should we even expunge the Constitution and the Bill of Rights? After such drastic measures are taken, to which oppressed group do we cede power? How do we determine who has the least privilege and therefore the most right to take charge?

In response to such questions, critical race theory CRT (from which we get ideas of intersectionality and privilege and from which the academic foundation of BLM was formed) declares that I occupy the most privileged position in the America society as a white, able-bodied, native American, heterosexual, cisgen (gender matches biology) male. Given that these characteristics and matters of choice form my identity under this theory, I am by default guilty being an oppressor and enjoying the benefits of a system that only serves to further my oppression of those less privileged. Under this theory, my privilege inhibits me from understanding any of this no matter how many videos and other media I review. Furthermore, I am guilty because my forbears played the dominant role in creating the structures that undergird society and those like me continue to occupy most positions of power so as to continue to assert my dominance. Black people, however, are victims of this system and by default better understand how this system perpetuates injustice upon the less privileged. Given this systematic injustice, the system must be brought down and rebuilt so as to eliminate institutionalized injustice. This is where the idea of ‘defund the police’ comes from. On the surface, this idea seems obviously ridiculous; however, it becomes more clear and more valid to those who embrace CRT and its philosophical foundation of cultural Marxism (an atheistic and worldly philosophy) at the academic level.

Before we descend any further into the abyss created by worldly philosophies, let us consider the question at hand: Was Jesus privileged? In Christ’s time, the Romans ruled Judea. The most privileged during this time among those living in Judea would have been the Romans, Roman appointed kings, and tax collectors most likely. Within contemporary Jewish society though, the religious leaders (Sadducees and Pharisees), the scribes, and the rich could be considered privileged. Beyond these groups, anyone who was a male Jew who at least outwardly conformed to the Jewish laws and traditions would have at least some privilege. Females and non-Jews had less privilege, and Samaritans were particularly reviled. Where in this mix does Jesus fit in, and how might his privilege affect His message?

Jesus was a male Jew who kept the Mosaic Law, but one could easily argue that He failed to keep the Jewish traditions. He was not rich nor was He considered a part of the religious elite. Given these qualities, He certainly had less privilege than some of his contemporaries. Even so, he would have had more privilege than Jewish females, Gentiles (especially non-Romans), and Samaritans. With such privilege, Jesus would fail to understand the plight of these people who occupy less privileged categories. If He tried to speak to their oppression, His words would be suspect and devoid of any true understanding. Instead of delivering His word to all people including those less privileged, it would have been better had He kept quiet and sought counsel from whomever would have been considered to be least privileged in His society.

At this point, it should seem clear that applying CRT to Christ will lead one to completely devalue and ultimately abolish His teachings in favor of the teachings of some underprivileged member of His society. This result occurs because CRT is rooted entirely in the atheistic philosophy of cultural Marxism. As Christians (if you are one), we should ground our thinking in the Scriptures so that we can better identify the false teachings of our day.