Christian Privilege?

Scripture Verse that caught my attention today: John 15:20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘Servants are not greater than their master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also.

Observation: Jesus tried to make sure the disciples realized that they shouldn’t expect any kind of privileged status as followers of Jesus.

Application: Privileges. Almost all of us appreciate, if we can secure them, privileges. It’s true of humanity in general and Christians, by and large, are no different. If we can catch a break, we usually take it.

The bitter irony, however, is that Jesus did not seek privileges. Rather, he embodied service.

In Philippians it says that Jesus humbled himself, taking the form of a slave. Ancient prophesies applied to Jesus indicate that his appearance was so marred that there was nothing desirable about him. In the gospel of Mark Jesus said that he came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. Earlier in chapter 15 of John, Jesus indicates that he is the vine and that the vinegrower prune him so that he can bear more fruit.

I’ve often gotten a kick out of a request from two of the disciples (or from their mother of those two disciples, depending on which gospel account I was reading) to sit on Jesus’ right and left in his glory. Little did they know that, had that wish been granted, they would have been sitting in place of the two thieves hanging on either side of Jesus. Jesus was glorified when he was hanging on the cross.

With this kind of history as part of our heritage, why do Christians seem to want to fight for various privileges? We want to fight for religious freedom and simultaneously fight to have things like the 10 commandments or “under God” occupy places of privilege.

I wonder, with which of the following is God most likely to be impressed?
• counting up how many thousands relatively privileged people will be so bold as to copy and paste another one of those spam-like “I’m a Christian and not ashamed to show it” posts on Facebook?
• one person giving up a fair amount of privileges to diligently offer a life of sacrificial loving service.

It’s revealing that those of us who claim to be followers of Christ are often prone to striving for the very kinds of privileges that our Lord sought to avoid.

Prayer: Lord, I must admit, like privileges too. Help me to be more willing to part with them when I remember your words, “Servants are not greater than their master.” In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(readings included Jeremiah 13-15 and John 15)