The Privilege of Being Underprivileged

There are times when we cringe at the tactless words of others. For the honest believer, this may happen even with the words of Jesus himself on occasion – especially in the story of his encounter with the Canaanite woman who came asking for help during his visit in the region known as Lebanon today (Matthew 15:21-28). At first, he ignores her determined cries for help: “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” When he finally responds, we are stunned to hear him say, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” Undeterred, she persists, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”

Nobody with even the slightest inclination towards justice – let alone social justice – can help but recoil at this exchange, especially in an era when privilege is a topic of discussion. Not only does Jesus remind the Canaanite woman of her status outside of the chosen people, but he also uses a seemingly degrading analogy to dogs in order to rub it in. We are offended on her behalf, and cannot understand why she accepts the implicit comparison (although some try to lessen the blow by noting that Jesus uses a diminutive, perhaps endearing form of the word). Explaining away the insult is still difficult even after hearing his parting words: “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” 

Why does this story offend us so powerfully? What hidden truth could we be missing here? The analogy that Jesus uses contains several characters: the little dogs, the children and the masters (though the latter two may be the same). The humans are parallel to the Nation of Israel, while the dogs are comparable to the Canaanites. We may not have noticed the most important character in the analogy, however: the crumbs of bread. This Canaanite woman seems to have realized the value of those crumbs, and may even have made the connection between them and the Bread of Life who was standing before her. 

This picture is rooted deep in Middle Eastern culture. To this day, people treat bread with utmost respect. Stale loaves or morsels that have fallen on the floor are not thrown away but rather are gathered up and placed on a ledge where animals can benefit from them. 

Against this backdrop, the analogy becomes clearer. Those sitting in luxury around the table had the privilege of filling themselves with the finest pastries, but they treated the Bread of Life with contempt by carelessly dropping crumbs on the floor. The Canaanite woman realized that one crumb of the Bread of Life was worth more than a life full of earthly honor and privilege, and she was not going to let the comparison to a dog stop her. I submit to you that she is the one to be envied in this story, not the privileged diners at the table. 

Jesus never promised that this world would be fair. Indeed, he said that the poor would always be present (Matthew 26:11) and that the natural order of the fallen world is a hierarchy based on the abuse of privilege (Matthew 20:25-26). He in no way justifies such treatment of others, and says that it should not be this way between his followers. Even so, he does not promise an end to privilege in this life. 

If we as believers find ourselves in a place of being underprivileged, let us remember our true value in the eyes of God rather than seeking validation from other humans, and may we learn to value the crumbs of the Bread of Life that fall down around us more than life itself. If we are in a position of privilege, let us remember the words of Job who realized that he would have no ability to stand before the Creator God if he was not willing to respect those of a lower status than him and even hear their complaints against him (Job 31:13-15). Taking advantage of the underprivileged is a serious sin that must be confronted within each heart; still, it is better to be on the receiving end than the giving end. 

Jesus without privilege and equality is a greater treasure than privilege and equality without Jesus. As we see in the painfully raw yet beautiful story of the faith of the Canaanite woman, if being underprivileged brings us to a place of valuing even crumbs of the Bread of Life then it is actually a privilege in disguise. 

Dodging Snipers, Daring to Push Forward

During the Battle of Stalingrad (1942-1943), one Russian sniper named Vasily Zaitsev is reported to have killed scores of enemy soldiers and even a dozen rival snipers while surviving every ambush. Although the scope of his success (pun intended) cannot be verified independently, his story – portrayed in the film Enemy at the Gates – strikes a nerve at the core of our human psyche. The threat of a hidden yet nearby enemy who targets victims with precision has terrorized humanity for millennia. Although the weapon of choice in ancient times was an arrow instead of a bullet, the same basic fear existed – as seen in the psalmist’s words: “You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day” (Psalm 91:5). 

Sniper activity, which simultaneously seems anonymously random and personally aimed at the victim, is nerve wracking for even hardened soldiers. The battle is effectively over when an army comes to a standstill, since victory without movement forward is all but impossible. It has been said that snipers can capitalize on fear by consistently picking off either the first or the second person in an enemy unit. If such tactics become common knowledge in the enemy ranks, the result is demoralization or complete paralysis. In the first case, nobody will want to lead; in the second case, nobody will want to follow. It is very tempting to simply “shelter in place.” 

The current spiritual war surrounding the COVID-19 crisis has much in common with a sniper situation. Movement has ground to a halt, with countless millions fearing to come and go even within their own neighborhoods. Others may not greatly fear the virus, but simply try to avoid unintentionally meeting an infected individual – since this could lead to quarantine for themselves in places that have enforced contact tracing. These days the very act of going out of the house can feel just a bit like risking exposure to a sniper, as I myself realized recently when a person with whom I spoke received a message minutes later requiring him to enter lockdown after having been near a virus carrier some days earlier.

God may be preparing us through this crisis for persecution, war and societal upheavals during which we will be exposed to “spiritual snipers” at every step. Let us remember that we need not fear the terror of the arrow, since even in the “worst case scenario” being struck means going to be with God. As long as we are still here, let us live with the expectation that God wants to work miracles for us and through us in spite of the snipers, and let us reject the temptation to “shelter in place” spiritually. 

Two things amaze me about the story of Vasily Zaitsev. First, he survived! And this, even after being himself targeted ruthlessly by snipers! That alone is a miracle. Second, he did not let the fear of the enemy paralyze him as he himself inched forward in battle cautiously yet boldly. His remarkable feat reminds us that, although death is possible, God will preserve us miraculously for as long as he wants us on this earth. Just think of it: by God’s grace, we just might survive and triumph!

I am reminded of the incredible story of Gladys Aylward, a British woman who moved to China several years before the Japanese invasion of the 1930s. The wartime conditions left countless children orphaned, many of whom found refuge with her. The Japanese advance caused her to flee with approximately one hundred orphans, and she just barely escaped death by enemy gunfire as she left the newly captured city. She and her band traversed mountains and rivers on a trek deeper into China that lasted a month. Their safe arrival was nothing short of miraculous – an answer to prayers made by a little woman to a great God. 

The eyes of the Lord are always searching for people whose hearts are complete in him, so that he can show himself strong through them (2 Chronicles 16:9). In the difficult days that are bearing down upon us, why shouldn’t one of them be you?

Partisanship and the Role of the Prophets

When we as humans face a war for survival, we fight to the death and we fight to win. In existential struggles, those who “play nice” or insist on following the rules are considered weak and naïve, or perhaps even guilty of collaboration with the enemy. After all, we need to win at any cost, don’t we?

The people of Jerusalem faced the same burning question during Jeremiah’s time. The nation was ripe for judgment after decades of ignoring prophetic calls to repentance. The situation had actually passed the point of no return and the threat of Babylonian conquest was imminent, but the people believed that the presence of the Temple would prevent any harm (Jeremiah 7:4, 16; 11:14; 14:11). The same sentiment existed among the people a century earlier: “Is not the LORD among us? No harm can come upon us” (Micah 3:11).  

These words reflect the natural response of religious societies to any criticism of their actions, let alone even the mention of divine judgment. Such a prophetic message is offensive on several levels. First of all, it reminds us that good works and religious observance are not enough to outweigh the consequences of rebellion in other areas of life. Secondly, it undercuts the idea that humanity cannot control the ultimate timing of judgment by rushing to “repent” every time just before the ax falls. Thirdly, it challenges the circular reasoning that “we are right because we are right” which views God as obligated to grant the victory. And fourthly, the message is seen as a demoralizing act that plays into the hands of those evil Babylonians who are, after all, the enemies of God himself. 

Jeremiah paid a high price for his critique of the spiritual condition of the nation, and he was even accused of cooperation with the Babylonians (Jeremiah 26:7-11; 37:11-15). He faced what today we could call partisanship. Everything about Judah had to be defended, and every other voice had to be silenced. The nation believed that Jeremiah’s message was a betrayal that undermined the fight for survival. They rejected the idea that Jeremiah’s prophetic criticism could be from God since their enemies were obviously so much worse. 

Today we face a fight-to-the-death over the future of entire societies and humanity itself. Many of us fear that it would hand victory to the “other side” if we ever admitted that anybody on “our side” could ever be in the wrong. This is an understandable defensive reaction to an emergency situation complete with hordes of foes at the gates who are bent on destruction rather than constructive criticism. However, this response is perilous because it feeds the concept that “we-are-right-because-we-are-right” and it cripples the role of the prophets in our lives.

Sometimes the last defenses that still seem to be standing are political leaders who at any other time would be considered unfit to represent the cause of believers. Many cling to them and defend their words and actions as though life itself depended on it. The fight to protect their reputations may seem necessary in the current crisis, but it leads us into a twilight zone of self-deception if we silence any critique that deviates from the partisan position. Unwittingly, we reject the fundamental right of God to hold all of us to account and to correct even those who are closest to him.

Perhaps God is leading us to a place where we trust him to be our only true defense – even as every safe space is being torn away and even though it seems that the enemy is winning one victory after another. Friends, the leaders and institutions in whom we have trusted will soon disappear. The “Babylonians” about to replace them are truly evil in every sense of the word. But God himself promised to fight our battles – even if it is not in a way that we would have chosen (Exodus 14:14; Deuteronomy 20:4; 2 Chronicles 20:17; Romans 8:31-37). If we lose everything in this world, we still have him. Maybe these losses for “our side” – as painful as they might be – are preparing us to embrace a future much brighter than what this fallen world could ever have offered.

Beware the Raging River of Rebellion

By now it should be clear to everyone with critical thinking skills that the COVID-19 crisis has been used skillfully to advance increased control over humanity – whether or not the virus is as dangerous as claimed. However, even before information that undercut the official narrative began to accumulate, countless voices began calling for civil disobedience against the lockdown. Many of these voices belong to believers who reject mask-wearing and social distancing rules while claiming that such regulations are a dry run leading up to totalitarianism. 

Let me be clear that they might be right in their overall analysis. After all, many of those same leaders who insisted on the lockdown also openly encouraged the recent wave of unrest as if there was no pandemic. However, since the beginning of the COVID-19 lockdowns something has troubled me in the attitude of many Christians – including some whom I count as friends. Their responses even made me wonder if they could be trusted to take precautions that infringed on their “rights” if ever there was truly extreme pandemic. 

Could it be that a spirit of rebellion has swept many believers away in these perilous times? I can almost hear the question of countless readers: “How can you call it a ‘spirit of rebellion’ if we are rejecting the unjust dictates of evil men?” Many would also remind me of the words of Peter and the apostles: “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). We will return to that particular verse towards the end.   

I have heard more than one person say that we need to reject the regulations now in order to push back already against the even stricter regime yet to come. This idea may sound logical, but I submit that it is based more on human wisdom than on the Word of God. Two examples are the relationships between David and Saul, and between Jesus and the Roman authorities. We see that both of them not only refused to rebel against obviously unjust rulers, but also encouraged others to submit wherever possible (1 Samuel 24:1-7; Matthew 22:15-22). 

A spirit of lawlessness is flooding the world today, and the enemy is doing his best to sweep believers away in the same roaring waters. Identifying his plot may be more difficult when it is tailored to your own bank of the river – that is, when it is disguised by language that appeals your own side of the societal divide. He wants to draw us out to a place where we fight the raging current alone and by our own authority.  

The day may be near when a vaccination that includes fetal tissue and a computer chip passport will be imposed upon humanity – forcing all to decide whether to obey God rather than man. We know that this will be connected to the coming “lawless one” and the “mystery of lawlessness” (2 Thessalonians 2:7-9), but a preemptive response of rebellion on our part is not the solution even when it is directed towards a world that itself is rebelling against God. Indeed, it simply lures us out to an unprotected position like a small group of soldiers independently declaring war on an entire army. God wants to protect us from the spirit of rebellion in order to spare us being taken down by a world in rebellion. 

Our primary calling in this battle is to obey God and to submit to his authority. When human authority asks us to disobey God, we must refuse. However, this is not done in a spirit of rebellion towards man but rather in a spirit of obedience towards God. The distinction may seem trivial if the practical decisions made appear to be the same externally, but the difference is profound on the spiritual level. We must not join in the spirit of lawlessness and rebellion, but rather must prepare ourselves for future potential conflict with human authority by practicing obedience towards God. His authority will be our refuge in times when obeying God and man cannot possibly both be done.

The Coming Worldwide Hunger

Mark Twain once wrote that foretelling wars and famines “was not so hard, for there was always a war, and generally a famine somewhere.” For Westerners who have grown up in an age of unrivalled abundance, that “somewhere” has always been “somewhere else” – never “here” and never closer than the television screen which could be switched off conveniently. The very idea of worldwide famines of “biblical proportions” has seemed to be more appropriate for a fictional drama series than the reality of everyday life in Europe and North America, but those days may be over. 

The experts have been wrong on many aspects of the Corona Virus and its fallout, but the warning from the UN’s World Food Programme that the economic upheaval from the health pandemic could result in a hunger pandemic is not necessarily an exaggeration. Countless masses in many nations already lack the resources to feed themselves properly, and the situation continues to deteriorate. If society continues to unravel in America and other nations, the previously wealthy could soon be preoccupied with basic survival as well. Hunger is coming, and it will not be a game. 

The worldwide wave of hunger will not be a pleasant sight, but we were forewarned and given instructions on how to respond. Jesus predicted that famines would be part of the events leading to the Last Days. In the same Olivet Discourse, the final parable promises that whoever feeds the least of these would be rewarded as though he had done it for Jesus himself (Matthew 24:7; 25:31-40). This care is not limited to those considered friends: “If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink” (Proverbs 25:21). 

There is a passage in Ecclesiastes that speaks about times like these: “Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days. Give a serving to seven, and also to eight, for you do not know what evil will be on the earth… He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap… In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening do not withhold your hand…” (Ecclesiastes 11:1-6). Now is not the time to recoil in hesitation. A hungry world will soon be at the gates, and the fact that we do not know how much evil will be on the earth is an even greater reason to serve as much as possible now. 

The empty stomachs of the masses may lead millions to their first taste ever of the Bread of Life. “Behold, the days are coming… that I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD” (Amos 8:11). Physical hunger for a season can even be part of the God’s plan to satisfy the hungry soul for all eternity: “So he humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD” (Deuteronomy 8:3). 

Evening shadows are falling all across the world, and it can be tempting to “withhold” our hands in fear, despair or apathy as the humanitarian and spiritual disaster approaches. However, it is written: “If you extend your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light shall dawn in the darkness, and your darkness shall be as the noonday” (Isaiah 58:10). If you are a true believer who has tasted of the Bread of Life, this is your job description for as long as you are still on this earth. The hungry will soon be knocking, but the bread is already in our hands. 

Contact Tracing and the God of Contact

The phrase “contact tracing” was practically unknown before the COVID-19 crisis. The concept is not new, but human history is about to be changed irreversibly by the combination of (1) groundbreaking technology for tracking human activity and (2) the political will to make contact tracing universal and preemptive. Worldwide trends of the past two decades pointed clearly in this direction, and so it should be no surprise that many proposed measures in response to the crisis would all but end privacy.

No society can remain truly free while abolishing privacy. Reasons of security and public health cannot change that fact – even if they often appear logical and justifiable. This is not the time for the legitimate discussion on finding the balance between these conflicting principles in the modern age. However, it is fascinating to compare the character of God with the conventional wisdom of world elites when it comes to “contact tracing” and privacy.

At first glance, it would seem that God was the inventor of contact tracing: “O LORD, you have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; you understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O LORD, you know it altogether” (Psalm 139:1-4).

God sees and counts our steps (Job 31:4; 34:21). He searches our heart and knows its intents (1 Chronicles 28:9; Hebrews 4:12-13). There is no place out of his reach: “‘Can anyone hide himself in secret places, so I shall not see him?’ says the LORD… (Jeremiah 23:24). What, then, is the difference between God’s omniscience and contact tracing by governments or social media giants?

Before addressing that question, let us consider an aspect of human character that reflects the image of God. If the era of social media has taught us anything, it is that human beings have a deep inner longing to know and be known. Establishing these deeper relationships cannot happen without relinquishing at least some privacy, but the individual must have the freedom to do so voluntarily in order for the connection to be meaningful. There can never be a true sense of security if others control to what extent and under what conditions this knowing and being known takes place.

In the new world being created before our eyes, there is no room for individual choice regarding personal information. Human beings are under constant monitoring – with no accountability for those managing the data collection, and certainly with no intent on their part to be open about their own lives. This is the way of the world, and we should not be surprised. After all, Jesus said: “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them” (Matthew 20:25).

It is precisely here that we see the contrast with the character of God. He indeed knows everything about us – more than all surveillance technologies put together – but his motivation is strikingly different. God uses that information for our own good, while building a relationship of trust with us. Amazingly, his ultimate goal is to bring us into a place where the knowing is mutual! “Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known” (1 Corinthians 13:12; also 1 John 3:2).

I find it simply astounding that the God who knows every detail of my life wants me to come to know him in the same way in eternity. In a world that is rapidly approaching the abolition of relationships in favor of the dark abyss of data collection, the thought of that friendship complete with reciprocity is an incredible comfort. He is not like the rulers of this world, my friends, and it is with him that we will spend all eternity. 

Crowned with Favor during Corona

The losses surrounding the Corona Virus are incalculable: hundreds of thousands dead, tragic stories of victims dying and being buried with no family present, countless weddings cancelled, bans on gatherings, a halt to travel, and hundreds of millions unemployed. The devastation will never be fully known, and there is, unfortunately, a distinct possibility that the worst is yet to come should the economic and societal aftershocks worsen.

Can these traumatizing events be anything but a curse for all those affected? I have yet to meet even one person who is enjoying the Corona Virus, but it is already clear to me that what the enemy meant for evil, God intends to use for good (Genesis 50:20). The suffering he allows has a way of softening the heart to receive reproof and instruction, giving us a chance to reprioritize our lives. A response of faith leads to spiritual growth that otherwise would not have occurred. Our “spiritual muscles” may ache with pain, but the resulting godliness is great gain (1 Timothy 4:8).

They say you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone, a lesson Corona has taught us well. We will value many blessings more than ever before should we regain them in the future, and we are learning now to appreciate blessings that we still have which could disappear someday. Food and shelter may be obvious, but those of us who grew up in free societies never knew how valuable unrestricted movement really is. Another blessing is the vibrant human bond with family, close friends, fellow believers, and even strangers in the street. I wonder if I ever would have realized without “social distancing” just how precious this interaction is to me.

There is much talk about this being a “dry run” for a reimagined world. Sadly, that may be true. However, I believe that God has not been outmaneuvered on this front. With seriousness and urgency, he is using this crisis to make ready the hearts of his own for any troubles ahead. Experiencing this worldwide emergency allows us to get at least a little idea of what it is like to be prisoners without freedom, and also prepares us for being refugees subject to uncertainty and lack.

The people of Israel faced the threat of a curse by Balak and Balaam just before their entry into the Land, but Balaam was compelled to admit the true state of the nation: “The Lord his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them” (Numbers 23:21). A similar spiritual battle is raging in our time as we approach the end, but God gave us the quarantine to prepare. This crisis not only will strengthen our longing for God’s presence in heaven, but it will also remind us that our relationship with Jesus Christ is the one thing that can never be taken from us even in our hardest of days on this earth. We are in a triumphal procession through the trials, and name of our king is on our lips.

Just like the psalmist, we face countless enemies and evildoers – but we can confidently declare with him: “For you, O LORD, will bless the righteous; with favor you will surround him as with a shield” (Psalm 5:12). It is fascinating to discover that the Hebrew word translated here as “surround” resembles a word with the meaning of “crown” at a later stage of the language. The implications are inspiring. We not only march in the triumphal procession of the king; we also are “crowned” by him with favor during trials. God is using the Corona Virus to fit us for the crown of life and righteousness (James 1:12; 2 Timothy 4:8) – a crown that will be revealed in eternity.