The Privilege We All Possess

This post is by Kelli LaFram.

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. ~ 1 Timothy 2:1-7 (ESV)

George Floyd -- how he died, the hatred behind it, the violence that led up to his death and the violence that has sprung from it, the cries for justice, the voices that are still not heard, the hatred tolerance, the heads that are still stuck in the sand, the chosen blindness and silence of so many -- weighs heavy on my heart.

I am told that because I am white I have privilege, and I have never believed this more than I do today. 

The color of my skin has never caused me to lose out on a job opportunity. The color of my skin has never caused someone to hold their purse tight or lock their car doors as I walked by. My white skin has never led someone to question whether or not I can make a loan payment. It has never put me under scrutiny by my employer or caused a police officer to surveil me. 

My white privilege has led to a life that many people of color can only imagine.

I am also told that I must do something with my white privilege that benefits others -- that I must speak out against racial inequality. I believe this too. I can take to the streets or social media and add my voice to the cries for racial equality -- to the demands to end injustices fueled by hate and bigotry. Yes, I must! 

But there are some days -- most days -- I feel that using my white privilege may not make a difference.  But then I remember…

I know Jesus. He is my mediator -- the mediator between God and all mankind.

I can do more than exercise my white privilege -- we can all do more, no matter our skin color.

We can pray. We have the ear of the King.

Our prayer privilege is far more powerful than any other we possess.

Our Hello Mornings community is currently studying 1 Timothy with Faithful Household of God. 1 Timothy is a letter written by Paul to a son of faith, Timothy. In this letter Paul urges Timothy to fight the good fight through prayer, praying always and everywhere for all people, including those in authority, while leading a peaceful and quiet life (1 Timothy 1:18-2:10). In week one of the study, Jennifer Hong taught us that these instructions were given during a time of great Christian persecution.

Nero was the brutal Roman Emperor during Paul’s ministry... He became infamous for the persecution of Christians… both Paul and Peter were among the Christians martyred under Nero. The threat to the Church’s “peaceful and quiet life” was immense. (Faithful Household of God, p 10)

Peaceful and quiet are not words any of us would use to describe our nation right now either. And just as God, through the pen of Paul, instructed His people to pray 2,000 years ago, He instructs us to do the same today.

Yes, use whatever earthly privilege you have to stand up against evil, but don’t neglect prayer.

As we process and deal with all that is happening in our country, we must remember to fight the good fight -- to pray always and everywhere -- for our leaders, for those hurting, for ourselves, and even for those choosing hatred and violence. 

If you are like me, you may feel your voice will do little -- that you can do little to make a difference. But our God tells us differently. Our voices matter to Him. He wants to hear us. He wants us to lift up our pain and the pain of others to Him.

Fight, ladies. Fight the good fight in prayer. The people you pray for may never know you went to battle for them, but go to battle for them anyway. Your voice, your prayers will make a difference.

Lord, teach us to pray, to lead a quiet and peaceful life that is godly and dignified. May our prayers lead to actions that glorify You and do good for others. Make us bold and courageous for the things that You say are right and holy. Help us to understand and share Your Gospel, even in this time of strife, because You desire all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. Amen.

Kelli LaFram is actually Kelli LaFramboise, but no one can pronounce that, so with the permission of her husband and four kids she writes under the shorter pen name. Her neighbors have started referring to her bunch as the LaFram Fam. In addition to writing for Hello Mornings, Kelli has also led bible studies in her home and served in the children’s ministry at her local church. Kelli is an elementary school teacher and her hobbies include blogging about God’s word, listening to audiobooks with her children, drinking good coffee, hand painting faith-based signs (but not after too much coffee), and helping her carpenter husband build furniture. You can find her at www.quietlyreminded.com and https://www.instagram.com/kellilafram/. 

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash