By Andy Hale

Let’s talk about privilege and entitlement.

The reality is that most readers of this article and listeners of this podcast are, in fact, the product of American Middle-Class privilege. By the very nature of our contextual existence, we have been afforded better opportunities than most. This is especially true when it comes to education, second chances (along with fourth, fifth, and thousandth chances), economic opportunities, affordable housing and job prospects.

In her new book, White Picket Fences: Turning toward Love in a World Divided by Privilege, Amy Julia Becker examines our self-justification and exclusivity of privilege. She writes, “The privilege of whiteness and wealth can become a wall against the privilege of being human, loved not for status or performance but simply loved, and able to give love in return not because of obligation but in grateful response to an invitation.”

If we are honest, most people are just generally okay with things the way they are. Yes, we get up in arms when the media covers an injustice in our world. But in general, we don’t want to do the hard, good, and difficult work of bringing change to our culture.

We sat down with the author to discuss her life changing experience of being confronted with her privilege, as well as her hopes for her new book.

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CBF’s podcast shares stories from across the Fellowship and innovative practices of those working to renew God’s world. The vision is to share ideas, stories, and innovations from ministers, authors, and practitioners.

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Sponsorship

This podcast episode is brought to you by The School of Divinity at Gardner-Webb University, Campbell University Divinity School, and David Correll of Universal Creative Concepts.

Andy Hale created and hosts the podcast of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Hale is the senior pastor of University Baptist Church of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, following eight years as the founding pastor of Mosaic Church of Clayton and five years as CBF’s church start speacialist. Follow on Twitter @haleandy