Equally we should agree
that through living in a privileged society, and through being socialised in a
corrupt system, our white Christian counterparts though brothers in Christ have
not proved themselves brothers in South Africa. We must agree also that tacitly
or overtly, deliberately or unawares, white Christians within the Churches are
preventing the Church from assuming its natural character in the South African
context, and therefore preventing it from being relevant to the black man's
situation. – Steve Biko

A
few weeks ago I posted on my own privilege and had some good conversations on-
and offline about the topic.  It is
this aspect of privilege that Biko explores next.  This paragraph, more than almost any other written by him,
gives me chills down my spine.  I think
it is still so relevant for today.

In
it Biko notes that whites that are privileged through being socialized in a
corrupt system are not using their privilege to show that they’re really
brothers in South Africa.  This is
shockingly true.

White
Christians in South Africa still find themselves in enclaves of privilege.  Sure, every now and then we do
outreaches but then we return to our suburban church complexes, estates and
privileged lifestyles.  We are
saying to a segment of our brotherhood that we are the ends of the blessings we
have received.

Graciously,
Biko notes that this lack of brotherhood is tacitly or unaware on the one hand
and overtly and deliberate on the other. 

I
think this is one of the church’s main responsibilities in South Africa today.

A)   
To help those who are unaware of their privilege to discover and share
that privilege.

B)  
To confront those who deliberately and overtly shows attitudes and
practices of racism and selfishness.