Lifestyles of the rich and faithful: Confronting classism in Christian mission

Abstract

Classism is collective prejudice formed into a system of inequality that is based on socioeconomic stratification; it is undergirded by embedded cultural narratives surrounding the poor, and then instituted by the powers that be at the expense of the poor. If Christian mission does not challenge classism, then it is complicit in it and thus undermines the work of the gospel. This article proposes an evaluative tool to help align personal lifestyles and organizational practices with an image of Christ among the classes.