Apologetics in the Lion City

Why does life feel so unfair?
We see people born into privilege while others struggle from birth. Some succeed with ease; others labor endlessly with little to show. The disparities—economic, physical, situational, geographic—are undeniable.

But beneath our frustration lies a deeper question:
What do we mean by success?
And who gets to define it?

How Culture Shapes Our Sense of Fairness

In most societies, success reflects what the culture values. Wealth, status, productivity, independence, visibility — these are the currencies of achievement. When someone attains them, we call them “successful.” When someone doesn’t, we wonder what went wrong.

Fairness becomes a measure of how well people are able to chase these culturally defined prizes. But what if the problem isn’t just disparity? What if it’s the very definition of success?

Competing Cultural Definitions of Success

Different cultures define success in different ways — and each shapes how people experience fairness or unfairness:

• In Western meritocracies, success is measured by wealth, career advancement, and personal achievement. The assumption is: if you work hard, you deserve to succeed. If you don’t succeed, you must not have worked hard enough.
  Fairness trap: This view ignores structural barriers and over-credits individual effort.
• Eastern collectivist cultures often define success as fulfilling one’s role and maintaining harmony. A person is successful when they bring honor to their group and avoid shame.
  Fairness trap: This can suppress individual aspirations or justify inequality in the name of stability.
• In high power-distance societies, success is tied to hierarchy — gaining respect through age, status, or connections. Disparity is seen as natural or deserved.
  Fairness trap: Such systems may normalize injustice or discourage questioning of authority.
• Digital-age culture equates success with visibility, influence, and personal brand. If people are paying attention to you, you matter.
  Fairness trap: This elevates charisma over character and leaves the unseen feeling invisible.
• Under consumerism, success is about owning more, upgrading constantly, and displaying lifestyle. You are what you can afford to show.
  Fairness trap: It fuels envy, debt, and discontent — especially for those excluded from the game.

Each of these definitions creates its own winners and losers. And when people internalize these scripts, they begin to measure fairness by how well they or others perform within them.

Christ’s Countercultural Vision of Success

Jesus doesn’t just critique cultural success — he redefines it entirely.

• Success as faithfulness
  “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:23)
  Success is not about outcomes, but about obedience to God’s calling — whether public or hidden.
• Success as fruitfulness
  “By their fruit you will recognize them.” (Matthew 7:16)
  The fruit of the Spirit — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness — is the true measure of a life well lived.
• Success as service
  “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.” (Mark 10:43)
  Greatness is found in humility, generosity, and sacrificial love — not in climbing ladders or building platforms.
• Success as suffering with hope
  “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness.” (Matthew 5:10)
  The cross redefines victory: what looks like failure to the world is the pathway to resurrection.
• Success as eternal perspective
  “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth… but treasures in heaven.” (Matthew 6:19–20)
  Christian success is not measured by temporal gain but by eternal faithfulness.

Why Christ’s Definition of Success Makes Sense

Christ’s vision of success resonates because it:

• Affirms every person’s dignity, regardless of status or ability
• Frees us from comparison, performance anxiety, and cultural pressure
• Centers life on love, purpose, and eternity — not fleeting rewards
• Makes room for suffering, recognizing that hardship can be redemptive
• Invites everyone — not just the privileged — into a meaningful life

It speaks to our deepest longings: to be known, loved, purposeful, and secure — not just successful by worldly standards.

How This Vision Has Made a Difference

Christ’s redefinition of success has never been abstract — it has shaped lives and communities across history.

In the early church, believers cared for the poor, welcomed outcasts, and shared their resources not to gain status, but to reflect Christ’s love. Their quiet faithfulness became a powerful witness that outlasted empires.

Throughout history, this vision inspired reformers, missionaries, and everyday Christians to challenge injustice, serve the vulnerable, and live with integrity — often at great cost. From monastic simplicity to abolitionist courage, their lives testified that true greatness lies in love, not acclaim.

Today, this same vision animates caregivers, teachers, and neighbors who serve without applause. It sustains those who suffer with hope and those who choose faithfulness over fame. In a culture obsessed with visibility, these lives whisper a deeper truth: success is not what you achieve, but who you become in Christ.

Looking ahead, this vision offers a path forward — one that resists toxic success culture, builds communities of justice and mercy, and anchors our worth in something eternal. It’s not just a personal ethic; it’s a quiet revolution.

Why This Reframing Matters

When success is narrowly defined, fairness becomes a race for limited prizes. But when success is redefined as faithfulness, love, and service, the whole fairness conversation shifts.

We stop asking, “Why didn’t I get what they have?”
And start asking, “Am I living the life I’m called to live — even if it’s hidden, hard, or humble?”

This reframing doesn’t erase disparity — but it:

• Dignifies the overlooked
• Critiques the inflated
• Invites everyone into a meaningful life, regardless of status

Living What Matters

If you’ve ever felt like life is unfair, ask yourself: whose definition of success are you living by?

The culture may reward hustle, status, and independence — but Christ calls us to faithfulness, fruitfulness, and love. That’s a success no system can steal and no circumstance can undo.

So here’s the invitation:

• Reconsider what it means to live well
• Resist the pressure to chase cultural idols
• Rediscover the joy of a life rooted in grace, not performance

You don’t have to win the world’s race to matter — just walk with the One who says you already do.