The Family we Choose

We are continuing our sermon series in the book of James this morning if you have a bible, please turn with us to James chapter 2.

Last week we ended chapter 1 - learning together that religion is the expression of faith, and that God has expectations for that religion. The expression of our faith must include: Controlling your tongue. Taking care of people. Keeping yourself from sin. It is not an inclusive list, but these are things that James indicated we might struggle with or leave out.

You can’t call yourself a christian and let your tongue run wild.

You can’t call yourself a christian and not care about others.

You can’t call yourself a christian and commit whatever sin you feel like.

God cares about that. Any expression of your faith that doesn’t include those things falls short.

if you missed church last week you can find that sermon online.

This morning we are starting chapter 2 - Learning about what it means to be part of the church, as we recognize that church isn’t supposed to be a part of the world. Church is different.

Church people are different. Our relationships with these people are different. Because church is the family that you choose.

James 2:1–7 CSB

1 My brothers and sisters, do not show favoritism as you hold on to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. 2 For if someone comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and a poor person dressed in filthy clothes also comes in, 3 if you look with favor on the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Sit here in a good place,” and yet you say to the poor person, “Stand over there,” or “Sit here on the floor by my footstool,” 4 haven’t you made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Didn’t God choose the poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? 6 Yet you have dishonored the poor. Don’t the rich oppress you and drag you into court? 7 Don’t they blaspheme the good name that was invoked over you?

James has been making a few statements about how we are different from the world, and he continues that in chapter 2 by saying that our relationships here have to be different.

This is the fourth time already in this letter that he has addressed the Christians as “My brother’s and sisters” indicating, he is talking to people that - though he may not have met them, he considers his relationship with them to be a close one. There is a strong tie with one another. They are all part of the same family, and that underlines the problem that he is getting ready to address.

The world values people based on what they can offer them. A worldly person looks at another person and says : Okay, you drive a nice car, live in a nice house, have a good job - being close to you might benefit me in some way. Maybe that is practical, but it might just be in appearance.

If they have a good job - maybe they can help you get on where they work.

If they have a nice car, you will look better standing next to it.

And the world really does think like this, and not only do they think like this, they also teach people to think like this.

It’s the art of networking.

You have to be friends with the people who are in the position that you want to be in and that have the things that you have, and then, almost by osmosis, you will get the things that you want through that relationship.

This is why I am friends with retired people, because I want to be retired.

The reality is, in the world this works.

If you can get close to people of influence, if you can build relationships with them, it can really have an impact on the way the rest of your world works out.

And one of the ways that you build those relationships is through how you make those people feel. Showing them honor goes a long way.

How do we do that?

Where we put them in our lives, how we treat others compared to them.. really practically, where they sit.

Wealthy people get the best seats.

Sometimes it is because they buy it, sometimes it is because someone else gives it to them, either way it is to make them feel special.

Synagogs and stadiums sell their seats.. Airplanes sell their seats. the more money you have, the better seat you can buy.

Every reward system is a 30000 ft approach to this. If you’ll just buy all of your gas here, we will treat you better.

If you get all of your groceries here, we will treat you better.

If you only fly with us and stay in our hotel and drive these cars, we will treat you better. You’re important to us. Here’s a free upgrade.

In the world there is nothing wrong with that relationship. It seems to be mutually beneficial. Everyone agrees to the terms without reading them. And who knows, you might get upgraded to first class.

That’s one major division - rich and poor. Division can come up from ethnicity, ideology, politics. We can be divided by so many things, and maybe that works in the world. Maybe that is okay at the bar. Maybe that is okay.

But in the church, it isn’t.

James is very direct here. Do not show favoritism.

It cannot matter if you are jew or gentile - here.

It cannot matter if you are free or slave here.

It cannot matter if you are rich or poor here.

It cannot matter what you think about politics here (though we might try to change your mind)

But here. When you walk through those doors… the rest of it cannot matter.

Church is the family that we choose.

And its our choosing - but it also isn’t. God brings people into his flock, we don’t do that.

And it cannot matter who he brings in.

Favoritism is one way that we slip into worldliness. The world honors the rich and neglects the poor, and James is saying that we fall into that as the church as well. And he says DON’T.

This can show up in a lot of different ways. It can literally be where we sit, but it can also be who we invite to leadership and why.

It can be the way we design our services.

It can even be just who we invite.

So how does our faith work - how is it displayed in the church, with the people we don’t necessarily like or get along with? How does it work with the people that smell funny.

James tells us in the second part of verse one.

James 2:1 CSB

1 My brothers and sisters, do not show favoritism as you hold on to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.

As you hold on to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.

The emphasis is in not only in Jesus, but His Glory.

The splendor, majesty and supremacy over and above all things.

A few nights ago we had the opportunity to see the northern lights in the sky above us, something we don’t often get to witness.. and people were in awe. It was majestic. It was beautiful. I only got to see photos.. but it was so cool. The goodness of God was on display.

If you get up early enough you get to witness sunrises each morning. Every morning they are different. Every morning they are beautiful.

We are created to stand in awe of the creator of the universe.

We are captivated by the Glory of Christ.

That is our place.

James corrects perspective several times in this letter. That seems to be the biggest problem. We look at people based on who they are - worse, the circumstance that they are in.

Such a degrading thing. To view people based on where they are in life.

James says don’t do that.

We hold on to the glorious view of Jesus.

And he cares about people!

He cares about the poor.

He cares about the rich.

He cares about the republicans.

He cares about the democrats.

Jesus cares.

Psalm 68:10 CSB

10 Your people settled in it; God, you provided for the poor by your goodness.

Galatians 2:10 CSB

10 They asked only that we would remember the poor, which I had made every effort to do.

Caring for people is the whole of who Jesus is.

2 Corinthians 8:9 CSB

9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: Though he was rich, for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.

Who you are is more important than what you have.

And here. You are beautifully and wonderfully made.

You are created in the image of Christ.

You are worthy of honor.

Not because of what you have, what you think, what you look like. But who you are.

And here, you are his.

And he makes us righteous.

And he glorifies us.

He makes us rich.

He makes us whole. He makes us worthy.

Maybe that’s the part we need to hear this morning. Maybe it isn’t the

Don’t look at people based on now.

Don’t look at people based on the world.

Honor people. All of these people. Because of Jesus.

When things come between us.. forgive.

Matthew 6:14–15 CSB

14 “For if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. 15 But if you don’t forgive others, your Father will not forgive your offenses.

Conclusion: We honor people. Because of Jesus.

Everyone who comes through those doors should receive a measure of honor and grace.

There should not be division among us. There cannot be.

No favoritism. We are here together.

1 Corinthians 1:26–29 CSB

26 Brothers and sisters, consider your calling: Not many were wise from a human perspective, not many powerful, not many of noble birth. 27 Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong. 28 God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world—what is viewed as nothing—to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, 29 so that no one may boast in his presence.

Leviticus 19:15–18 CSB

15 “Do not act unjustly when deciding a case. Do not be partial to the poor or give preference to the rich; judge your neighbor fairly. 16 Do not go about spreading slander among your people; do not jeopardize your neighbor’s life; I am the Lord. 17 “Do not harbor hatred against your brother. Rebuke your neighbor directly, and you will not incur guilt because of him. 18 Do not take revenge or bear a grudge against members of your community, but love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.

Church is the family we choose.