Favoritism & Prejudice

Ended last section with needing to control our tongues and that - pure and undefiled religion is to look after orphans and widows in their distress.

And now James leads right in to an issue that happened and happens a bit in the near east and parts of Asia. And if we’re honest, we struggle here in the west as well, just in different ways.

Showing favoritism.

James 2:1–4 CSB

My brothers and sisters, do not show favoritism as you hold on to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. 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, 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,” haven’t you made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

Jesus taught and showed, and thus Christianity has no place for discrimination and structure against someone based on sex, skin color, hair color, social status, or wealth. James is pointing this out, that this is completely apposed to the basis of the faith.

All are made in the image of God!

Genesis 1:26–27 CSB

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.” So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female.

Acts 10:34–35 CSB

Peter began to speak: “Now I truly understand that God doesn’t show favoritism, but in every nation the person who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.

back to James slide

James 2:3–4 CSB

“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,” haven’t you made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

My helping Lee Read with computer - and being asked to be his personal electronics contact because of it.

We don’t have many places of “honor” where we would sit someone who we would show favor here. But in other cultures, they do! And other churches do.

Pakistan I/we would be brought on stage in honor even if we weren’t preaching.

To have someone sit at the feet of another, was to show dishonor. - DIRECT INDICATION OF SHAME!

Judges with evil thoughts - already talked about how the Lord has blessed the poor (1:9). If we judge directly opposed to God’s thoughts, that’s evil. + he talks about it next...

James 2:5 CSB

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?

Listen. Hear me. Understand! (Those who have ears...)

Let’s see what Jesus said about the poor.

Luke 4:18 CSB

The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed,

Luke 6:20–21 CSB

Then looking up at his disciples, he said: Blessed are you who are poor, because the kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are hungry now, because you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, because you will laugh.... “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.

Jesus showed us that God’s heart is with the poor and the oppressed.

James 2:6–7 CSB

Yet you have dishonored the poor. Don’t the rich oppress you and drag you into court? Don’t they blaspheme the good name that was invoked over you?

Then, like today, people confused success and power in our terms for being blessed in God’s eyes.

It rains on the just and the unjust alike!

“Don’t the rich oppress and drag you into court” seems to imply that either the people have completely lost focus on what is important, OR they are acting out of fear. Trying to not anger those who are powerful in an early way.

Isaiah 55:8–9 CSB

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways.” This is the Lord’s declaration. “For as heaven is higher than earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

This is a trap we need to avoid. We need to make sure we don’t respond out of fear, for perfect love casts out fear.

And we need to keep our minds focused on the Holy Spirit and His guiding.

James 2:8 CSB

Indeed, if you fulfill the royal law prescribed in the Scripture, Love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well.

This wasn’t new when Jesus said it...

Leviticus 19:18 CSB

Do not take revenge or bear a grudge against members of your community, but love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.

Jesus pushed this beyond those who were of the Jewish community and implied that this was in regard to all those in the image of God, or really all of creation.

James 2:9 CSB

If, however, you show favoritism, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

Have you considered showing favor to those who are in higher power or with money as sin?

Have you considered showing disdain for those struggling or poor to be sin?

It is absolutely imperative that we recognize that all of mankind is made in the image of God. We are all image bearers! How we play man-made rules and games doesn’t determine our standing with God.

SLIDE

Albert Einstein - “If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

back to James

James 2:10–11 CSB

For whoever keeps the entire law, and yet stumbles at one point, is guilty of breaking it all. For he who said, Do not commit adultery, also said, Do not murder. So if you do not commit adultery, but you murder, you are a lawbreaker.

The Law was given for 2 main reasons

To instruct in the ways of God

Showing how to live and do things God’s way

To show us that since we are outside of Godly perfection, that it is IMPOSSIBLE for man to live this life flawlessly

WE NEED GOD TO INTERVENE AND SHOW US MERCY

WE NEED JESUS

If you break 1 law, one command, you are a lawbreaker, a sinner, and are outside of the perfection that is required to approach the Most High, the almighty God.

JESUS paid the penalty for our sins so that God see’s us as redeemed and perfect, just like His son.

James 2:12–13 CSB

Speak and act as those who are to be judged by the law of freedom. For judgment is without mercy to the one who has not shown mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

We’re back to the mirror from last week.

Look into the Law of Liberty

You have been set free, but not so that you can live in sin and live like Hell on earth.

You have been set free so that you can freely go and do good. Go and be the image of Christ to the world around you.

Be the hands and feet. Be the image of God.

Do justice. Love kindness. And walk humbly with your God.

PRAY -

Father, thank you so much for giving us this Law of liberty, freeing us to do your good works without fear of condemnation. We thank you for your grace and forgiveness. Help us to continue to be a church body that welcomes all who enter through these doors. And help us to be your people while we are out in the world around us. Help us to be the image of Jesus that people need. Give us strength, guidance, wisdom, and power to do what it is that you have called us to do. Help us to do justice, to love your kindness and be your kindness, and be gracious as we walk with you throughout the days of our lives. Grow us closer together, closer to the people of Rolla, and closer to you. Guide us with your Holy Spirit and with your word.

We ask all this in the precious name of Jesus, amen.