Sin of Partiality

It Happens

Living by God’s standard is what this passage is about, and beyond that, we have come to the applying of actions. How we act is as important as why we act.

(NRSV)

Warning against Partiality

2 My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ? 2 For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, Choosing who we will welcome into our church speaks volumes to who you really are, and who you serve. Years ago, while a layperson, one of the congregants was witnessing to a neighbor and was bringing their children to church. They were good children and caused little trouble as the congregant also played the piano for the service. The problem, for some in our church, was that the children were not the cleanest of children, and so a few congregants took it upon themselves to get rid of the children; they called Child Services on their family.

(NRSV)

2 For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, 3 and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Have a seat here, please,” while to the one who is poor you say, “Stand there,” or, “Sit at my feet,”

“Judges with evil thoughts”

James is showing how those who profess the faith without living it out is a betrayal of the law of love. Also showing a empty faith; no substance. (NRSV)

5 Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him?

The link of favoritism in this passage, to the way church was being conducted, and the way I feel it can be conducted today, are not compatible with the faith of Jesus Christ, or His mission to the world.

(NRSV)

15 You shall not render an unjust judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great: with justice you shall judge your neighbor. I want you to see and understand that this was not just the new law brought forth from Christ, but as law handed down in the Book of Law concerning just treatment.

(NRSV)

5 Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? (ESV)

6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court?

“If you love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well” () If we show partiality, we are committing sin. (NRSV)

9 But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

In this passage, we see that James brings to our attention, and firstly to the attention of the original audience, that we must fulfil the whole of the law and not that which we feel justified in. (NRSV)

11 For the one who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery but if you murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

We must live as though we will be judged by a just God. (NRSV)

13 For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.