Wisdom for Discriminating People

Introduction

Been told a potato is not a vegetable! Discrimination! It grows in the ground! I don’t discriminate against asparagus, I just choose to not eat it.

Each of us has preferences - You chose a worship service this morning based on preferences. You chose the house you live in based on preferences.

It’s ok to have preferences - even when it comes to people. I prefer to spend more time with my wife and children more than anyone else. Discrimination not ok. Discrimination = condemning judgment of a person based on appearance, age, achievement, family name, religion, political affiliation, or affluence. (Passing by the homeless man - He should get a job. Looking at someone’s skin color and assuming the worst about them.)

Discrimination plagues our culture - programmed to discriminate from a young age. You’ve seen the damage that discrimination has caused and is still causing in our nation.

While discrimination is embedded into our culture, it has no place in the church. James makes this clear. Early believers knew what it meant to be discriminated against - forced out of Jerusalem, lost their jobs etc. all because of their faith.

Believers who were discriminated against are now discriminating! Favoring some while judging others.

Hard passage that causes us to look in the mirror of God’s Word to deal with our sin of discrimination. Three ways to avoid partiality/discrimination.

Embrace Christ, not Culture

James 2:1 - Show no partiality - don’t favor some while looking down on others. It’s not consistent with your faith in Christ!

Many Jewish Christians were poor. On the Lord’s Day, they gathered for worship, and guests would come to worship.

Sometimes guests were wealthy. Imagine a wealthy Roman citizen shows up who is curious about the Christian faith. He wears fine clothes and expensive jewelry. Church is enamored - they’re struggling go get by, but this person can help. Think of how his resources can be used for the kingdom! In a culture where believers shared with each other - everyone could benefit from his wealth.

But, they know nothing about the guy - nothing about his heart, his character - and they don’t really even know what he’s worth, but based on appearance, treat him like royalty. A seat down front, introduce him to everyone.

On that same Sunday, an obviously poor person walks in. He’s immediately taken to the back. “Not much room for you. Sit on the floor.” A judgment based on appearance. Know nothing about his heart, character, etc.

Vs. 4 - You have evil thoughts (motives in NLT). This kind of discrimination is the result of evil motives!

What are the evil motives that cause us to discriminate?

You favor people who can benefit you. What can I get out of people? Does that person have connections to get me the job I want? Does that person have the social status that I want? In church, will that person help us pay down our debt? Or, we benefit from people who are like us - think like us, act like us - who can give us affirmation we long for. Don’t want to be challenged by someone.

You favor people you fear. For these believers in James, “What might this rich man say about us if we don’t roll out the red carpet for him?” Who do you fear? Who do you fear will look down on you if you don’t treat them a certain way? Who do you fear will shun you if you don’t cater to their every need?

We favor some, but we discriminate and shun people who don’t think like us, look like us, act like us, or benefit us. (Ill. David Platt - didn’t think I could benefit from him. I was wrong.)

The way of culture - always picking side. Always favoring some while excluding others. Always ignoring those who can’t help us get ahead. Always going out of our way to fawn over those we think can help us get ahead.

Look at your life: how much time are you investing in people not for what they can do for you but for what the Gospel can do for them? Because you know you have something they need?

The things that matter to us simply don’t matter to God. Romans 2:11 - “For God shows no partiality.” When Jesus saved you, He didn’t examine your bank account to see what kind of wealth you’d bring to the church. He didn’t look at your appearance and say, “Nope. Not fashionable enough to be in the Kingdom.” He didn’t examine your social status.

You had nothing to offer God, but He had everything to offer you - salvation - rich and free through the death and resurrection of Jesus!

Embrace true glory, not a cheap substitute.

Notice the phrase: “hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.” Reminder of who is really glorious - not the people you are showing favoritism to.

We show favoritism because we want glory! Language of Bible - glory = weightiness, heaviness, or significance.

We all want significance (Hudson - Nana is in charge. I can’t even be significant in they eyes of my son!) We want to be significant or at least be around people who are significant so we favor the rich person who if we get in his good graces might make us a bit more significant. Who will make me less glorious? Who will drain me? Nothing glorious about investing in someone who is poor. Nothing glorious about investing in the dying saint. Nothing glorious about ministering to the physically or mentally disabled. Nothing glorious about investing in that person who is a drain on you emotionally, but that may be the very person God wants you to invest in!

James: let me show you glory. You favor the rich because you think he’s going to make you into somebody. You think he’s going to make you glorious, but he’s probably going to oppress you. He’ll probably take you to court to take from you what little bit you have. Who are you favoring because you’re hoping they will give you glory?

Don’t you see how God works? (James 1:5) Don’t you remember the ministry of my brother? Jesus spent His time with the outcast, the poor, the hurting - He made them rich. In fact, Jesus made Himself poor to make us rich if we trust in Him. (2 Corinthians 8:9)

James not condemning rich, necessarily, but reminding that glory doesn’t come from wealth, age, family name, religious background, etc. Significance and glory comes from Jesus - He will share His glory with you IF - you make yourself poor.

Matthew 5:3 - “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” What does it mean to be poor in spirit?

My life has no real significance apart from Christ. Think you find significance in a job? An income? A relationship? Accomplishments? It’s all fading, and 100 years from now, no one will know you existed. (Ph. 3) But in Christ, you will be known by Jesus forever.

I will not find lasting significance in people. Try all you want, but people let you down. (What James is saying.)

I can only find significance when I give my life to Jesus. And when I find the glory my heart longs for in Christ, I’ll realize how silly favoritism and discrimination really is.

Not walking around “woe is me” but walking around realizing that partiality and discrimination will never get you what you’re desiring out of life, but Jesus will give you everything. Embrace true glory, not a cheap substitute!

Embrace law keeping, not law breaking

You’re doing well if you fulfill the royal law - “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Lev. 19:18) When Jesus asked Greatest Command - He repeated this - and said “Law and Prophets depend on these two commands” (Matthew 22:40)

Was James thinking about story of Good Samaritan? “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus told story to rebuke the religious leaders - Samaritan was more compassionate than those who claimed to know God of all creation! - Let us not be accused of being less compassionate than those who do not know God! Let us not break the Royal Law!

If you discriminate and show favoritism - you are a law breaker. You can’t overlook this area of your life or sweep it under the rug. You can’t say, “Well, I didn’t commit adultery.” Or, “I didn’t murder.” “I was good in other areas.” What if you were on trial for murder, and you told the judge, “Well, I didn’t commit adultery.” Who cares? You’re still guilty! Discrimination and favoritism is just as much sin as any other, and if you are constantly discriminating you are giving evidence that you have not embraced grace and mercy.

vs. 12 - Live knowing that judgment is coming - a coming day when we’re going to see once and for all what’s in your heart.

Therefore, live in accordance to Law of Liberty - Live like Jesus has changed you. Christ has done for you what you could not do for yourself, died for you, and rose again. He’s put His Spirit in you to empower you to live out His Will.

If you’re not going to live it out, maybe you don’t know Him. (Matt. 7:21-23) Does the way that you treat others reveal that you know Jesus or that you simply think you know Jesus?

James taking us straight to the heart. Has your heart been changed by Jesus? How do you know? Your heart changes towards others.

Three challenges:

Stop seeing people as opportunities for gain.

Stop seeing people as obstacles.

Start being a giver of mercy. (vs. 13 - show no mercy you receive no mercy. BUT mercy triumphs judgment. When you show mercy, you show that you’ve received it. Showing mercy is much more in line with the character of Christ than judgement.)

Maybe this morning, you need mercy. Jesus came to give you mercy. He is the epitome of the Royal Law - He loved you as Himself - to the point that He would die for you and rise again for you. Do you know Him?

Believer - Struggling with partiality? Discrimination? Repent - Ask Jesus to give you His heart.