Sermon Tone Analysis

We all probably have a story from somewhere in our lives where we thought someone was playing favorites.

It might have been at home with us thinking our parents had a favorite sibling or maybe it was among a group of friends or maybe even in the workplace where someone perceived as the favorite was promoted ahead of you.

In some cases the favoritism was real and in some cases most likely only perceived by us.

There's a wonderful story about a Chicago bank that once asked for a letter of recommendation on a young Bostonian being considered for employment.

The Boston investment house could not say enough about the young man.

His father, they wrote, was a Cabot; his mother was a Lowell.

Further back was a happy blend of Saltonstalls, Peabodys, and other of Boston's first families.

His recommendation was given without hesitation.

Several days later, the Chicago bank sent a note saying the information supplied was altogether inadequate.

It read: "We are not contemplating using the young man for breeding purposes.

Just for work."

Neither is God a respecter of persons but accepts those from every family, nation, and race who fear Him and work for His kingdom (Acts 10:34-35).

(http://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/f/favoritism.htm)

Today, we are going to be in the first half of James 2. As we get started this morning, I want to make a bold statement that will ground us for the remainder of this message and I pray in our Christian lives.

There are to be no favorites in the church or in the Kingdom!

We are all equal in the eyes of Christ - all human.

What we bring to the table whether in knowledge, money, leadership, or something else are not grounds for us to play favorites ever in the church!

All too often, I think we can show favoritism, sometimes without even realizing it.

The comments James makes in this passage are quite countercultural, even today.

This culture of success and who has what still not only exists, but also demands that people of wealth and status are treated better, given a better place, a better seat, sometimes even in the church.

James expounds on Paul’s words in

I also want to read this passage for us this morning in the Message version, as I think it help put some of James’ ideas into more plain language and can help our understanding.

There are some tough words for us Jesus followers in this passage of James.

There’s also quite a bit to digest.

Let’s start with the first four verses:

Have you ever witnessed something like this in the church?

Tell account of new person - smelly and dirty clothes sat in back as service started and no one approached him or talked to him once that morning - even after service - only spoke to those they were friends with - showed favoritism or partiality.....

Culture in that day - very much about social status - even still that way today.

Encourages countercultural behavior

Cannot judge based on outward appearances - thus catering to the wealthy and humiliating the poor person

Reference back to beatitude:

Dispora Jews (immigrants) would likely have been sued by the citizens of where they were to establish dominance over them

royal law points back to

Restorative justice - treating people equally - working for the betterment of others

Notice the turn back to the command to love......

murder - Jewish tradition associates murder with failure to care for poor

Conclusion - Three themes - Favoritism........the poor are rich in faith........the law of love

The Kingdom of God has no place for not treating people equally, fighting for restorative justice

Learnings from James 2:1-13 (from study guide)

1. Showing favoritism breaks the law of God because it does not treat everyone with equal dignity, and you are not loving your neighbor as you love yourself.

2. Showing favoritism for the purpose of gaining favor or position also breaks the law of God because it demonstrates judgment with evil thoughts.

3.

Both Judaism and Christianity have stood with the poor, acknowledging that God has mercy on the powerless, and so should we.

4. It is difficult for the rich to recognize how their lives oppress the poor; James calls rich Christians to learn from the poor and not to expect privilege.

5. We are to live our lives according to Jesus’s interpretation of the law, which requires a transformation of the person, not legalism.

6.

We should learn to be merciful because God was merciful to us in sending Jesus Christ as our Savior.

Those who show mercy reveal that they belong to the merciful God.