JAMES, THE SIN OF PARTIALITY

James 2:1 My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism, Jas 2:1. Declares that it is a sin to be partial, in christian matters. It is a sin to have favoritism and even in civic matters.

This Christian principle could applied. I know we are looking for the American Dream. I get that,2x but what I don’t get is turning our back on good decent hard working poor folk. James didn’t care too much for the rich because too many of us care too much for them. The scriptures teach us that in James 2 verse 2 Suppose someone comes into your church meeting wearing nice clothes and a gold ring. At the same time a poor person comes in wearing old, dirty clothes.

One significant thing I learned about the epistles is that each epistle was written for a specific church addressing specific needs, concerns, problems, or making compliments of commendations.

James is saying to the church that classism was on full display. And James is saying I’ve seen how y’all act, and what’s worst is, that I’ve seen it in our local churches.

I can teach inclusion and non-partiality,- I can teach us to Love without partiality but human nature will come into play. People will act different based on how you look and smell and how you carry yourself.

For example: I was at the convention in Jackson Mississippi and at first at 8:10 am I had on my blue polo church shirt that said Dr Raymond Allen Pastor of the Shiloh MBC Port Allen and the old lady helping with registration casually helped me. I met an old Pastor from Alabama whose name was Dr Raymond too. He had on his three piece suit.Then I looked around and 90% of the Preacher pastor teacher leaders were wearing suits. I went back to my car and got my dress shirt, dress tie, vest and coat. went to the bathroom and changed.

After class I went back was over to the same station where the old lady was helping me was at. I went to pick up my Pastors and Minister’s Division Book. It’s $100 so I wasn’t leaving it in Jackson. The same old lady was excited to see me and to help me, because now I’m clean as the board of health. It was the same ME!!! Nothing had changed but my clothes.

So I know people show Favoritism. People have bias opinions based on your demeanor.and

By the way I’m a friendly guy, so when I arrived I was talking to the convention Police squad. And after I changed into my uniform the officer said now you look like what you really are.

You say what you want to, but people have a tendency to treat you better when you dress nice, look nice, smell nice, and be nice.And they respect you too. But James categorically speaks against this look at verse 3 You show special attention to the one wearing nice clothes and say, “Please, sit here in this good seat.” But you say to the poor person, “Stand over there,” or, “Sit on the floor by my feet.” 4 What are you doing? You are making some people more important than others, and with evil thoughts you are deciding that one person is better.

And let’s face it we all have been guilty of this behavior conscience or un-conscience. James says don’t do it because in verses 5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters! God chose the poor in the world to be rich with faith and to receive the kingdom God promised to those who love him. 6 But you show no respect to the poor. The rich are always trying to control your lives. They are the ones who take you to court. 7 And they are the ones who speak against Jesus, who owns you.

James is saying church y’all have forgotten the genuine essence of Christianity. Christianity in it’s Genesis or beginning stages was not the religion of the rich. It was mainly poor folk united in Christian Love and it was not until the Roman Empire took over the Christian religion and adopted it as the official religion of the Roman Empire that Christianity became a rich religion.

I know I’m right because when I asked my seminar professor “ Why didn’t Christianity remain in Jerusalem and the seat of it’s religion adoption. And Dr Parker said well Brother Allen The Jews kicked the Christians out. And Rome embraced it as the dominant religious order of the day. And in verse 7 James speaks metaphorically against Slavery. We just celebrated the Juneteeth holiday but the Louisiana state Government still won’t add two black congressional seats because of the residual affects of slavery. That’s the real reason no matter what else you hear.

I don’t want to get political but instead of it being One America in 2022 it’s still us against them. and we always got fight for our God given rights. And in verse 7 in the text James is saying “so you want lick up behind your oppressor hah”? Have you’ll lose your natural borne mind? because you don’t owe no man nothing but to show him the love of God. I’ll prove it

look at verses 8&9 8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: 9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.What do you mean Pastor? James is saying that if we follow what the bible says, if we are doers of the word and not hearers only , and if we apply the regal aspect of God word, THEN!!! we’ll be on the right track. So what is golden in scripture.? Two things… 1. Love the Lord thy God with all thine heart they mind thy soul and thine strength.2. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, and James says you’ll do well. One talk radio one caller said the reason that crime and killing and chaos is running so rampant in our city is because we’ve left God Out!!! I said that’s so true.But what also true is that I heard white evangelical Christian preachers pastors teachers leaders upholding racist views that are absolutely destructive for creating the concept of One America. Because what’s sad is that they don’t really want One America where all men are created equal and are endowed with certain unalienable rights. So if you Love your neighbor as yourself, You’ll be alright but if you don’t

the bible says in verse 9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. 10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. In verse 9 the bible declares that we can’t have picks and chooses because it’s a sin to have partiality. If you have regard or respect or reverence to certain people while ostracizing others, its sin. James didn’t have much love for the rich or the behavior that demanded of others who were perhaps subservient. verse 10 says one deliberate act of sin can cause you to be guilty of all of the law. And right there is where I ask for grace because if it’s just one thing, I’ve already done at least one thing wrong.

Lord please have mercy on us.

Have you noticed that some people can tell you about your sin, and just leave theirs out.... that’s why it’s not good to point the finger at nobody.... Look at James 2:11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. James say that however you judge somebody else, just remember that God will judge you the same way. So show mercy on other people. From the NCV 13 So you must show mercy to others, or God will not show mercy to you when he judges you. But the person who shows mercy can stand without fear at the judgment.

Faith and Good Works

14 My brothers and sisters, if people say they have faith, but do nothing, their faith is worth nothing. Can faith like that save them? 15 A brother or sister in Christ might need clothes or food. 16 If you say to that person, “God be with you! I hope you stay warm and get plenty to eat,” but you do not give what that person needs, your words are worth nothing. 17 In the same way, faith by itself—that does nothing—is dead. Notice the primary issue addressed in the text besides Faith. It was the issue of clothing folk who didn’t have clothes meaning James was saying the well off are responsible for the benevolent care of others. James’s church must have struggled with folk helping one another. Because James says faith without works is dead. In other if you see that I need help, then you tell me go away and have faith that God will see you through, James is says why not activate your faith and help them because faith without works is dead. Likewise to the person that is counting on God to move on your behalf… You’ve got to do something. If you want to finish school then you’ve got to apply yourself harder that ever before.Instead of going out partying study. If you want a new car save your money put it in the bank. If you want a new job then sure up your resume and start applying for new and better positions.If you want an new house fix your credit so that your DTR income lines up with your salary. If you want a healing go to the doctor and get the treatment you need and believe God for the rest..

To me that’s faith.. Put your faith in action. Yesterday made 7 years since I had cancer surgery.. I had faith that God was going to direct the doctors and he did. And the people who refused to have that surgery are dead now or facing death. You’ve got to activate your faith....I’m just telling you what the text says and we’ve got to Grasp the Grammar of the text… faith without works is dead. We’ve got to Research the History James is saying to his church I’m writing this epistle because I see that y’all have some problems. Then we’ve got to Check the Culture because if you don’t know the atmosphere or the temperature in the room you’ll find yourself getting it wrong every time. And what type of Theology is James teaching What exactly is his doctrine. 1. Be doers of the word and not hearers only. 2. Don’t let favoritism dominate your religious activity. and 3. Faith without works is dead.

Now next week we’re going to go to Chapter 3 and talk about the TONGUE. Well I’m out of time