but
if you show partiality, you commit sin….
(James 2:9a)
Oil and water don’t mix; neither does Christianity and
prejudice. People are divided today by
color and creed—in a world becoming more polarized by the day. This must be steadfastly resisted by the
church—it is not the Spirit of God, but the spirit of Satan at work.
In James chapter two, he has a word about this. He had witnessed some ushers behaving badly
it seems. They had shown partiality to
the social standing of the rich by giving them the best seats, while discriminating
against the poor by saying, “Sorry, standing room only for you,” shoving them
off into a corner. The satanic spirit of
segregation had infiltrated the church.
God is no respecter of persons, and His children are
to bear His likeness (v.1). James calls
his fellow believers, “brethren,” even
though he was an Apostle. He doesn’t throw
his weight around. Nor does he highlight
being Jesus’ brother. He places himself
on level ground with his faith family.
Since we have the same Father—the poor Christian, the black believer,
the Presbyterian, the youth with piercings and tattoos—are all my brothers and
sisters who are children of God. We have
the same Father and we share the same faith.
Oh, we may differ some around the edges, but the fundamentals of faith
are embraced by believers of every stripe.
James isn’t calling for diluted doctrine. For example, I can have fellowship with a
born again Christian regardless of their denominational label, but cannot with
a liberal Baptist who has rejected the faith!
I can pray for him or her to come to the light, but until then Scripture
forbids light to have fellowship with darkness.
James drives this home with the example of a man who
is to help bring people into fellowship during worship who is actually driving
a wedge between them (v.2-7). The
near-sighted usher cannot see beyond the outward dress of the worshipper
seeking a seat. He judges based on their
garments and gold or lack thereof. One
has on “fine apparel” while the other
has “filthy clothes.” The fact is a rich man can be dressed in
the finest fashion, yet inwardly be wearing the filthy rags of self-righteousness,
and a poor man be dressed in a soiled suit, yet his soul be clothed in a white
robe of righteousness! We must be
reminded that God does not judge by the outward appearance, He looks at the
heart. That should be our practice, as
well.
Prejudice is a sin that must be taken to the
cross. It is the antithesis of love—the preeminent
mark of a Christ-follower. We may
minimize this sin, but rest assured God does not gloss over any
transgression. To break one law is to be
guilty as if we broke them all (v.8-11).
To keep this one particular law is to keep them all—the all-encompassing
royal law of love! To love God with all
our being and love our neighbor as ourselves is the sum total of our duty
according to Jesus.
If we are judgmental toward others, we will be judged
by the same standard (v.12-13). One who
closes the door of the church to a seeker may find the doors of Heaven closed
to them! What if those who discriminate
against people here, reap what they sow in the hereafter? If we can’t enjoy worship with different
people on earth, why do we think we will enjoy it with them for eternity?
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