Back in the mid-1970’s we planted a church in a prosperous northern New Jersey community. Businessmen and women daily commuted to New York City and back. And I fantasized: “Maybe some honcho high on a corporation hierarchy will join our little church! Think of the prestige! The tithes!” Well, we gathered in wonderful people, but no Exxon-Mobil executive. Fine with James . . .
My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism (James 2:1).
James cares about his readers (“My brothers”)—Jewish Christians dispersed among the nations because of faith in the Lord Jesus Messiah, cut off from their homeland, struggling to survive. And, therefore, most susceptible to fawn over the rich and ignore the poor. “Don’t!” Glory is not in possessions but the Lord.
Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? (James 2:2-4).
“Suppose” doesn’t imply make-believe. James’ anecdote is true. And why should it not be? Can’t we find the same partiality in ourselves? Had my Exxon-Mobil executive shown up, I would have tripped over myself making him welcome and comfortable, barely noticing the bad-smelling homeless man who came by bike.
The probing question: ” . . . have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?”
“Discriminated” implies evaluating the difference between things. In this case, on the basis of outward appearance. It leads to judging the finely-dressed to be worth more and the shabbily-dressed less. Pastor Kim Riddlebarger’s comment reminds us how abhorrent their attitude: “This is especially heinous at a time when such people (the poor Jewish Christians) are suffering, not because they somehow angered God who is now punishing them, but because they have come to believe that Jesus is the Lord of glory and now they are being persecuted because of their profession of faith in Christ” (http://kimriddlebarger.squarespace.com/sermons-on-the-book-of-james-p/).
Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong? (James 2:5-7).
In 1978 Donald Kraybill authored, The Upside-Down Kingdom. So God’s reign is. The world celebrates the wealthy. When’s the last time a magazine published “The 100 Poorest People in the World”? But God has chosen “those who are poor in the eyes of the world” to be rich in more than money–“faith.” (A treasure given by grace and worth more than the Powerball Lottery prize.) Ah, that poor beggar, rich? Yes, now rich in faith with his name written as heir to “the kingdom [God] has promised those who love him.”
But, see what you’ve done, James urges. By pushing aside the poor, you’ve opposed God. You’ve actively treated the poor with contempt. At the same time you’ve honored those who exploit you and drag you into court and slander the name of Christ your Lord.
(By the way, James doesn’t hint that the rich are all evil and the poor all holy. He writes in general terms, which history shows accurate. More often than not the wealthy enjoy their “heaven on earth”, while the poor stand more open to the Gospel.)
It occurs to me this rich man/poor man discrimination probably isn’t a Top Ten Problem in Today’s Church. (Or maybe my church world is too small.) Bigger than rich-poor discrimination is straight-gay discrimination. As I see it, if we suspect a church visitor is gay, sirens flash. We feel a sudden pressure to run to the rest room. We “discriminate” (evaluate their difference)— and decide that difference is a gulf too dangerous or unpleasant to span. We certainly don’t treat them like an Exxon-Mobil executive. I know this isn’t a simple issue. More needs addressing that I can say here. Sure, God calls homosexual practice sinful. He does the same with adultery. But, since God loves the world, shouldn’t we? Since we belong to the king who loved prostitutes, shouldn’t we obey our king’s royal law and love the gay?
If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker (James 2:8-11).
The “royal law” is “the law belonging to the king.” “Love your neighbor as yourself.” No need for James to identify “your neighbor.” It’s both rich man and poor, straight and gay. In God’s eyes, neither holds an advantage. Break this “royal law” of the King and you incur guilt.
Therefore, James prods the people . . .
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment! (2:12,13).
” . . . the law that gives freedom” is God’s Old Testament Law as fulfilled in Christ, marked by mercy and summarized in “love your neighbor as yourself”. That’s the law, says James, by which you will be judged. But remember this and tremble: ” . . . judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.” But rejoice: for the merciful man, “Mercy triumphs over judgment.”
The lesson is written in red: Don’t evaluate people by the world’s standards. Mercifully love, especially the one you presume doesn’t deserve it.
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“O God with whom there is no partiality, may I mark off a ‘discrimination-free zone’ wherever I am. Help me remember I’d be rejected except for your mercy in Christ. May I show mercy to those I’m apt to condemn. And, thereby, may they come to know your mercy. If I’m to err, may it be, not on the judgment-side, but the mercy-side. Empower me to live by the love-law of my King. In his name I pray. Amen.
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