James 2:1-4
"My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. 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 2:1-4).
Only when I am blinded can I see right. When blinded by the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ, only then can I see my neighbor rightly. James begins his treatise on favoritism (carrying on one of the principle themes of riches in the world) with the reminder of whom they believe in: the glorious Lord Jesus Christ. He is the one who came in a manger, who had no place to lay his head, who died a shameful, hideous death on the cross. Our definition of glorious is changed--his humble glory burns a different image into our retinas.
Yet, eyes stray. They adjust to the shadows that surround us and lose sight of the True Reality in Christ, the substance of the eternal personal real, the I AM. We begin to value the golden rings and fine clothes. These still hold value for us today, but it could be a degree, a reputation, connections, a nice house, a vibrant personality, an effusive sense of security that draws our eyes and hearts. Where our eyes and hearts go, there goes our tongue (a favorite of James), feet, and hands--and we show favoritism.
Favoritism shows a little Christ, an ignorance of his gospel. First of all, favoritism tends to be a form of works-righteousness. We boost our selves, our pride, our standing before others (and perhaps we think even God) if we associate with the "right" people--be they rich, or the socially-justice minded, the moralistic people, the educated, the ones with connections, the goths, etc. We search for approval and "righteousness" (right-standing with someone; in the Christian sense of the word, right standing with God). Favoritism blinds us to grace alone through the "shameful" blood shed on the disdained cross.
Secondly, with favoritism we forget we are all sinners saved by grace. We are all equal before God. The gospel reminds us we deserve nothing; everything we have is a gift of pure grace. We cannot cling to our riches, diplomas or certificates, reputations, talents, nice suburban houses--they have no merit before God. When we believe the gospel, we recognize we can take no security in things of this world. We become poor in spirit. We are humbled. And amazed by the incredible gift of grace of our glorious Lord. This new vision changes values and the way we see people. Before the Lord we are all sinners saved by grace (or sinners); therefore is no Jew nor Gentile, slave or free, male nor female, rich or poor, for we are all one in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:28).
Favoritism has no place at the foot of the cross where our bloody, glorious Lord hung in weakness and glory.
The Church is to be the burning light of Christ, a holy people of God, a royal priesthood, a new society in the midst of this decaying, upside down world in which relations are completely transformed. We are to live in such a way as to be children of light and agents of reconciliation, gospel, anti-favoritism, and love in every facet of our lives. In the grocery store we recognize we are no better than the rude lady dallying on her cell phone. We suddenly see the driver who cut us off as just like us, a sinner who is or should be saved by grace. The janitor and the boss suddenly have no credentials that change our behavior toward them because they are both sinners or saved under Christ. Can we imagine Waco, TX or Adrian, MI like that? Can we imagine the Church like that? Can we imagine ourselves like that?
Keep our eyes on the glorious Lord Jesus Christ--and may it bring a glorious transformation of relationships and communities and cities so that we may declare the praises of him who called us out of darkness into his wonderful light. May we cry out to humble ourselves, to see his glory, so that we shine it out in transformed relationships in a living, loving, shining Church.
"For he himself [Christ] is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.... His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility" (Eph. 2:14-16).
Only when I am blinded can I see right. When blinded by the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ, only then can I see my neighbor rightly. James begins his treatise on favoritism (carrying on one of the principle themes of riches in the world) with the reminder of whom they believe in: the glorious Lord Jesus Christ. He is the one who came in a manger, who had no place to lay his head, who died a shameful, hideous death on the cross. Our definition of glorious is changed--his humble glory burns a different image into our retinas.
Yet, eyes stray. They adjust to the shadows that surround us and lose sight of the True Reality in Christ, the substance of the eternal personal real, the I AM. We begin to value the golden rings and fine clothes. These still hold value for us today, but it could be a degree, a reputation, connections, a nice house, a vibrant personality, an effusive sense of security that draws our eyes and hearts. Where our eyes and hearts go, there goes our tongue (a favorite of James), feet, and hands--and we show favoritism.
Favoritism shows a little Christ, an ignorance of his gospel. First of all, favoritism tends to be a form of works-righteousness. We boost our selves, our pride, our standing before others (and perhaps we think even God) if we associate with the "right" people--be they rich, or the socially-justice minded, the moralistic people, the educated, the ones with connections, the goths, etc. We search for approval and "righteousness" (right-standing with someone; in the Christian sense of the word, right standing with God). Favoritism blinds us to grace alone through the "shameful" blood shed on the disdained cross.
Secondly, with favoritism we forget we are all sinners saved by grace. We are all equal before God. The gospel reminds us we deserve nothing; everything we have is a gift of pure grace. We cannot cling to our riches, diplomas or certificates, reputations, talents, nice suburban houses--they have no merit before God. When we believe the gospel, we recognize we can take no security in things of this world. We become poor in spirit. We are humbled. And amazed by the incredible gift of grace of our glorious Lord. This new vision changes values and the way we see people. Before the Lord we are all sinners saved by grace (or sinners); therefore is no Jew nor Gentile, slave or free, male nor female, rich or poor, for we are all one in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:28).
Favoritism has no place at the foot of the cross where our bloody, glorious Lord hung in weakness and glory.
The Church is to be the burning light of Christ, a holy people of God, a royal priesthood, a new society in the midst of this decaying, upside down world in which relations are completely transformed. We are to live in such a way as to be children of light and agents of reconciliation, gospel, anti-favoritism, and love in every facet of our lives. In the grocery store we recognize we are no better than the rude lady dallying on her cell phone. We suddenly see the driver who cut us off as just like us, a sinner who is or should be saved by grace. The janitor and the boss suddenly have no credentials that change our behavior toward them because they are both sinners or saved under Christ. Can we imagine Waco, TX or Adrian, MI like that? Can we imagine the Church like that? Can we imagine ourselves like that?
Keep our eyes on the glorious Lord Jesus Christ--and may it bring a glorious transformation of relationships and communities and cities so that we may declare the praises of him who called us out of darkness into his wonderful light. May we cry out to humble ourselves, to see his glory, so that we shine it out in transformed relationships in a living, loving, shining Church.
"For he himself [Christ] is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.... His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility" (Eph. 2:14-16).
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