Steadfast Faith: James 2 The Faulty Thinking of Partiality

Hello Radiant brothers and sisters in Christ, 

I am so glad to see you are back after our last blog post. I know it was a tough one. We heard some hard Truths and asked ourselves some hard questions. Could we do that again today?

Last time we looked at “the problem” James has identified in James 2: partiality in the church. This week we will join James in exposing the flawed thinking that causes this problem. Once again, James will instruct us…and…he will make an appeal for a change in perspective. After all, we are to be a people of steadfast, genuine faith. This will always require biblical thinking!  Here we go...another test... 

Please read James 2:1-13, and then consider the following Truths reflected within the passage: 

My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?

8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. 11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

TRUTH #1: Biases divide people.  

In verses 2-3 we see a physical division of people based on partiality. Verse 4 tells us of a different kind of division. James said the church was making “distinctions,” which is a word for discrimination, dispute, and separation. And verse 8 makes it clear that this type of division falls short of the love believers are to display toward all people. Please let the weight of this really impact you. We are talking about the church! This is to be a people of unity and love. A people amongst whom Paul said we are to “make every effort to keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace.” This verse is calling God’s people to diligently guard the unity and peace of the body of Christ. Division is the very thing we should be diligently guarding against. Partiality divides rather than promoting peace, unity, and love.

TRUTH #2: Partiality and division HURT people. 

If we look once again at verse 4, we see that biases and division are very hurtful to the people being judged. James specifically says that such action are driven by “evil thoughts” or motives. James’ choice of words indicates motives and thoughts that are blind, diseased, and wicked AND cause pain, hardship, harassment, or annoyance. Does this seem ironic to you? The first chapter of James’ letter emphasized how suffering believers are to deal with hardship and trials - and now we are learning that some of the trials God’s people have faced are at the hands of other church goers!? It must have been hard enough to be mistreated by those persecuting the church; it seems far more tragic for harm to also come from within the church.

TRUTH #3: Biases can involve illusions/delusions.

James points out that if the readers of his letter really take a closer look, the standards by which they are trying to judge others are not consistent with their own reality. Our evil (or blind) thoughts can cause us to see the world and specific individuals in a way that is not even accurate! Verses 5-7 illustrate that there are realities being overlooked and distorted! Rather than perceiving according to God’s standards, they were operating based on the confusing and harmful standards of the world.

TRUTH #4: Those who operate out of biases are making themselves JUDGES. 

Maybe I am naive, but I still think of judges as people who are wise - people who’ve somehow earned the title, “your honor.” But when we exercise partiality and prejudice, we appoint ourselves as judges who cause division, pain, and harassment by using faulty laws and standards. In such cases, the judges are biased and the standards are faulty. But have you wondered, what is being judged by these faulty standards? It's not a matter of whether someone is "guilty" or "not guilty." I believe James is saying that these self-appointed judges are attempting to determine the worth a value of another person!  It's a matter of "worthy" or "unworthy." They have wrongly assumed they can determine that some people are worthy of respect…AND…that some people are not worthy of respect!? And again, I add, all of this was happening in the body of Christ. And...unfortunately, it still happens today.

I would like to leave you with five questions to ponder about partiality and prejudice in the church.

In my next blog, I will explore these questions with you: 

1. How have you experienced or witnessed division in the body of Christ because of partiality, prejudice, or faulty judgment? How have you and others been hurt, harassed, or annoyed as a result?

2. How can these things test one’s faith in God?

3. How are the standards by which people are judged in today's world “inaccurate?”

4. Have you ever had to appear before a judge? What were you hoping (s)he would do/not do?

5. Who amongst us is worthy to “judge” another person’s worth/value? What really determines a person’s worth? 

Looking to Him...and respecting you,

Tina

P.S. Believe it or not, I have addressed some of these same issues in the chapters of my Bible study on Ecclesiastes 3 - it's called Through Seasons of Beauty.  As a Christian counselor, I cherish opportunities to watch faulty thinking become healthy, biblical, accurate thoughts!  This is helpful in any season of life - but especially when we face hard seasons.  You can find my Bible study at www.tinasumpter.com/store or email me for more information at hello@tinasumpter.com.