Don’t discriminate.
Society doesn’t often name its sins but these days discrimination is one of them. Any sign of it and the gavel comes down. Whether it’s nationality, race, gender, sexual orientation, age, body size, disability or whatever, where discrimination is seen it is called out and condemned. …And it’s the sin of discrimination that James calls out and condemns - though not in the world, it’s in the church. In chapter 2 verses 1-4 he sets before us an imaginary church service where the sin of discrimination occurs - first in attitude, and then in action.
James 2:1-4 [1] My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favouritism. [2] Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. [3] 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,” [4] have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
In this scene the rich are favoured, the poor are barely tolerated. It’s probably something James actually witnessed and, (under the inspiration of the Spirit), wrote about. …And it happens in churches all the time. Our eyes make micro judgements on people based on the car they drive, how they dress, how they smell, how attractive they appear, the colour of their skin etc, and in those judgements we either gravitate towards them or steer to avoid them. It is the sin of discrimination, and (as James points out), it begins in the heart.
But the church should be different - that’s the point he’s making …“believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favouritism.” Why - because every person we encounter is a precious being for whom Christ died. And the sacrifice of His blood was needed equally by all. …This Sunday as we gather take a moment to look around the church and remember that each person is precious, each is of equal value to our Lord, for He died for all. May we learn to see one another as He sees us - equal in worth, equally loved and equally favoured. In our meeting with one another let’s not discriminate. Let’s pray
Lord Jesus we thank you that you accepted us as we were, without precondition. We are equally loved, we are equally favoured. And we ask you to forgive us where sinful prejudice lie deep in our hearts causing us to become judges with evil thoughts. Cleanse us Lord Jesus from the sin of favouritism. …In Jesus Name amen.
….Perhaps to finish this devotion you’d like to listen to this hymn here