Favorites
"My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others? ... Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law." James 2:1-9
Many years ago, I was in Mississippi with a group of teens on a service trip working with an African American pastor friend of mine in his community. One day, I went with him into the local hardware store for supplies. I was immediately taken aback as the employees working there attempted to talk past him to talk to me. I hadn't felt prejudice before. It was ugly. I watched amazed as my friend graciously redirected their conversation to him.
Jesus' brother James was a straight shooter. He knew the implications of what his brother had said about loving one's neighbor. He was witnessing too many people who in both attitude and action were treating some people one way and others another. They were playing favorites. In so doing, they were living inconsistently with their faith or worse claiming to have a faith they really didn't have.
Why do we avoid people who aren't like us? Why are we suspicious and fearful around certain groups of people? Why do we treat some people differently in group contexts? Race, religion, political affiliation, socioeconomic status, etc. can cause us, if we're not extremely careful, to lose sight of the intrinsic value every human being created in the image of God possesses. Jesus died for us all. The ground is level at the foot of the cross.
Many years ago, I was in Mississippi with a group of teens on a service trip working with an African American pastor friend of mine in his community. One day, I went with him into the local hardware store for supplies. I was immediately taken aback as the employees working there attempted to talk past him to talk to me. I hadn't felt prejudice before. It was ugly. I watched amazed as my friend graciously redirected their conversation to him.
Jesus' brother James was a straight shooter. He knew the implications of what his brother had said about loving one's neighbor. He was witnessing too many people who in both attitude and action were treating some people one way and others another. They were playing favorites. In so doing, they were living inconsistently with their faith or worse claiming to have a faith they really didn't have.
Why do we avoid people who aren't like us? Why are we suspicious and fearful around certain groups of people? Why do we treat some people differently in group contexts? Race, religion, political affiliation, socioeconomic status, etc. can cause us, if we're not extremely careful, to lose sight of the intrinsic value every human being created in the image of God possesses. Jesus died for us all. The ground is level at the foot of the cross.
Comments
Post a Comment