Studies in James

1. Studies in James Presentation 07

2. The Structure of the Book Introduction and Trials in the Christian Life (1: 1-8) Happiness in our Circumstances(1: 9-11) Trial, Temptation and Gift (1: 12-18) Hindrances to Fruitfulness(1: 19-21) Doers and Hearers (1: 22-25) True Religion (1: 26-27) Favouritism (2: 1-7) The Royal Law (2: 8-12a) Showing Mercy (2.12b-13] Faith and Works (2:14-26) Teachers and the Tongue (3: 1-12) True and False Wisdom, (3: 13-17) Peacemakers (3: 18) Defeat Through Lack of Submission(4: 1-6) Victory Through Submission(4: 7—10) Judging One Another (4: 11-12) Boasting of Tomorrow (4: 13-17) The Misuse of Wealth(5: 1-6) The Need of Patience (5: 7-12) Appropriate Responses (5:13-16) Restoring the Wanderer (5:17-20) Presentation 07

3. Favouritism Chap 2v 1-7 Presentation 07

4. Introduction "Discrimination" has taken on an increasingly high profile in contemporary society. We're constantly hearing about, disabled discrimination, sexual discrimination, racial discrimination, social discrimination etc. To discriminate, in these ways, is to say, “able bodied are more valuable and important than disabled, men are more valuable and more important than women, whites are more valuable and more important than blacks, the upper classes are more valuable and more important than the working classes.” People love to discriminate, to classify, and to exalt one grouping at the expense of another. It is no exaggeration to say that discrimination of this kind can be found in every society on earth. But there is one society where it ought not to be in evidence and that is in God's new society, the church [Gal3.28]. And this is the issue addressed by James in v1-7 Presentation 07

5. Discrimination Forbidden Why is discrimination so abhorrent to James? The text suggests a number of reasons. First he calls his hearers "My brothers". If they are members of God's family is it not inconsistent to call a man "brother" and then treat him as less than equal? George Orwell illustrates this inconsistency in "Animal Farm” his satire on totalitarianism. The animals determine to form a society of equals. They are comrades in arms overthrowing the humans who had exploited them. But it soon becomes clear that although they use the language of equality, some of the animals want to establish preferential treatment for themselves. Giving rise to Orwell's famous statement, "ALL MEN ARE EQUAL BUT SOME MEN ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS". The word "brothers" used in our text is designed to wound those for whom equality of status was no more than mere words! Presentation 07

6. Discrimination Forbidden A student enjoyed hospitality in the home of a distinguished and wealthy Christian woman whose family tree she could trace back to Robert the Bruce King of Scotland in the 13th century. Despite this background she was very humble. One day the student and his friends were joking with her about her ancestry. She reminded them that the cross of Christ is a great leveller and that before it we are all equal. We are equal in our need of God’s mercy, forgiveness and grace. And because we were united to Christ and members of his family, there was no social distinction between us. The student never forgot the immense privilege it was to spend time in the home of a woman for whom the biblical terms ‘brother’ and ‘sister’ meant exactly what they said. Presentation 07

7. Discrimination Forbidden Secondly, discrimination outrages James because it contradicts God's character. His readers failed to reflect that character. In Lev. 19.15 we read of God’s requirement of his adopted children "Do not show partiality to the poor or favouritism to the great". Similarly, in Acts 9 we read of the extraordinary lengths God went to, in order to teach Peter, that he must not discriminate against the Gentiles by refusing to share the gospel with them. Peter's prejudice was finally overcome when the Holy Spirit fell in Pentecost power upon the Gentiles during his preaching, causing Peter to cry out in Acts 10.34 "I now realise how true it is that God does not show favouritism." And even Jesus’ enemies were impressed by the way in which he conducted his ministry, "Teacher we know that...you do not show partiality" Lk. 20.21. Presentation 07

8. Discrimination Forbidden Finally, most fundamental reason against discrimination, is that all men have been made in the image of God! A churchman was asked how he was able to run a night shelter for the homeless in such an unpatronising and caring way. He replied, that when he looked at the bedraggled line up, all he saw was men created in God's image. Thomas Manton a preacher of an earlier generation said, "God never made a creature for contempt". Man has an essential dignity. To the government we may simply be a reference number on a computer, a statistic on an electoral role, etc. but to God we are people who matter. We have a God-given dignity and for this reason we must grant that self-same dignity without fear or favour to every member of the human race, man or woman, black or white, rich or poor, Christian or Muslim. Presentation 07

9. Discrimination Illustrated James zooms in on one particular aspect: discrimination made of the basis of wealth. He uses a graphic illustration. Two men coming to church are greeted with quite different reactions. The man with a gem on every finger joint is taken to a seat of honour, while the poor man is told either to stand or squat on the ground. Its challenging to see that even our attitude to others at the church door comes under the scrutiny of God's Word. James condemns the preferential treatment of the rich simply because they are rich while the poor are neglected or treated with contempt. He sees it as a nauseating form of snobbery. We also need to ask what kind of people do we choose to congregate with and speak to at the close of our church service? Presentation 07

10. Discrimination Illustrated Some in the church were flattering the rich and despising the poor. Did they think that the rich would put more in the offering? Did they think they might be able to personally advance themselves by flattering the well connected millionaires at the expense of those who were on social security? We must not misunderstand James. He's not teaching a doctrine of disrespect and advocating the abandonment of good manners. Indeed good manners are a necessary and essential evidence of grace in the heart. Good manners come from a heart that has been set free from selfishness, thoughtlessness and lack of consideration. James is concerned that we do not show respect for one group at the EXPENSE of another. Presentation 07

11. Discrimination Illustrated Sadly, because this kind of discrimination exists it puts incredible pressure on some people to reconstruct their past. They can be made to feel so ashamed of their humble origins that they will go to extraordinary lengths to hide them. When asked, “What did your father do for a living?” they might answer, "He was in oil“ which translates as “He was a petrol pump attendant”. In order to avoid being discriminated against some people decide to live a lie. This is far removed from the transparency of Jesus. When Jesus was ridiculed for being ‘a carpenters Son’ he did not rewrite his family history. He knew that a person’s worth did not lie in their social status, wealth or family tree. Presentation 07

12. The Effect of Discrimination What effect does discrimination have on those who exercise it. First, their judgement is impaired. They end up taking sides against God. Note the contrast between the phrases, "God has chosen...you have insulted". Cf. 1Cor.1.26-29… They have not just deviated a little from God's ways they were opposing him! They reject the very people through whom God plans to advance his kingdom. Their judgement is totally warped! James asks them to recognise that the people they were flattering were opponents of the gospel v6-7… It was the rich who, were exploiting the church and constantly taking Christians to court cf. Acts 16.19 Paul and Silas were dragged before the authorities by the wealthy! Our judgement is clearly impaired if we are swayed by wealth, status and power to discriminate in favour of the enemies of the gospel. Presentation 07

13. The Effect of Discrimination When our values are confused we can so easily evaluate people only in terms of their material possessions or lack of them. CfActs 3.6. The man on door duty in James' illustration was a short-sighted usher. He had swallowed the lie that the rich are better than the poor are and therefore of greater importance. But money and possessions have little to do with character except that they can so easily cause it to deteriorate. We must learn to estimate men for what they are not for what they have. Presentation 07

14. The Effect of Discrimination Do we discriminate on the basis of appearance and not upon a person's moral qualities? Do we find ourselves giving our time and attention to those people in the church we consider to be attractive personalities and mentally stimulating while giving little time to those we consider unattractive and emotionally exhausting? Is a jewel less precious because it comes in a plain box? Is a person less important when their external appearance and material resources are not very attractive? Presentation 07

15. The Effect of Discrimination A minister went to a new church where little was happening. The office bearers had no concern for the community and no outreach programme. The minister was concerned to see the situation remedied and so he began to distribute literature and engage in personal evangelism in local clubs and public bars. The church members heard of this and issued him with an ultimatum; either he stopped doing this kind of thing or they would force him to leave the church. "We don't want you going into places like that," they told him, “The next thing you know is that some of those people will come to our church, and we don't want them worshipping with us." That congregation had little in common with Jesus or with the New Testament. Presentation 07

16. Conclusion Are we guilty of discrimination, of showing preferential treatment, and of gravitating towards those whom we consider to be attractive people? Do we say “I’ll sit beside him but not her, I’ll speak to him but not her, I’ll be friends with this one but not that one, I’ll listen to this one preach but not that one”?‘Ah’, says James, ‘do you see the gravity of what you are doing? God has chosen and you have insulted’. Recognising that should humble our hearts. It should drive us to our knees and cause us to ask God to alter our thinking in order that our lives might be unfettered from all petty and unworthy discrimination. Presentation 07