How To Live With People You Don't Like

How to live with people you don’t like

Pastor Andrew Chan

Message based on James 2:1-13

“A Faith That Works” Series

Scripture reading – James 2:1-13

1My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism. 2Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. 3If 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,"

Scripture reading – James 2:1-13

4have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?

Scripture reading – James 2:1-13

8If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself,“ you are doing right. 9But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11For he who said, "Do not commit adultery,“ also said, "Do not murder.“ If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

Scripture reading – James 2:1-13

12Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!

Goal and Objective

“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom.” (v.12).

James’ desired objective – be merciful!

The world’s going to be filled with people you don’t like

The state of affairs in James

Instability: Time of great economic need in Jerusalem (circa 40 A.D. – series of famines)

Insecurity: Folks felt vulnerable

Immigration: Many pilgrims to Jerusalem stayed at the “fountainhead” of Christianity.

Increased Pressure: The church is reeling from the needs of a growing number of poor Christians and political unrest.

Increased Pressure

Many older Christian folks reside in Jerusalem in order to die there (where Jesus was resurrected). Many of them poor because families seize the opportunity of their conversion as an excuse for not supporting them.

A number of “angry” Jews were still looking for a free political Jewish state and were prone to violent acts and rhetoric.

Increased Pressure

James’ situation is rife with religious hotheads bent on violence (1:19, 2:11) and angry words due to politics and pressure of life with desperate needs.

A world under-sieged by “trials of many kinds” (1:2).

A world where many are “in humble circumstances” (1:9) such as “orphans and widows” (1:27) in an inhospitable land.

James’ world is much like ours

Search and destroy (hotheads)

A spray of gunfire and a high-speed crash on Vancouver’s west side ended with a single fatality early today (reported Thursday Feb.22, 07).

Angry words and accusations

Trump vs. Rosie

Virgie Arthur, the mother of Anna Nicole Smith vs. Howard K. Stern

Derogatory words exchanged.

Playing favorites to the rich and famous

Inhospitable world

The Bible shows us the Alternate Way

Remember we are equals

In the heart of Jewish church leader James, beats the mantra - people bear the image of God.

Even-ground – dignity of image-bearers of God

Genesis 1:27

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Paul resonates:

Galatians 3:26-28

You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

No place in God’s kingdom for snobbery

Don’t rob people of their dignity (v.3,4)

3If 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," 4have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

Church ought to be a discrimination free zone.

Favoritism is not a small sin (v.9-10).

9But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.