Judging Others Series

No Spin Zone

September 22, 2024

James 2:2

Have you ever looked at the magazine racks when you’re in the stores . . . and everyone looks great! You wonder, how did these people become so beautiful. No lines, no bags, no blemishes. And they’re going to tell us how to look just as amazing as they do.

But, there’s a huge problem. Most, if not all of these pictures have been edited. They’ve been cleaned up and reworked. Modified or airbrushed to make the people look better.

For instance, years ago, Michelle Pfeiffer was on the cover of Esquire magazine. The cover said, “What Michelle Pfeiffer needs is absolutely nothing.” She looked perfect.

What they didn’t know is that Esquire hired a company to touch up her picture. This is all true. They charged Esquire magazine $1525 to touch up the picture. They cleaned up her complexion, softened her eye lines, softened her smile line; added color to her lips; trimmed her chin, removed the neckline; softened the line under her ear lobe; removed stray hair; adjusted the color AND they added hair on the top of her head. I’m all for adding hair on the top of the head. WOW!!

Michelle Pfeiffer didn’t need nothing. She needed a lot done to her to make her look perfect. It’s remarkable what they can do. For example - - - -

Look at this picture of Demi Moore. There’s a difference from one side to the other. Especially on her forehead. Her skin is absolutely flawless. You won’t find a blemish on this picture. Only after it’s been touched up.

How about this one of George Clooney. He doesn’t look real. No crows feet on the picture to the right.

Or this one of Justin Bieber. WOW! No more zits on his face.

Do you know who this guy is? It’s amazing how you can change the look so easily.

Last one. You said this didn’t look like me, so I made it a little more black and white.

It was these types of photos that caused model, Cindy Crawford to say, “I wish I looked like Cindy Crawford.” She can’t of course, because the pictures are all touched up.

We’re in a series called THE NO SPIN ZONE!! As we look at the book of James in a way where James just gives it to us straight, no beating around the bush, no spin, no airbrushing and editing.

James peels away the facades we hide behind. James wants us to understand what it means to be an authentic follower of Jesus Christ. What does the Bible really say about living an authentic life for Jesus?

James is the guy to deliver that message. He’s a no-nonsense kind of guy. When you enter into the book of James you’re entering the no-spin zone. Today, we’re looking at the fact that appearances can be deceiving. Just like in those photos. There’s more to a person than meets the eye.

James picks it up in 2:1, stating - - - -

2 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. - James 2:1

Now the word in many Bibles is favoritism or partiality. It comes from a Hebrew term that literally means to receive the face. The implication is that a person walks up to you and you receive their face as is. No judgements! Yet, we often make judgments based on receiving people at their face.

James is saying, “Receive their face.” Don’t judge a person based on what they look like. Don’t make judgments and show favoritism to them based on how expensive those clothes are or how not expensive they are.

To put it in a positive manner, treat people fairly. There’s no place for favoritism or partiality.

To make his point, James gives us a great illustration. He explains - - - -

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,

OOH, right from the start!! He’s hitting a nerve.

Two different people walk in - - - - one’s dressed really nicely. You’re admiring his clothes, maybe thinking, this dude has money. James tells us he has a gold ring, a sign of wealth.

But the other guy, has an old shirt on, baggy pants, his hair isn’t combed well. It looks like he’s barely making it. These 2 guys come in at the same time.

What do we do? How do the greeters treat them? Does the pastor acknowledge only one of them or both of them. When we greet one another, are they greeted equally? James continues - - -

3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,”