A church painting-
A church decided to paint their building. It had become a bit dingy over the years, but the church members felt that a complete painting was a bit expensive, so they bought only as much white paint as they thought they might need. After painting the front of the building they were already almost finished with the paint, so they faced a decision. “Why don’t we just thin out the remaining paint to make it go a bit farther” one wise member suggested. It seemed the best and cheapest thing to do, so they added some paint thinner and found the paint, indeed, did spread a bit farther and they were able to complete the job, though the paint seemed a bit thin, at least it covered the building. Just then, the wind began to blow and huge thunder clouds appeared. A torrential rain began to pour, and all of the newly purchased, thinned and pasted paint washed away into the drain. A booming voice then came from heaven “Repaint! And thin no more!”
Sometimes in our efforts to economize our lives we leave ourselves spiritually unadorned. We give less than God’s best and in the process lose the beauty God desires to pour into our lives.
James saw compromise in the church, and it disturbed him.
James 2: 8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For 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. 12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!
The frightening issue discussed here is that the person who shows favoritism to someone who is wealthy or powerful is on the same level before God as the adulterer and murderer.
God will judge us for such favoritism, and for those who expect to be favored for such reasons.
Kudzu, a British cartoon character, ponders how to re-write Amazing Grace to make it more modern:
Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a stunted self-concept like me
I once was stressed out but now am empowered.
Was visually challenged, but now I see.
Kudzu, to his credit, decides he doesn’t like it.
Judgment begins in the House of God.
Hebrews 10:11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. 13 Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, 14 because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.
1 Peter 4:17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
“If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging”
When we have to make a decision about how to treat someone who is different from us, the world has a variety of options to offer us. God only offers us one option-Love.
Today there are at least four major signposts that hasten people out of the moral world that we have inhabited in the West for a long time
These for shifts are
From thinking about virtue to thinking about values
From thinking about character to personality
From thinking about Nature to self
From thinking about Guilt to shame
And once people follow these signposts to where they are pointing they find they are exiting the moral world, and once we have exited the moral world in our minds the character of God and the cross which that character required become simply incomprehensible. David Wells
MERCY has been shown to us by God, therefore we must show mercy.
Ephesians 2: 4b . . . Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy Matthew 5:7
Romans 5:6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Now we return to where we began. James is warning the Church that if we judge others we will be judged-that if we evaluate people based on their wealth or language, or color of skin, we will be judged by God, we undo the work of God’s mercy, and return ourselves to His justice and, therefore, punishment.
A church Pastoral Search Committee illustrates this point well:
In our search for a suitable pastor, the following scratch sheet was developed for your perusal. Of the candidates investigated by the committee, only one was found to have the necessary qualities. The list contains the names of the candidates and comments on each, should you be interested in investigating them further for future pastoral placements
• Noah: He has 120 years of preaching experience, but no converts.
• Moses: He stutters; and his former congregation says he loses his temper over trivial things.
• Abraham: He took off to Egypt during hard times. We heard that he got into trouble with the authorities and then tried to lie his way out.
• David: He is an unacceptable moral character. He might have been considered for minister of music had he not 'fallen.'
• Solomon: He has a reputation for wisdom but fails to practice what he preaches.
• Elijah: He proved to be inconsistent, and is known to fold under pressure.
• Hosea: His family life is in a shambles. Divorced, and remarried to a prostitute.
• Jeremiah: He is too emotional, alarmist; some say a real 'pain in the neck.'
• Amos: a farmer from a backward village. Not sophisticated enough for Bangalore.
• John: He says he is a Baptist but lacks tact and dresses like a hippie. Would not feel comfortable at a church potluck supper.
• Peter: Has a bad temper, and was heard to have even denied Christ publicly.
• Paul: We found him to lack tact. He is too harsh, His appearance is contemptible, and he preaches far too long.
• Timothy: He has potential, but is much too young for the position.
• Jesus: He tends to offend church members with his preaching, especially Bible scholars. He is also too controversial. He even offended the search committee with his pointed questions.
• And, our choice is:
• Judas: He seemed to be very practical, co-operative, good with money, cares for the poor, and dresses well. We all agreed that he is just the man we are looking for to fill the vacancy as our Senior Pastor.
Thank you for all you have done in assisting us with our pastoral search.
Sincerely, The Pastoral Search Committee.
This is, obviously, a joke, but it reflects too much of reality. It’s funny because it’s true. How often have we rejected the one sent by God because he or she didn’t fit into our expectations? When an Indian family is looking for a mate for their son or daughter, who is a suitable boy? He must be tall, fair, well educated, from a good family, and wealthy. Are these God’s guidelines for a suitable mate?
James’ Example (the man with fancy clothes & a ring on his finger-vv. 2-4)
How many times have we missed the blessings of God because we judged someone by the value of his portfolio or the lack of lilt in her language? Who have we slighted because of the color of skin or the accident of a genetic link to a cursed caste? How often by doing this have we chosen tradition of men rather than the blessings of God, the curse of satan over the abundance of fellowship, the filth of earthly wealth rather than the purity of heavenly riches?
Portia says in court to convince Shylock not to demand justice, and his “pound of flesh”, but to show mercy
The quality of mercy is not strain'd,
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest;
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown;
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above this sceptred sway;
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then show likest God's
When mercy seasons justice.
If we favor or disfavor others because of their appearance or wealth or power, we lose the richest blessings of God and undo His work of grace in our lives-we untie the weave of God’s tapestry of love. We untie His rainbow of diversity. We undo the mercy God has purchased at such a great price, and reserve for ourselves the fires of His eternal punishment.
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom.
Justice and Mercy-final thoughts
We are condemned to die for our sins, but God has forgiven us because Jesus paid the price for our sins on the cross. This is the Good News. The bad news is that we can sidetrack the mercy of God by showing favoritism. When we fail to accept others because they don’t look or act or smell or speak the way we like, we deny the One who so loved the WORLD-including those who’s clothes and appearance are unimpressive-that He gave His only begotten Son. If God loved us so, we must so love one another.
Justitia, Lady Justice, has been depicted since ancient times as a woman with a sword in one hand, a set of scales in the other, and a conspicuous blindfold over her eyes. Mercy is the same, without the scale and sword. Her hands are open to all, blind to appearances, offering peace without prejudice. Will we do the same?
