Sermon On The Pitfalls Of Partiality

William O. Douglas, a former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States once remarked: “The river, for example, is the living symbol of all the life it sustains and nourishes - fish, aquatic insects, water ouzels, otter, fisher, deer, elk, bear, and all other animals, including man, who are dependent on it or who enjoy it for its sight, its sound, or its life. The river as plaintiff speaks for the ecological unit of life that is part of it." James 2:1-5 reminds us: ”My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 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, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?”

Partiality is defined as the state or character of a favorable bias or prejudice. It can include fondness, or otherwise of a discriminatory love, perhaps not considered acceptable to some. An otter is considered a carnivore of the weasel family. They are water-dwelling mammals, of both rivers and sea, that primarily feed from fish and crustaceans. They possess webbed claws and feet for speed. However, symbolically, they are either loved or despised. For many, despite their apparent cuteness, or gracefulness, they are considered as vermin and an unwelcome visitor in many countryside locations and thus, should be exterminated. That succors unnecessary killing of God’s creatures. Conversely, in many cultures, the otter is considered a symbol of wisdom, strength and patience. It is renowned for adaptability and resourcefulness. For some, in a spiritual sense, it may even be considered as the perfect portrayal or ideal way to lead life. It is a fun-loving creature at heart, but also engages in the serious side of life. It realizes its aims, goals and responsibilities and focuses on those targets. An otter can be considered both predator and prey. Some consider otters close to extinction and as such, preservation orders are in force in many areas of the globe for their protection.

For those who possess fairness, or inequity of mind, partiality may be prevalent in helping to maintain or destroy an otter’s existence. Some have sought the possibility of keeping them as household pets. There is much debate as to the advisability of this, as an element of confinement for a wild creature, would not be considered good practice.

The quora of life which seeks to identify questions and suggest answers, may or may not be in favor of the basic principles of “live and let live,” in relation to the survival or preservation of otters. Their future has been debated or discussed in many past and ongoing forums, but the principles of Christ include the love of all of God’s creatures. There should be no partiality. Isaiah 11:6-9 reminds us: “The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den.

They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”

Judgment, whether it be correct or wrong, is a prominent factor of life. How that judgment is reached often involves an element of knowledge, which, if wrongly biased or influenced by others, can often result in the pitfalls of partiality. John Robert Wooden, an American basketball coach once remarked: “The general feeling is, if you don't treat everyone the same you're showing partiality. To me, that's when you show the most partiality, when you treat everyone the same. You must give each individual the treatment that you feel he earns and deserves, recognizing at all times that you're imperfect and you're going to be incorrect oftentimes in your judgment.”

In the laws of human life, an element of discipline and control has to prevail to sustain and maintain order. However, when it comes to other forms created by God, is it the responsibility of mankind to judge? God created everything for a specific reason, if His wisdom dictates that there should be life in a particular sphere, who are we to determine life or death? Matthew 7:1-14 reminds us: “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”