Show No Favoritism Series

Introduction:

A. There’s story told about a Chicago bank that once asked for a letter of recommendation on a young Bostonian who was being considered for employment.

1. The Boston investment house where the young man worked could not say enough about the young man.

2. In their letter of recommendation, they wrote: His father was a Cabot; his mother was a Lowell.

3. Further back was a happy blend of Saltonstalls, Peabodys, and other of Boston’s first families.

4. His recommendation was given without hesitation.

5. Several days later, the Chicago bank sent a note saying that the information supplied was altogether inadequate; it read: “We are not contemplating using the young man for breeding purposes. Just for work. Is he a competent and capable worker?”

B. There are many things about God that the Bible is very clear about, and one of them is that God does not show favoritism.

1. Favoritism is partiality or bias or prejudice – they are all forms of injustice.

2. They involve the formation of opinions about a person based on factors that have nothing to do with their character or behavior.

3. It is a prejudgment based on superficialities – most of which a person has little or no control over.

4. Showing favoritism is to discriminate against someone based on outward physical conditions or characteristics such as race, social class, wealth, or clothing.

5. Showing favoritism is incongruent with God’s character.

a. Romans 2:11 says: “God does not show favoritism.”

b. Ephesians 6:9 says, “There is no favoritism with him.”

c. Colossians 3:25 teaches God’s fairness in judgment: “Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.”

d. The apostle Peter discovered this truth when he went to the house of a Gentile named Cornelius and God poured out the Holy Spirit on the Gentiles, so Peter declared: “Now I truly understand that God doesn’t show favoritism, but in every nation the person who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.” (Acts 10:34)

C. And because God does not show favoritism, He doesn’t want His people to show favoritism, either.

1. Many years ago, when the famous Indian leader, Mahatma Gandhi was a student, he considered becoming a Christian.

a. He read the Gospels and was moved by them.

b. It seemed to him that Christianity offered a solution to the caste system that plagued the people of India.

2. But then one Sunday, Gandhi visited a local church.

a. He had decided to talk with the minister and ask for instruction on the way of salvation.

b. But when he entered the church, which consisted of white people, the ushers refused to give him a seat.

c. They told him to go and worship with his own people.

3. Gandhi left and never went back, saying: “If Christians have caste differences also, I might as well remain a Hindu.” (from “Our Daily Bread,” [Feb., 1979]).

D. As we move from the first chapter of James into the second, we see that James builds on the theme of being doers of the Word of God.

1. James tackles one of the great challenges for us as humans and that is the challenge of NOT showing favoritism.

2. The problems of prejudice and the respect of persons is a problem that has to be faced afresh by every generation.

3. In James’ day the problem was between rich and poor, Jew and Gentile, Roman and barbarian.

4. Today it is between rich and poor, management and labor, educated and uneducated, white and black, American and foreign, and godly and ungodly.

5. The problem is still here, and each of us has to face it…even in the church.

E. So, let’s move through this passage from James and see how he tackles the issue, so that we can be the kind of people and the kind of church that pleases God.

I. First, James points out The Spiritual Problem – Our Human Tendency To Show Favoritism

A. James begins, “My brothers and sisters, do not show favoritism as you hold on to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.” (2:1)

1. Notice how James describes our faith – it is faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.

2. Jesus is truly glorious – so powerful, so good, so loving to everyone.

3. James is saying that we can’t hold on to our faith in our glorious Lord and hold on to favoritism at the same time.

4. Showing favoritism or prejudice runs counter to the character of Christ and our faith in Him.

5. And even though Jesus was truly glorious, He humbled Himself and identified Himself with everyone, even the poor and oppressed.

B. If I asked you this question, how would you respond? “Are you a Christian Snob?”