We live in a world that is more image conscious than ever. There are people who’ve made a career out of being a social media “influencer.” They carefully curate their social media feeds to promote a certain way of life. Through their beautifully staged photos and posts, they try to prove that they are worthy to be followed and commodify that worth by the number of “likes.”
Fashion is an insider language for these cultural communities. An outsider may not understand the significance of wearing a certain brand of shoe or style of watch. They may not pick up on the signals being sent by hair and clothing styles, but to those plugged into that culture, the message is loud and clear. It says “I am one of you.” Some people will pay whatever the cost to own the right things so they can be accepted.
The family of God can’t function the same way as the world. Jesus Christ came to demonstrate God’s willingness to accept everyone who comes to him. There is nothing to be done to earn his welcoming embrace. As his children, we have to have the same mindset as Christ.
Yet from the earliest days of the church, believers have struggled to break free of the culture’s value system and replace it with the God’s. The early church struggled with this and so do we. James, the brother of Jesus calls us out for it.
Read
James 2:1-10 (NIV)
2 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If 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,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: 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? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?
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.
What expectation did James have for the way people should be treated in the church?
Reflect
James is quick to point out a dangerous inconsistency in the way this church was functioning. They are believers in Jesus Christ, who was himself poor, yet they are honoring the rich at the expense of the disadvantaged. In the first century, Roman society was highly stratified. People knew their place in the social hierarchy and stayed there. If you were poor, a slave, a foreigner, or had any kind of disability, you were looked down on. To that society, you were inferior in every way that mattered.
The gospel shatters these ideas with a powerful truth — all people were created in God’s image and loved by their Creator. Not only that, but all people are sinners in need of the redemption that comes through Jesus Christ. No one is worthier of God’s kindness, because no one is worthy on their own merits. People are worthy because God loves them. Yet, even those who know the gospel and the King whom it proclaims can struggle to see people the way God sees them. They can be reluctant to invite all kinds of people to join them at table.
Like the church in James’ day, we can still be dazzled by money and power. We can want to win the regard of those with higher status. The currency of our culture goes beyond naked displays of wealth to include all kinds of prestige and influence. We crave the attention of those we perceive to have some measure of the power that we desire. That can be anyone from the president of the P.T.A. to a local politician, or from the head of a corporation to an Instagram model. We try and garner their favor in hopes that their influence will rub off on us.
In James’ day that meant giving the wealthy the seat of honor at the table. It meant flattering them with deference and attention to curry their favor. It meant asking the poor to sit on the floor at their feet. In our day it may look different, but showing such favoritism is still poisonous to our souls.
James’ antidote is simple, even if it is difficult to swallow. It’s what he calls the “royal law.” It’s what Jesus said was the second greatest commandment. “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Treat people as you would want to be treated. Don’t show favoritism to those who may have something to offer you in return. Treat all people as if they are worthy of dignity and respect because they are important to their Creator. How will the world hear this message if we don’t clearly demonstrate it inside the church?
Respond
- What can we do to show those who are at the margins of our society that they are welcome at God’s table?
- How can the idea of meaningful conversations help with this? When is the last time you really talked to someone different from you to find out about them as a person?
- Pray about the types of people you tend to favor or show honor to. What does that reveal about the way you see people?