The Sin of Favoritism
James 2:1-13
There are certain things about people that can be regarded as
"character-neutral" attributes. I am referring to things about individuals which
do not relate to the character or value of the person. For example, if I behave
rudely; if I manifest a hateful attitude, I insult people, take advantage of
people and lie to people - this relates to character. I've made some wrong
choices, and those choices reflect my basic selfish character.
But I'm talking now about "character-neutral" attributes. The color of a man's
skin, genealogy or ethnic background, geographic location, level of education
and income, health, age, sex, popularity, etc. These are character-neutral
attributes. That means, we have no right to reject, admonish or shun people
because of things like this.
James teaches us about such matters in James 2:1-13.
1 My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. 2 For if there should come into your
assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a
poor man in filthy clothes, 3 and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine
clothes and say to him, "You sit here in a good place," and say to the poor man,
"You stand there," or, "Sit here at my footstool," 4 have you not shown
partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my
beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith
and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? 6 But you have
dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the
courts? 7 Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called? 8 If
you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love
your neighbor as yourself," you do well; 9 but if you show partiality, you
commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever shall
keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For He
who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." Now if you do
not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the
law. 12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. 13
For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs
over judgment.
In the first part of this passage James describes a circumstance or event. He
paints a picture, and then he tells us what's wrong with this picture. In doing
this, James exposes the sin of partiality or favoritism (criticism or rejection
of someone based on any character-neutral trait).
James tells us NOT TO DO THIS ("…do not…"). We are forbidden to hold the faith
of our Lord Jesus Christ … with partiality. These things do not go together
(claiming faith in Christ and partiality).
Partiality is "respect of persons," (KJV). We may use the word "favoritism" or
"prejudice." When we discriminate against people merely on the basis of some
no-character trait, we are doing something (thinking or acting) that isn't
compatible with faith in Christ.
James paints this picture. Brethren have an assembly, and a man comes in with
"gold rings, in fine apparel." This is a man who appears to be wealthy. The
other man who comes in is "a poor man in filthy clothes." In this picture, we
are told nothing about the character of these men, nothing about their spiritual
status or behavior. Are they Christians? We are not told. There is simply the
presence of these two men who come in - one appears to be rich, the other
appears to be poor.
The rich man is giving gracious hospitality, a warm welcome, a good place to
sit. The poor man is told, "sit over here, out of the way!"
James' commentary on this picture is: "Have you not discriminated among
yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?" (Jas. 2:4, NIV). After this
indictment, James lists six things wrong with favoritism:
It is inconsistent with faith in Christ (v.1). When you consider what Jesus did, what Jesus taught and how Jesus behaved - there is no justification for favoritism. It is not compatible with faith in Christ.
It makes us "judges with evil thoughts," (v.4). The kind of favoritism James describes doesn't come from good thoughts, but evil. The treatment we give to people depends upon our thoughts about them. This kind of insulting, dishonoring treatment stems from wrong or evil thoughts.
It is wrong because God makes no such distinctions (v.5). God is not a respecter of persons (see Acts 10:34; Eph. 5:1; 1 Pet. 1:17). When we engage in the kind of behavior James describes, we are not acting as God's children.
It dishonors the poor man (v.6). Why should we dishonor someone, simply or merely because of their income, their financial status. The answer is, we shouldn't. 1 Peter 2:17 says we are to honor all men.
It makes no sense when you consider, as a class, the rich were those who oppressed Christians (vss. 6b,7). What a strange spectacle. Some of those who were rich and powerful oppressed Christians (see Jas. 5:1-6). Now someone of that class appears, he is honored and the common man is shunned!
It violates the law of love (vss. 8-13). The royal law of love for God and neighbor is ignored when this kind of prejudice is practiced. "…if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors."
Anytime we focus on some non-character trait, and base our attitude and treatment of someone of that neutral thing - we are guilty of the kind of discrimination James says is not compatible with faith in Christ.
By Warren E. Berkley
From Expository Files 7.7; July 2000
