Rev. David Holwick Q Book of James series
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
May 15, 1994
James 2:1-9
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I. The family favorite.
A. All parents are partial among their children, though they don't
like to admit it.
My family: my sister was not the favorite, and neither was my
brother.
Celeste thinks this explains where I got my personality, but
she can't criticize me because she was the favorite, too.
Favorites always get more, and get away with more.
B. Favoritism causes divisions.
1) In families, brothers and sisters can harbor resentment.
2) In society, riots and civil wars often occur.
3) In the church, it can turn people off to the gospel of Jesus.
II. Pre-judging others.
A. All of us are prejudiced:
- We may resent poor people, because we think they are dirty
and lazy.
- Or it may be rich people, because we think they've gotten
their wealth at our expense.
- We may only want to spend time with young people, or with
the mature.
- Perhaps the biggest prejudice of all involves race.
The roots of this problem go back hundreds of years,
and it continues to be one of the biggest problems
facing our nation, and world.
B. Many are fighting prejudice.
A few years back the American Airlines ticket office in Fort
Worth, Texas, was picketed by a group called
"UGLIES UNLIMITED."
They were upset because the airline advertised for good-looking
people when hiring.
Apparently a lot of companies do this, advertising for
"attractive receptionists" or "pretty secretaries."
The president of Uglies Unlimited, Danny McCoy, says they just
want to be accepted for who they are, instead of what they
look like.
Mr. McCoy estimates that up to 10% of all American are widely
considered to be ugly.
You may think this is all pretty humorous - unless YOU are
ugly.
In that case, you KNOW that the discrimination is real, and
it hurts.
#2639
C. Even the Bible reflects prejudices.
1) Shibboleth, and tribe of Ephraim. Judg 12:5-6
2) Nathanael in John 1:45.
3) Samaritan woman in John 4:9
4) Assumed in James 2:1 - "STOP showing favoritism."
D. When God remakes us, is there any room for prejudice?
1) Note Peter in Acts 10:34. "God doesn't show favoritism."
2) If Jesus is truly "glorious" to you, you cannot treat people
differently. 2:1
III. God's standards or the world's?
A. By favoring some over others, the world's standards are used.
1) "Show special attention" - not only favorable look, but
followed up with assistance. 2:3
a) Movie "PRETTY WOMAN" - Richard Geer suggests salespeople
lavish attention on character played by Julia Roberts.
Money made a definite difference.
She goes in store that snubbed her and says, "You guys
made a mistake. A BIG mistake!"
b) "Sit on floor" is literally, sit by my footstool. The
rich get their feet propped up, the poor get nothing.
2) It doesn't make earthly sense. 2:6-7
a) Rich are often persecutors.
b) Follow world's ways, get world's results.
B. By favoring some, God is dishonored.
1) Favoritism is incompatible with the glory of Jesus.
a) Jesus focused on poor. Lk 4:18
1> Doesn't mean they are automatically saved.
2> Hard for rich to see their spiritual need.
(Rich young ruler)
b) When we show favoritism, we show we really don't know
what Jesus is all about.
Explaining theology in his familiar, homespun way, Garrison
Keillor points out that the Gospel is different from
"People Magazine."
The Gospel couldn't care who you are...
Its message is always the same:
All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
The Gospel is sent into the world to comfort the afflicted
and to afflict the comfortable." #1673
2) Most believers have always been of lower classes. 1 Cor 1:26-29
a) Poverty is only in eyes of world. Rich in faith.
b) By using poor, God cuts down human boasting.
c) Inherit the kingdom - future millennium in view. 2:5
1> Snobbery is short-sighted.
IV. The moral argument against favoritism.
A. Love neighbor as self. Positive counterpart to above.
1) Royal law because supreme.
a) It is summation of all other laws. Matt 22:36-40
2) Show favoritism to all people, not just some due to externals.
a) We can only love people at eye level.
3) It's the right thing to do.
a) OT- judge with impartiality. Deut 1:17
b) Negative - favoritism is sin.
B. Good Samaritan. Lk 10:25
1) Who is my neighbor? is wrong question.
2) Who can I be a neighbor to? is proper one.
C. Illustration from Jesus Revolution:
Back in the early 1970's, during what was called the "Jesus
Revolution," a church in Massachusetts began getting some
strange visitors.
They were called hippies. (Remember them? Any in Ledgewood?)
They didn't exactly fit in, and people began to complain.
The showdown came one Sunday.
One of the hippies, a young man with hair down to his waist and
patched-up blue jeans came in during the middle of the service.
He sat down - right in the middle of the aisle, cross-legged.
Members started to murmur and glance down at him.
Finally an old crusty deacon got out of his seat and walked down
the aisle.
The whole church held its breath.
That 70 year-old deacon came up to the young hippie, and without
saying a word, sat down cross-legged right next to him.
#2640
V. Whom can we favor?
A. Unitarian editorial in Daily Record.
1) Spirituality is tied to how big your concept of family is.
2) How do we receive the people God receives?
B. It's not enough to treat people the same - we must treat them
well.
1) Warm acceptance of new people.
a) Illustration - aggressive Methodist pastor in Coshocton.
2) Do not neglect those with pressing needs.
a) Burdens, or opportunities?
At breakfast, fellow pastor warned about letting
troubled people suck up all my time.
When they call him, he hangs up.
b) Ministry is about needy people.
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From sermon on October 11, 1987
Copyright © 2024 by Rev. David Holwick
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