James 2:1-7 Show No Partiality In The Church

I was reading through a magazine that is put out by ‘Voice of the Martyrs’. I read about a couple who lives in an area where Muslim militants often raid villages and seek to kill the Christians in those communities. One day this couples village was raided and all five of their kids were killed in the attack. This couple fled to a refugee camp where they found shelter. That is not the end of this story, however, even there among other refugees this couple was treated poorly because they were from a pigmy tribe and they had a smaller stature than most people. Because of this they were looked down upon by others and they were again mistreated.

And yet, there is some good news in this story. Even in the midst of all of this they found themselves among a group of Christians who loved them and cared for them. These Christians made no distinctions, showed no favoritism, and displayed no partiality between the people who had experienced so many terrible things.

Because of what these Christians were doing, and the spirit in which they did it, this couple received the Gospel from them and they now have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. They have experienced the grace of God and they have a hope and peace which surpasses all understanding. (Philippians 4:4-7)

When James sat down to write this letter he began with these words,

• “To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.” (NIV)

• “To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.” (ESV)

• “To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings.” (NASV)

James sits down to write this letter to Jewish Christians who had been scattered by persecution. Many of them had to quickly leave their homes, their communities, and everything they owned because they had become an outcast because of their faith in Christ . As a result of these things these Jewish Christians were dispersed among the nations (Acts 8:1-3, Acts 11:18-20; Hebrews 12:3-4).

Like the couple in the story above these Jewish Christians were being persecuted, their property had been confiscated, and some were hauled off to prison. These Jewish believers fled to new communities to find refuge from these things, however, when they arrived they arrived they discovered that even in the church there was favortism, partiality and distinctions being made among them!

Let’s read what James says in James 2:1-7, “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? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?”

The sin that James speaks of in our text today can happen in any church in any generation. Let me give you two brief examples. One of my friends who is a minister tells a story about a time when he went on vacation and decided to go to a church where they claimed to be evangelical. My friend was camping on his trip so he did not have anything really nice to wear to church but he went any ways.

As the service began the pastor noticed that there were several visitors who were there. From the pulpit the minister welcomed the best dressed of these visitors and invited them back to the evening service but then the minister looked at my friend and did not acknowledge him or show him the same hospitality. My friend said that if he was not a mature Christian this experience probably would have turned him away from Christianity.

The second story you may have heard about although I will not get into specifics. Not to long ago one of the most popular mega-churches in America collapsed before our eyes. There have been several so I will leave it up to you to guess which one it was. After the collapse of this church a documentary was done about it. In this documentary they mentioned many sins that had been committed: greed, sexual sins, theological problems, etc.

One of the sins that this church committed is mentioned in our text. As this church grew in popularity many wealthy, influential, and powerful people began to visit and attend the services. These people were invited to sit in the ‘VIP Section’ where they were treated very well. As a result of this sin the documentary talked about how many people have walked away from the church and from the faith.

As we begin today I would like you to consider two things. First Consideration: I would like you to consider our text as one of two bookends. The first bookend was back in James 1:9-11 where James addressed the rich and the poor, “Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.” The second bookend comes in our text today in James 2:1-7 where James addresses these two groups of people again.

These two bookends address a persons wealth and status in this world and how to consider these things in view of our salvation in Christ. Some are wealthy; others are poor., some enjoy great status; others are lowly, some are exalted; others are of a humble state. Notice that James does not put these two texts together. In other words, James does not say something like, “Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away (1:9)...Therefore, my brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. (2:1)”

Instead of doing this, which James certainly could have done, James separates these two texts with something in between. This should emphasize the importance of the text that is in the middle of these two important texts. Indeed, the things that James writes about in James 1:12-27 is very important. As we have seen, James writes about a beleivers hope in God’s promise, a steadfast faith, an enduring love, the new birth into a new creation, sanctification and glorification, etc. In this passage. These doctrinal realities are why a poor man can boast in his exaltation. This is why a rich man should boast in his humiliation. Both have received from God a gift of grace, eternal life, and inheritance.

How would we summarize all of these doctrinal and theology truths and practices that has been given to us in James 1? We do not have to guess about what James would say to summarizes all of these things. He says in James 2:1, “My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.” These doctrinal truths unite individuals together as brothers and sisters in the LORD. These truths are received by faith and they are enjoyed in the Person of Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.

A Christian who understands his sin and His need for salvation will not have his attention set upon himself or others. He will not draw great contrasts between himself and his brother and sister in Christ. No, they will have their faith and attention upon the Lord Jesus and what He has done for us. James knows that everything that he has discussed in chapter comes from the LORD alone and that our faith is is to be place in God’s promises, tin Jesus Christ in Whom those promises are fulfilled, and upon the Holy Spirit in Whom those those promises are applied to God’s elect.

This brings us to our Second Consideration. Did you know that James, the half brother of Jesus, only mentions Jesus by name two times in this letter? He mentions Jesus’ name in 1:1 and in 2:1. Similarly, did you know that James only speaks of the Holy Spirit one time in this letter in James 4:5?

I think that this is an important observation to consider because of something I experience quite regularly. For example, recently I received a call from someone and she said, “I am looking for a church and I want to know if you believe in the Holy Spirit?” I responded, “Yes we definitely do believe in the Spirit. We believe in the Trinity: Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”

I knew that this answer was not exactly what she was looking for so I waited for her to ask another question. She said, “Yes, but do you speak about the Holy Spirit often and emphasize the gifts of the Holy Spirit, like speaking in tongues, in your church?” Rather than getting into a long drawn out discussion about this I simply said, “We are a Baptist church and not a Pentecostal or Charismatic church.” After I said this she said goodbye.

Let me ask you a question, “Does James believe in the Holy Spirit even though he doesn’t speak directly of the Holy Spirit in this letter? Does James believe in the life giving, heart transforming, promise giving, and preserving work of the Spirit even though he only speaks of the Spirit one time?” Of course he does. Every Jew longed for the fulfillment of the promise that God had made about the giving of the Holy Spirit. James knows that salvation is of the LORD and that to speak of any good and perfect gift in the life of a believer is to speak of the presence, the power, and the preserving presence of the Trinity at work in a Christian.

Let me give you another example that we should consider. Some believe that if you do not mention Jesus in every paragraph of a sermon you are not a faithful gospel preacher or a cross-centered teacher. To be clear, it is very important to preach Christ and Him crucified because Paul says this is the doctrine of first importance. (1 Corinthians 2:2; 1 Corinthians 15)

There is no doubt that if James were speaking to unbelievers he would speak a little differently in this letter. Because James only mentions Jesus twice by name is he any less of a gospel preacher than Paul? No, it is clear that this letter twas written to believers, to Christians, to people who know certain biblical and theological truths concerning Christ and what He has done. Therefore, James speaks to them about theological truths regarding election, salvation, sanctification and glorification and he assumes that they understand that all of this is from Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory in whom we hold fast to by faith.

Even by the way that James is writing this letter he is showing that these Christians have a good knowledge of biblical truths; and yet, despite this they are not responding to these truths rightly, appropriately, and wisely. These are Christians, brothers in Christ Jesus, who are not boasting in the right things and they are not treating each other according to the grace of God. They know that every Christian has been called, chosen and saved mercifully and graciously by God but they are living as though there are distinctions among them that set them apart. This is contrary to the Gospel and the faith that they are professing is not being expressed through love.

This is so important that James begins to address this sin in James 1:9-11 at the very beginning of this letter. The poor are not boasting in Christ and in their spiritual exaltation. The rich are not boasting in Christ and humbling themselves to serve the LORD but continue to engage in their own pursuits. Rather than coming together in Christ the church is dividing, there is discord, and there is distinctions being made among them.

Because of this James stops and then he begins to speak to them about Gospel truths, biblical doctrines, and theological realities. He reminds them that their salvation and blessings that they have received from God are all by grace and James goes on to tell them how they are to properly respond to what God is doing in them.

Then James summarizes what he has just said in James 1:12-27 by saying, “Show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.” (2:1) After stating this James again addresses this problem that is in the church and how these doctrines make it impossible to continue in this sin.

He asks these brothers and sisters how in view of all of these things regarding their faith in Jesus can they show partiality between one another? In view of God’s choosing, calling and conversion which is all by God’s mercy and grace can they treat other Christians according to some external distinction? This ought not be! Instead, they ought to rejoice in the grace of God when someone is rich in faith towards God. James is being like Paul when he saw James acting contrary to the Gospel when he withdrew from the Gentiles and began to eat with the Jews. In Galatians 2:11 &14 Paul writes, “When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face,, because he stood condemned...When I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all...”

A Closer Look At Today’s Text:

When addressing this sin James reminds them again (2,9,16,19) that they are all brothers and sisters in the LORD when he says, “My brothers and sisters…”. (2:1) As if to say, “Are we supposed to treat family this way?”

In this letter James has modeled for these Christians the way in which they ought to treat each other. James has come to them as a servant of Christ. (1:1) He has not come to them by making big distinctions between himself and them even though he could. He was a half-brother of Jesus and could have boasted about his close personal relationship with the Lord of glory. Instead he often refers to them as his brothers and sisters in the LORD.

James could have boasted about being an apostle, an elder, and a pastor in the Jerusalem church but he doesn’t. It is against the Gospel to show partiality as we hold to the faith in our LORD Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. To do this is against the truth of the gospel. Therefore James says, “Show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.”

God does not show partiality so how can we? Peter had to learn this through a divine vision from the Lord and then he declares in Acts 10:34, “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to Him.”

Some might say, “Doesn’t God show partiality and make distinctions when He calls His elect but not others?” I mention this because James has spoken of election in James 1:18 and also in 2:5&7. (Consider Paul’s defense of this doctrine in Romans 9:1-29)

If God chose the elect because of any righteousness and goodness that He saw in them then we could say that God shows partiality, favoritism, and that He makes distinctions. However, God does not choose any person because of any righteousness in them apart from Christ. Apart from Christ no person is righteous in and of themselves. (Romans 3:9-20) God does not choose any person because of their wisdom, their status, or their physical, moral or spiritual strength.

God chooses the elect according to His own sovereign mercy and grace and that which God requires for salvation He gives to them as good and perfect gifts. The ability to hear the gospel and respond, and the ability to see the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, is the result of the inner working of the Holy Spirit in regeneration. When this happens a sinner is given a new heart that is responsive to God (James 1:18; John 1:9-13). We are also taught in scripture that faith and repentance are gifts of grace (Ephesians 2:8-10; Acts 11:18).

This being the case, how then can anyone boast in anything other than Christ Jesus and what He has done? (Ephesians 2:9)

Next James says, “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?”

I began this morning with a story about how a couple that was looked down upon because of the stature of their bodies. In this text James addresses the fact that some were dishonoring the poor and honoring the rich. This sin can show up in numerous ways in the church.

Example: Many of you have heard of Joni Earechson Tada. She experienced a diving accident that left her a quadriplegic. She testifies that once she went to a healing crusade where all the people who came with severe health issues were placed in particular areas where they would not be picked up by the cameras. Then after the service, when none of them had been healed, they were all taken out through a side door so that they would not be seen by the majority of people. Joni and those other individuals had been sinned against by how they were treated in that service. They were ignored and dishonored. They were put off to the side by those who had become their judges with evil thoughts.

This experience was very traumatic for Joni and the other individuals who were there. Her faith may have wavered but it was not destroyed. We might wonder why it was not destroyed? James answers this question in our text, “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?”

Joni Earechson Tada’s faith persevered through these things because God had chosen her, made her rich in faith, and made her an heir of the Kingdom of God. Because of this she loves the LORD with an enduring love, a steadfast faith, and a hope that perseveres until it obtains the promise.

Even though God can preserve those He has called and chosen this will not excuse sins such as these that are committed against them. If anything it will make these sins all the more serious. When God’s widows and orphans are neglected He will defend them. When the poor are dishonored God will defend them. The LORD will defend them because they are His and He knows them in a saving and special way. He has chosen them, He has elected them, He knows them by name and has given them faith and an inheritance in His kingdom. Therefore, will God not avenge those who mistreat His citizens?

Those who commit sins such as these ought to tremble as they read the indictment in the following verses, “But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?”

We must ask, “Who is referred to with the pronoun ‘you’?

• Maybe it is only referring to the usher or the greeter who seats the people?

• Maybe it is only the pastor and the elders who are guilty?

• Hopefully this is a small isolated problem.

The pronoun ‘you’, however, is plural so James is not speaking about just one person or even just one church. No, this is a pronoun that speaks to the whole congregation. It is addressing many people who have engaged in dishonoring the poor person. This is also a problem that is apparently happening in many churches as this letter is being sent to many different places. Because of this we ought to all approach this text soberly, with trembling, and with a godly fear and be ready to repent of such a sin.

James is saying that...

• The pastor and elder have dishonored this man

• The greeter and usher have dishonored this man

• The rich person who benefits by this and enjoys the special treatment has dishonored this man.

• The congregant who won’t do anything about this dishonors the man?

Illustration: {Al Mohler The Briefing} Recently there was an article about how ½ of all people who ride the buses in NY City do not pay the fair. Everyone sees that this is a problem but no one will do anything about it. Even the bus drivers admit that they see this happening but out of fear they do not say or do anything about it. Al Mohler, who spoke about this problem, admitted that he probably wouldn’t do anything either. Dr. Mohler admitted that we all become part of this problem out of fear when we don’t respond to sin.

James says, “But you have dishonored the poor man”. James refers to this person who is being sinned against as a ‘poor man’. James could have said any number of things to make his point even stronger. He could have written,

• “You have sinned against John, Patricia, Jerry or Beth!” This is a person who has a name and was made in God’s image; yet, you dishonor him and ignore him.

• “You have dishonored your brother and sister in Jesus Christ!”

• “You have sinned against this person whom God has chosen!

• “You have dishonored this man who will inherit the Kingdom of God!”

• “You have dishonored this man who is rich in what really matters- faith!

• “You have dishonored this man who loves God!”

When James speaks about this sin he uses a verb that speaks of something that happened in the past and continues on at this moment, “You have dishonored the poor man!” You allowed this sin to happen and not be addressed so it continues to happen over and over again. If your conscience was bothered by this at first you have done nothing about it and now you don’t even notice this sin and you are not disturbed by it! You ought to be bothered by it and it ought to disturb you because...

• You have dishonored your brother and have sided with the rich who oppress you!

• You have dishonored your brother and have sided with the rich who drag you to court!

• You have dishonored your brother and have sided with the rich who even blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called!

• Like David this ought to make us cry out, “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.” (Psalm 51:4)

Conclusion/Application: James has shown us that sins like these need to be addressed with good doctrine and sound theology. To deal with this sin James has concentrated on the foundational doctrines that pertain to the Gospel itself. He has often spoken of election and the call of God in bringing people to Christ. (1:18, 2:5&7)

If we are honest, we will admit that we take doctrine so lightly and casually. People come up with slogans which proclaim, “Deeds not creeds!”. Yet, it is the lack of understanding and accepting good doctrine which leads to these sins and allows them to continue. Conversely, it is good biblical theology and doctrine that will expose these sins and correct these sinful behaviors.

The doctrine of election is a mysterious doctrine so many people will say that we would be better served to concentrate on other things that do not cause controversy and divide. The opposite appears to be true. These churches were experiencing division because they neglected to apply the truth of these doctrines to their relationships with one another.

I wonder, if it is better to not teach such things then what doctrine would James have used to expose, confront and deal with this sin? What doctrine will we use to expose, confront and deal with these sins? And if we ignore these doctrines or neglect them aren’t we making ourselves very susceptible to committing these sins more and more with disastrous consequences?

You often hear these days that the church should just concentrate on the Gospel and not on doctrinal and theological things that can divide. James, however, has shown us the benefits of maintaining both. To those who need to be saved we ought to preach Christ and Him crucified. And to the Church of Jesus Christ we ought to teach the doctrines and theologies that make the depth and substance of the Gospel more clear and applicable. If we do this people will be saved from their sins and the church will be healthy and Christ honoring in how we love God, love a lost and hurting world, and by how we love God’s elect and chosen saints.