Studies from the Book of James

No 12 The Peril of Discrimination. 3:1-10

James is the Epistle of right living, which makes it clear, that Believers are not only to be patient in times of testing, they are to practise the Truth. As James deals with the need for practical Christianity, he now highlights a peril of discrimination within the Church.

During the last century some major developments have swept across the world. In Russia, Jews, who were discriminated against for years, are being freed in growing numbers and are returning to Israel.

There have been tremendous changes in South Africa, where there was discrimination for many years. Yet, in spite of the progress, which has been made, sadly, discrimination is still very much alive in our world today.

As the Church of Christ we must not avoid the issue of discrimination from without and discrimination from within. The Church of the Lord Jesus ought to be the one place where discrimination is not be tolerated. There are all sorts of subtle discriminations, which can creep into the Church. James warns against such folly.

The Command He Gives.

James 2:1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

This is a term, which he uses over and over again. James is highlighting his relationship with those to whom he is writing. The Brotherhood of believers in Christ is a glorious one. These Christians may be scattered abroad, and they do have their faults and failings, but they are his brethren in the Lord.

Rom 12:5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

We have this illustrated for us in Paul’s letter to Philemon. Philemon had a slave named O-nes-I-mus, who had run away from his master. It seems that he might also have stolen something form Philemon.

But God stepped into this man’s life and he was gloriously saved. He may have been loathed as a slave and because of what he had done, but the Lord loved him and he was profitable to the apostle Paul.

1. The Familiarity, which James Shares.

2. The Deity of which James Speaks

My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

In the early church there was not only the Practice of Faith, there was often the Practice of Flattery. There was discrimination and favouritism shown to the well to do.

Those, to whom James was writing, were flattering the rich, in the hope of getting something out of them.

James was saying – this discrimination, this favouritism and flattery towards the rich has got to stop. No person in the fellowship of believers is one bit better than another. When the Church meets everyone should be equal. We are to be like our Lord, the Lord of Glory who loved all people alike, and was no respecter of persons

Jesus looked at the heart. He was not impressed with riches or with social status. Even his enemies said of Him in Mat 22:16, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.

Our Lord did not look on the outward appearance; he looked at the heart. He saw the potential in the lives of sinners. In Simon, he saw a rock, in Matthew, the publican, he saw a faithful disciple. In Saul of Tarsus, the Persecutor of the Church, He saw a mighty apostle who would carry the burden of the early Church. Jesus welcomed all who trusted Him and He forgave them.

When Israel needed a new king after Saul had proven unreliable, Samuel went to the house of Jesse. Each of Jesse’s boys was paraded past Samuel. Each looked like the material of which kings are made. Samuel was impressed. In his opinion, any one of these boys would have been adequate for the job.

God chose the son that Jesse ignored – his youngest son David. Both Jesse and Samuel made the same mistake. They judged the potential of the boys by what they saw on the outside.

God is not impressed with a man’s social status or his financial portfolio. He’s not influenced by the price of the house in which he lives, or by price of the car he drives. God only looks at one thing: what’s in a man’s heart.

Apparently, the early believers had forgotten that truth. The glamour and glitter of this world had easily influenced these believers. Designer labels and expensive jewellery easily impressed them, as it still does in some Churches and Ministries today. James reminds us that the object of the Christian faith is the Lord of glory.

Even though all the glorious wealth of heaven was His, Christ in grace left it behind to redeem mankind. It was more important to Him, that He extends His grace to sinners than cling to His glory. There were many who rejected and despised Jesus when He was ministering on earth. They could not see anything physical or material that attracted them. They saw no beauty in Him that they should desire Him, because they judged Him on human standards.

He came from the wrong town. He did not graduate from their accepted schools. He did not have any money, and His followers were a band of sinners, and among them were publicans and harlots. They rejected the Lord of Glory because they looked at Him and judged Him on human standards.

It was the Inconsistency that he saw in the Church. A worship service is about to start.

Two men walk in. It is clear that one is wealthy, for he is dressed in the latest designer suit, and he is wearing a gold ring. It was not uncommon in those days for several rings to be worn as a mark of social distinction.

The other man arrives in shabby clothing and it is evident that he is very poor. The usher on the door is greatly enamoured by the rich man and he makes sure that he gets one of the best seats in the Church. If this rich man joins this fellowship he will certainly be a good asset to the Church.

But to The poor man he says, " stand you over there out of the way, or sit on the floor".

This was blatant discrimination and favouritism of the worse kind, because it was not based on moral qualities but on financial resources.

This was a judgement that was made through the eyes of man and not through the eyes of Christ. If a Christian is a visitor to the church, we ought to receive them regardless of their social standing, because Christ lives in them.

If a sinner comes into the church, whether that person is rich or poor, we are to accept them because Christ died for them. Let us remember that it is Christ who is the link between the church and others and His is a link of love. Jesus loves all men and His people must seek to do the same.

Everyone wants to feel loved. I don’t think there are any exceptions to this. You want to feel loved. Yet, not everyone feels loved. In fact, some people feel rejected. Some people feel unwelcome. Why? It is because we can be guilty of showing favouritism. We can stereotype people. We can classify them, based on all kinds of real and imagined differences. And then we assign certain characteristics to these people.

Let me say in passing that we must not confuse the issue before us. There is nothing wrong with wealth. It’s the love of money, "not money" that is the root of all kinds of evil.

Some, who have little money, can love it more than those who have wealth. It is not sinful to be rich and it does not mean that one is more spiritual if they are poor. They are many rich people who are spiritual, and many poor people who are sinful.

The lesson for the Church is, to beware of the Peril of discrimination between the rich and the poor. How easily the flesh can creep into the life of a fellowship.

Those who are prosperous look down on those without money, and those who are without look at the prosperous with jealousy, envy and suspicion. Each form their own little cliques, and soon, instead of a church you have two religious clubs.

One is for the poor and the other for the rich. Is a Jewel less precious because it is in a plain box? Is a person less important to the Lord or to the Church because of an unattractive appearance?

As the religious leaders looked at Him they saw but a poor man, but in fact they were looking at the Lord of Glory. Is it any wonder that Jesus said to these people!

John 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

Let us not be so foolish, as to be impressed with that which is superficial, but be impressed with that which is spiritual and displays the fruit of the Spirit. James has already stated

Ch 1:9-10 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.

As Christians we must always rejoice that we belong to a heavenly realm. We should never look at riches and poverty in the same light as the unregenerate man.

We are of great worth to God, and we should rejoice in the spiritual things that we can never loose and not give way to bitterness.

Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

James informs us that it is an evil thought - wicked and ungodly - to judge the potential of men or women to contribute to the Kingdom of God by outward appearances.

Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the poor.

The epistle of James is not only a practical book, it is also a doctrinal one. We note that he now draws our attention to consider two precious truths.

If God has chosen the poor, then by what line of reasoning or right have you to despise them?

God has the Sovereign right to choose out a people for Himself and for His sovereign purpose. If God has chosen the poor of this world, why do you discriminate against them?

God hath chosen, this is a great truth, which runs throughout the Bible.

Deut 7:6 For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.

Let us lay hold of this wonderful truth, God hath chosen in His Grace and he has chosen us. Those whom He has chosen and called to be His faithful followers will share the eternal triumph of Christ.

This is the rock on which James builds his case!

God hath chosen the poor of this world to be heirs of the kingdom! Human choice is usually on the basis of ability, importance, influence, or wealth. This is conventional choice. God’s choice is unconventional. God did not choose His people on merit, for sinners have no merit in His eyes. He chooses the foolish to become faithful.

He chooses the weak to become His witnesses!. The Lowly to become loyal!. The despised to become His disciples! The nobody of this world to become the nobility of heaven!.

God ignores National differences; He chooses both Jews and Gentiles to be living stones in the Church. He ignores social differences, for masters and slaves are alike to Him.

Before we were born, we were chosen in Christ. "I have chosen you." It is not that you have got God, but that He has got you.

The Right of the Sovereign--

People are not chosen because they are rich in faith, but they are chosen to be rich in faith.

Grace is not the reward for faith --- faith is the result of Grace Through Grace and faith, the poor of this world have inherited the wealth of the kingdom.

The question we must seek to answer is How rich is our Faith? For the Saints of God have riches here on earth and all the daily blessings of God and they have riches to claim in the hereafter.

We are now heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ; because He became poor, we have become rich. Because He died, we live and reign in the kingdom.

1 Cor 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

Hold lightly to the things of earth, but cling tightly to heavenly things.

It is hard to tune in on heaven's message if our lives are full of earthly static.

Nine-year-old Phillip was in a Sunday school class of eight-year-olds. The other children did not welcome Philip to their class.

They often made fun of him, not because he was older, but because he was "different." Phillip suffered from Down’s syndrome. He had the physical characteristics, slow responses, and mildly retarded

Finally, the teacher opened the last egg, and it was empty. "That’s stupid," said one of the little boys in the class. Then the teacher felt a tug on his shirt. It was Phillip. Looking up he said,

A hush fell over the class and from that time forward, Phillip became a part of the group. Whatever had made Him different was never mentioned again. That summer, Phillip died and each child in his Sunday school class placed a little empty plastic egg on top of his coffin.