Partiality

James had urged believers in what we call chapter one of his letter not to be hypocritical---to be GENUINE, to be not just hearers of the Word, but DOERS---to be SLOW TO WRATH, TO BRIDLE THEIR TONGUES, TO SERVE THE ORPHANS AND WIDOWS, AND TO KEEP THEMSELVES UNSPOTTED BYT THE WORLD. He continues that exhortation in chapter two. If you live as a genuine believer, he says, you will not show partiality. The word James uses in the original language means literally: 'TO RECEIVE A FACE.' It refers to favoring one person above another on the basis of what can be outwardly perceived about him. His race, his ethnicity, his position, his status, etc. We would call it DISCRIMINATION today, and it occurs in countless ways in virtually every culture. But James is adamant that IT HAS NO PLACE IN THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST. As an illustration of how discrimination or partiality can even enter the church, James describes the scenario of a wealthy man and a poor man both entering the Christian assembly. If the wealthy man receives preferential treatment, we have become 'judges with evil thoughts.' James goes on to point out that it is the wealthy who tend to oppress believers, and that it is the poor that God has chosen to bless with the gospel. As well as a stinging reuke to all who discriminate against particular groups of people, this passage is a nail in the coffin of the PROSPERITY PREACHERS of this or any other day.