When we grow up, society rewards those who dominate the rest of us and, in most cases, we hardly care how they achieved that position. We only care that our idols exist so we can give them a place of honor. (For the record, I’m not picking on the idols as much as on the idolaters – let’s face it, two things are true: idols only exist in the presence of idolaters and there are a lot more idolaters than there are idols in this world. Fair enough?) We love our idols, don’t we? You might say, “Oh no, Pastor, not me! I’m a God-fearing individual who remembers the apostle John’s words, ‘Little children, keep yourselves from idols’ (1 John 5:21).” If this is true, then why do you talk more about your socially elevated friends than your other ones? Think I’m being presumptuous, do you? Let me tease this out of you…
Suppose your favorite movie, music, or sports star were to show up at your doorstep tomorrow and ask if they might dine with you. Would you be starstruck? Would you invite them in and serve them in a manner inconsistent with the way you might serve a homeless person? Would you encourage them to stay longer? Would you tell your friends all about their visit? Would you post selfies with them on social media? Would you talk about this to your kids and grandkids with a sense of reverence? If you found out later that this person was an unbeliever, would that change any of the above?
Get my point? Let me speak plainly. I’ve never known a person intimately who hasn’t exhibited the above kind of behavior. James wrote of this phenomenon.
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?
If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
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?
If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
- James 2:1-9
Partiality is a game of mixed messages. For example, what are you teaching your grandkids if you carry on about having dinner with your childhood idol? What does your silence about the godly meals you’ve shared with other members of the faith say to them? What values are you extoling, propagating, and implanting into their impressionable young minds?
For the record, this phenomenon happens at every level, not just at the extremes. For example, ever been around someone who drones on and on about knowing certain wealthy people? And ever notice that if they happen to have some type of relationship with them, regardless of how fleeting, they let you know about it, as if, by association, you might bestow upon them some sliver of your reverence for wealth? Want to put a halt to that conversation? Ask them if this idol of theirs is a believer (not expecting an accurate answer, of course, for God only knows – the point is to redirect their attention to what truly matters in this world – hint, it’s not social status).
North Christian Church’s beloved secretary, Monica Ledford, once wrote a blog for her own ministry, By His Well, titled Test the Spirits which alludes to this same topic. I’d highly recommend reading it once you’re done reading this one.
We live in a world of contradictions. The sad truth is that we believers aren’t helping. In one breath we praise the Lord and in the next we curse Him by means of our actions, especially when we live in partiality.
With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
- James 3:9-10
Should you be convicted by what the Spirit’s saying to you, personally, through this blog? Indeed. If you’re not, you’re willfully ignoring good counsel. Maybe Jesus’ words can help.
When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.
- Luke 14:12-14
Jesus was advising us to reject the world’s economy. I’m not speaking specifically about money here, although it is often the easiest way to help people relate to the underlying principle. Jesus said:
No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
- Matthew 6:24
Partiality favors position over character. For disciples of Jesus that’s a fundamental contradiction (e.g., while we strive to live by the “Golden Rule” ala Luke 6:31, we also show favor, even unfair grace and mercy, to our idols). This is the flaw in us that is utterly ruinous. Imagine a world without it and you’ll see what I mean.
Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty [the Lord], who says to a king, ‘Worthless one,’ and to nobles, ‘Wicked man,’ who shows no partiality to princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor, for they are all the work of his hands?
- Job 34:17-19
God never contradicts Himself. He is never partial. He sees the heart and is looking for character. He’s not impressed with positions of power or wealth the way we are. Neither is His Son, Jesus Christ, who teaches us through His Spirit to seek holiness, shedding our bondage to partiality and therefore worldly contradictions.
As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
- 1 Peter 1:14-16
Love in Christ,
Ed Collins
