#BibleStudy Expressions of Faith. Others as Equals - James Ch 2



Opening Statement
The spiritual needs of humanity take precedence over the political concerns of culture at large.

Background
     I first read that sentence last week in a post by a long-time friend. Dr. Robert Smith is a former pastor, a gifted teacher, a Bible scholar, and a lover of fountain pens and all things Spam. His ability to explain Biblical truths in layman’s terms is a gift. I got permission to use his writing in yesterday's Timeless Truth post, “Serving the Gospel,” on 7/2/2020.
     My Sunday school class is studying the book of James. The sessions are open discussions of a series of questions I provide. Often, insight from my class members humbles my thoughts on a topic.
     I hope by the end of this three or four week (more if needed) series, you have an enhanced appreciation of James’s letter and a desire to address the Opening Statement in a manner you might not have considered before. 
     To give rightful credit to Dr. Smith, all quotes from his original “Serving the Gospel” are italicized.

Scripture quotes from James are from Eugene H. Peterson’s “The Message – The Bible in Contemporary Language.” Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson and used as allowed by the author.

Others as Equals

As I write this in July 2020, America is experiencing unprecedented upheavals in race relations, government control, and personal freedoms, among others.
  • The crux of the race relations issue has deep roots in the skewed perception of many Americans through our history as a country that people of color were somehow less human than they were.
  • In spite of the abolition of slavery over 150-years ago, the formal recognition of Native American populations as equals, and a myriad of laws aimed at removing racial bias from America, that perception remains.

Why?

James addresses the Jewish version of this stigma in the first four verses of Chapter 2.

2 1-4 My dear friends, don’t let public opinion influence how you live out our glorious, Christ-originated faith. If a man enters your church wearing an expensive suit, and a street person wearing rags comes in right after him, and you say to the man in the suit, “Sit here, sir; this is the best seat in the house!” and either ignore the street person or say, “Better sit here in the back row,” haven’t you segregated God’s children and proved that you are judges who can’t be trusted? 
(James 2:1-4)

Wrong interpretations of 
  1. the connection of wealth to God’s favor and 
  2. the concept of the identity of God’s chosen people 

insulated rich from poor Jews and isolated Jews from Gentiles.
  1. Read through the book of Job for an in-depth look at the “wealth = God’s favor” issue.
  2. Although Abraham was chosen by God, the idea that chosen meant introducing God to other people group turned into viewing Judaism as an exclusive club. In the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), Jesus makes it clear that the exclusiveness of Judaism is not God’s plan. 

God invites all people to His family.

James saw the damage both those cultural norms had done and was doing in his day.

He makes it abundantly clear that favoritism is wrong.
Period.

In America today, favoritism is rampant.
While the money issue is a huge divider, the stigma of racism lingers, flourishing in some areas.

What can one person do about this?
  • It’s up to us, as Christians, to be “serving the Gospel,” letting those we have contact with know about the peace, hope, and love that fills you as you follow God’s plan. 

I’ll let James end this post.

My dear friends, don’t let public opinion influence how you live out our glorious, Christ-originated faith.

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