Discrimination

Introduction

A. Discrimination can be understood in two ways—positively and negatively. Positive discrimination comes when we discriminate against good and evil; right and wrong. Negative discrimination is that which bases division upon arbitrary values—education, social status, color of skin, fame, etc. Negative discrimination is ugly. It tries to make a value judgment about who is in the inner circle and who isn’t. It is about keeping others away because something about that person doesn’t fit one’s beliefs about what is important. Such discrimination has been a regular part of our culture and particularly the Memphis culture.

B. Racial discrimination has and continues to be a part of our culture. I was teaching a class a couple of years ago when one of the students helped me understand the ugliness of racial discrimination. He asked me if anyone had ever locked a car door because I was standing close by; or had anyone ever followed me through a store just to watch me and make sure I didn’t steal. But discrimination occurs on so many different levels.

C. In our text, James, Jesus’ brother, reflects on the damage that discrimination does to the one who claims to be a follower of Jesus. In particular, James highlights the discrimination that is often seen against those who are poor. James is writing to Jewish believers who are needing to be reminded of the basic values of faith. As James ends chapter one—God accepted religion takes care of the poor and upholds purity of life. And it is that former value that James now deals with in chapter 2. Let’s be reminded of our values today.

Thinking

A. Verse 1 of this text is especially interesting. Since it is the springboard for what James wants to write, we should examine it with great care. While our translations attempt to make the wording understandable, the language of this verse actually places the idea of favoritism at the beginning of the verse. By doing so, James highlights the subject of his writing. The verse reads “My brothers, hold not, in respect of persons, the faith of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Rather difficult rendering for our English. Let’s see if we can break this down.

B. The phrase which gives translators real fits is “the faith of the glory.” Many turn the phrase into the word “glorious” and move forward. It seems that James isn’t suggesting that Jesus is glorious although he is but that he is the glory of God. In Exodus 24:16, the Bible says that “the glory of the Lord settled on Mt. Sinai.” And in Luke 2:9, the “glory of the Lord shone around the angels” who appeared to the shepherds announcing the birth of Jesus. Further down in Luke 2, verse 32, Simeon in pronouncing a blessing upon Jesus says that he “is a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” This parallel blessings demonstrates that the idea of glory and light co-exist in just the same way as God’s glory shone around the angels. Or in John 1:14 in which we are told that “we have seen Jesus’ glory, the glory of the One and only who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

C. The point? Jesus is the representation of God’s glory. The light that shines in the world reveals the majesty of God. Jesus is not just glorious; he is the demonstration of God’s glory. This is James’ point. As believers that Jesus is the demonstration of the great light of God; the justice and majesty of God; as those who believe that Jesus is God’s revelation of what he wants; negative discrimination is wrong. In this case, treating people based upon economics is wrong.

D. James gives a parable to illustrate of a worship assembly in which a rich person attending is treated better than a poor person who attends. To put the story into our culture, we fall all over the rich man, can’t wait to meet him, greet him, invite him to dinner. But the poor man who doesn’t smell good, who is quirky and looks disheveled is ignored. No welcoming; no invitation to dinner. James reminds his readers that we need to see things as God sees them.

Application

A. This is the great challenge. To see people the way God sees them is rarely easy. We often speak of God’s great attributes—his love, mercy, grace, forgiveness, holiness. Among those attributes that we rarely talk about is the one that James mentions here. God is impartial. Leviticus 19:15—Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly. Or in Deuteronomy 10:17—For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. Or 1 Peter 1:16-17—Be holy, because I am holy. Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.

B. Education, fame, status, looks, wardrobe, job, social standing, prestige, earthly honor—these mean nothing to God. We see too much. We need to be blind to such things. James says in verse 5, that the poor are God’s special elect. This isn’t a statement that the poor are going to heaven but that God honors the poor. The poor have nothing to offer except themselves and God honor that. Jesus acknowledged this truth in Luke 6:20—Blessed are the poor, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

C. Our vision is that we are a place where the broken can find friendship and acceptance. As we continue to find ways to touch the lives of the poor and the broken, we must be prepared to be impartial.

1.  Clothes will not matter. I am not talking about immodesty but styles and types. I am thankful that we have already come to relax a "dress code" mentality. Decency yes. Modesty yes. Impartiality according to style…YES!!

2.  We will invite people to sit with us.

3.  We will invite people to share meals with us.

4.  We will no longer look at what people have to offer us but how we may serve them.

5.  We will discriminate the way God does—looking at the heart of the person rather than the outer person.

D. We will identify with the poor in the same way the our Lord Jesus Christ did. Because our faith is in the one who demonstrates the glory of God, we too want to represent this same glory to others. We will love the broken as we have been loved. And through that love, God will be honored. Prayer.

E. There’s a wonderful story about a Chicago bank that once asked for a letter of recommendation on a young Bostonian being considered for employment. The Boston investment house could not say enough about the young man. His father, they wrote, was a Cabot; his mother was a Lowell. Further back was a happy blend of Saltonstalls, Peabodys, and other of Boston’s first families. His recommendation was given without hesitation. Several days later, the Chicago bank sent a note saying the information supplied was altogether inadequate. It read: “We are not contemplating using the young man for breeding purposes. Just for work.”

F. Then Peter began to speak: I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is (Acts 10:34-35). Like Peter something has to happen to us to help us see the way God does. But the truth doesn’t change even if we fail to accept it or act upon it. Invitation.

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