Achieving Maturity by Overcoming Prejudice
James 2.1-13
I.
Introduction.
A. James, after dealing with trials,
temptations and warning us not to deceive ourselves.
1. He moves to some specific examples
of problems that will hinder our spiritual maturity.
B. Our ability to achieve spiritual
maturity is shaped by our ability to perceive people the same way God perceives
people.
1. If we are prejudice it will result
in injury or damage from our judgment or action against another.
C. Prejudice is born out of
preconceived judgments or opinions, which form an adverse opinion without just
grounds.
1. Sometimes it is an irrational
attitude that leads to hostility directed against an individual, a group, a
race, or their supposed characteristics.
D. Man is created in the image of God,
Genesis 1:27.
1. Everyone is created in the image of
God.
2. The only two groups mentioned here
are male and female, but still in the image of God.
3. After God destroying the world
through a flood, the whole earth was populated from the sons of Noah.
E.
Our
society likes to divide and categorize (not that we're unique in this however).
1. When examining the Census Bureau
Website you will find categories for: Gender, Age, Country, Ethnicity, Race,
Income, Region, Job, Education, Marital status and Religion.
F.
Is
this just the government, or is it typical of us also?
G. The way we behave toward people
indicates is a clear reflection on what we really believe about God.
1. We cannot believe that we can be
prejudice toward people and it not affect our relationship with God.
2. The Apostle John wrote, “If
anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for
he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has
not seen”, 1 John 4:20.
H. The spiritually immature person
response to differences and unique qualities other people, this is also called
personal favoritism.
1. Another description of one who
shows personal favoritism is one who is a respect of persons.
I.
How
interesting it is that when a friend does something wrong, we tend to excuse
it, or when a rich or famous person comes among us we tend to fawn over them;
pander to them.
1. Even when someone is poor, or
different in anyway we may demean, make fun, hurt, ignore, and treat him or her
differently.
J.
By
showing partiality between anyone person over another is sinful.
K. James points out that our faith is
in Jesus Christ, not through favoritism.
L.
He
shows us how to over come prejudice by first remembering your faith in your
glorious Lord Jesus Christ, next choose to Love not Judge, and the Seriousness
of showing partiality (prejudice/favoritism).
M. Lets examine the first one.
1.
James
2:1-3, NAS95 "1 My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord
Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. 2 For if a man comes into
your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also
comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, 3 and you pay special attention to the
one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, "You sit here in a good
place," and you say to the poor man, "You stand over there, or sit
down by my footstool,""
B. Jews coveted honor and recognition
of men
1.
Luke
14:7-11, NAS95 "7 And He began speaking a parable to the invited guests
when He noticed how they had been picking out the places of honor at the table,
saying to them, 8 "When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do
not take the place of honor, for someone more distinguished than you may have
been invited by him, 9 and he who invited you both will come and say to you,
'Give your place to this man,' and then in disgrace you proceed to occupy the
last place. 10 "But when you are invited, go and recline at the last
place, so that when the one who has invited you comes, he may say to you,
'Friend, move up higher'; then you will have honor in the sight of all who are
at the table with you. 11 "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,
and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
2.
Matthew
23:5-12, NAS95 "5 "But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men;
for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments.
6 "They love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the
synagogues, 7 and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called
Rabbi by men. 8 "But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and
you are all brothers. 9 "Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One
is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10 "Do not be called leaders; for One
is your Leader, that is, Christ. 11 "But the greatest among you shall be
your servant. 12 "Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever
humbles himself shall be exalted."
C. Jesus did not show favoritism
1.
Matthew
22:16, NAS95 "16 And they *sent their disciples to Him, along with the
Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the
way of God in truth, and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any."
2.
Didn't
look at outward appearance, but at the heart.
a.
Not
social status or riches.
b.
Poor
widow who put in her mite was greater than the many rich Pharisees who gave
large donations boastfully.
c.
When
Simon the Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him; Jesus commended the woman
who was a sinner who washed his feet.
d.
He
spoke with the Samaritan woman, a sinner, amazing the disciples.
3.
We
often focus on a persons past
a.
Saul
of Tarsus in Jerusalem: disciples didn't believe he was a Christian
b.
Judge
based on outward appearance, rather than attitude of the heart.
4.
Jesus
was a friend of sinners, helping them to overcome their sinfulness: It was
compassion
5.
Jesus
was judged by the Jews of His day
a.
Despised
and rejected: Isaiah 53.1-3
b.
Poor,
no home
c.
Came from
wrong city, Nazareth of Galilee
d.
Not a
student of their teachers
6.
When
visitors enter our building we tend to judge them based on appearance: how they
dress; length of hair, fashion;
7.
John
7:24, "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous
judgment."
8.
Must
learn to look at all others through the eyes of Christ
a.
If
they are a brother, we accept him because Christ lives in him
b.
If
they are a sinner, we help him because Christ died for him.
1.
James
2:4-8, "have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges
with evil motives? 5 Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor
of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to
those who love Him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich
who oppress you and personally drag you into court? 7 Do they not blaspheme the
fair name by which you have been called? 8 If, however, you are fulfilling the
royal law according to the Scripture, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS
YOURSELF," you are doing well."
B. Judges with evil motives
1.
Look
deeper at why we are treating certain brethren better than others
2.
Is it
because we are craving honor, recognition, power, and riches?
3.
Or is
it because we assume evil of them? Sinners, lazy
C. God is not a respecter of persons
1.
God
ignores national differences: Cornelius
a.
Acts
10:34, NAS95 "34 Opening his mouth, Peter said: "I most certainly
understand now that God is not one to show partiality,"
b.
Peter
was questioned for teaching him.
2.
Acts
11:17,18, NAS95 "17 "Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as
He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I
could stand in God's way?" 18 When they heard this, they quieted down and
glorified God, saying, "Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also
the repentance that leads to life.""
3.
Gentiles
are both condemned (Romans 2.6-16) and offered salvation (Romans 10.1-13)
4.
God
ignores social differences
a.
Ephesians
6:9, "And masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening,
knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no
partiality with Him."
b.
Master
and slaves, rich or poor.
c.
1
Samuel 2:7,8, NAS95 "7 "The LORD makes poor and rich; He brings low,
He also exalts. 8 "He raises the poor from the dust, He lifts the needy
from the ash heap To make them sit with nobles, And inherit a seat of honor;
For the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, And He set the world on
them."
d.
1
Corinthians 1:26,27, NAS95 "26 For consider your calling, brethren, that
there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many
noble; 27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise,
and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are
strong,"
e.
1
Timothy 6:17,18, NAS95 "17 Instruct those who are rich in this present
world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but
on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. 18 Instruct them to do
good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,"
D. Salvation is for all people
1.
Galatians
3:28, NAS95 "28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor
free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ
Jesus."
2.
Colossians
3:11, NAS95 "11 a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek
and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman,
but Christ is all, and in all."
E.
Love
Your Neighbor!
1.
James
2:8 "If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the
Scripture, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF," you are doing
well.
2.
Luke
10:27-37, "And he answered, "YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH
ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH
ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." And He said to him,
"You have answered correctly; DO THIS AND YOU WILL LIVE." But wishing
to justify himself, he said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus
replied and said, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and
fell among robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went away leaving
him half dead. And by chance a priest was going down on that road, and when he
saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite also, when he came
to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, who was
on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, and came
to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him
on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him. On the next
day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, 'Take care
of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return I will repay you.' Which of
these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the
robbers' hands?" And he said, "The one who showed mercy toward
him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do the same."
3.
Galatians
5:13-15, NAS95 "13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not
turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one
another. 14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement,
"YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." 15 But if you bite and
devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another."
A. Immature: act as if favoritism is
not that bad of a sin; it's not a big deal. There's nothing wrong with liking
one person over another.
B. Mature Understand that
1.
Partiality
is Sin! Just like adultery or murder. (9-11)
a.
But
if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as
transgressors. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one
point, he has become guilty of all. 11 For He who said, "DO NOT COMMIT
ADULTERY," also said, "DO NOT COMMIT MURDER." Now if you do not
commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the
law."
2.
Choose
to show mercy rather than to judge (12-13)
a.
James
2:12,13, NAS95 "12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by
the law of liberty. 13 For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no
mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment."
b.
Matthew
7:1,2 "Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you
judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured
to you."
Modified from Dave Stewart