Download 04.17.2011 | James 2:1-4 No Partiality

No Partiality
“Real Life” [James] Series [10]
James 2:1-4
SECULARIZATION OF THE CHURCH IN OUR DAY
• The perils of secularization of the Church
 Today’s text [2:1-4] is an elaboration of James’ previous
thoughts on “true and undefiled religion” [1:26-27].
26If
anyone thinks he is religious and does not
bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s
religion is worthless. 27Religion that is pure and undefiled
before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows
in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
James 1:26-27
SECULARIZATION OF THE CHURCH IN OUR DAY
• The perils of secularization of the Church
 Today’s text [2:1-4] is an elaboration of James’ previous
thoughts on “true and undefiled religion” [1:26-27].
26If
anyone thinks he is religious and does not
bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s
religion is worthless. 27Religion that is pure and undefiled
before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows
in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
James 1:26-27
 James’ undercurrent concern for true godliness/religion is
the danger of secularization of the Christian values.
 When the Church becomes like the world, we lose our
“light” and “saltiness”—but it sneaks in to us subtly!
SECULARIZATION OF THE CHURCH IN OUR DAY
• Secularization of the Church in our day
 “Prosperity Gospel”: The danger of our definition of
“blessing” becoming indistinguishable from the world.
 “Numbers Game”: The danger of our success and identity
becoming preoccupied with numbers and size.
 “Self-help Spirituality”: The danger of our spirituality
becoming more man-centered than God-centered.
 “Consumerism”: The danger of our spiritual life and
ministry becoming primarily about meeting needs and
finding/providing right products/programs.
Don't ever attempt, my brothers, to combine
snobbery with faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ!
Suppose one man comes into your meeting well-dressed and
with a gold ring on his finger, and another man, obviously poor,
arrives in shabby clothes. If you pay special attention to
the well-dressed man by saying, "Please sit here - it's an
excellent seat", and say to the poor man, "You stand
over there, please, or if you must sit, sit on the floor",
doesn't that prove that you are making class-distinctions
in your mind, and setting yourselves up to
assess a man's quality? - a very bad thing.
J. B. Phillips' Paraphrase of James 2:1-4
WHY SHOULD WE SHOW NO PARTIALITY
AS BELIEVERS IN LORD JESUS?
1) We have the new Master—Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of
glory.
My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith
in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. (v.1)
 James intentionally addresses his audience as “my
brothers”—which means that this is for the believers.
 What do we believe? We believe in our Lord Jesus Christ—
who is the Lord of glory—which means Lord Jesus has
become our most valued treasure through our faith.
 The true living faith submits to Jesus as the New
Master/Standard by which we measure everything.
6For
God, who said,
"Let light shine out of darkness,"
has shone in our hearts to give the light
of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face
of Jesus Christ. 7But we have this treasure in jars
of clay, to show that the surpassing power
belongs to God and not to us.
2 Corinthians 4:6-7
WHY SHOULD WE SHOW NO PARTIALITY
AS BELIEVERS IN LORD JESUS?
2) We have the new value system—which is radically
different from the world.
2For
if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes
into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also
comes in, 3and 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," . (vs.2-3)
WHY SHOULD WE SHOW NO PARTIALITY
AS BELIEVERS IN LORD JESUS?
2) We have the new value system—which is radically
different from the world.
 When Jesus becomes the Lord in our faith and daily lives,
we experience an inner transformation of our mindset.
Do not be conformed to this world,
but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,
that by testing you may discern what is the will of God,
what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:2
When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
WHY SHOULD WE SHOW NO PARTIALITY
AS BELIEVERS IN LORD JESUS?
2) We have the new value system—which is radically
different from the world.
 When Jesus becomes the Lord in our faith and daily lives,
we experience an inner transformation of our mindset.
 This inner transformation involves a change of our value
system—i.e., we must be radically different in what we
perceive as true value.
 An example of the Early Church is the Christians’ reaction
to the wealthy newcomer vs. the poor newcomer.
 True godliness reacts with this New Value System—our
radically transformed values because of our glorious Lord
Jesus.
16From
now on, therefore, we regard
no one according to the flesh. Even though we once
regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him
thus no longer. 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,
he is a new creation. The old has passed away;
behold, the new has come.
2 Corinthians 5:16-17 [ESV]
WHY SHOULD WE SHOW NO PARTIALITY
AS BELIEVERS IN LORD JESUS?
3) We have the new way of seeing people—which has no
room for partiality.
have you not then made distinctions among yourselves
and become judges with evil thoughts? (v.4)
 The opposite of “secular” is not “religious” but
“spiritual”—i.e., what is Christlike inside out.
 Showing partiality according to externals is a prideful
secularized reaction to people which results in sin.
 Therefore, we must see and treat everyone in Christ’s
values—accepting everyone as Christ accepts all.
Looking at Everyone through the Eyes of Christ
How do we practice the deity of Christ in our human
relationships? It is really quite simple: look at everyone through
the eyes of Christ. If the visitor is a Christian, we accept him
because Christ lives in him. If he is not a Christians, we can accept
him because Christ died for him. It is Christ who is the link
between us and others, and He is a link of love. The basis for
relationship with others is the person and the work of Jesus
Christ. Any other basis is not going to work. Furthermore, God
can use even the most unlikely person to bring glory to His
name. He used Peter and Zacchaeus and John Mark, and He can
use that poor man whom we might reject.
- Warren Wiersbe
PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS
FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE
1.
Examine your relationship with Christ as THE MASTER AND
STANDARD of your new value system.
 Consider whether Jesus has become your most valued
treasure.
 Repent from serving any other Master.
2. Be radically transformed in HOW YOU SEE AND EVALUATE
people.
 Stop evaluating people in a worldly way.
 Start seeing people as Jesus sees them.
3. Make NO ROOM FOR FAVORITISM because of a worldly point
of view.
 Never treat anyone from a worldly point of view.
 Practice Christ’s values with the poor as well as the rich.