A NEWSLETTER FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE GREENWOOD CHURCH OF CHRIST

VOLUME 2 NO. 39                                        November 13, 2005

JAMES 2:1-13

STEVE NIEMEIER

What an awesome passage this is that teaches us to not show partiality between the rich and the poor.  James states that we should not make our judgments upon the appearance of an individual.  It is amazing to me that this was a problem in James' time and it is still a problem in our time.

We have gone through many struggles with this passage of scripture haven't we?  A situation of slavery and discrimination in our own country because of the color of one's skin to the prejudice many of us have against those from another country.  Yet, it seems that of all the prejudices and discriminations, the one that seems to be timeless without any “action groups” trying to assist is the one between the rich and the poor.

The church that the Lord built is made up of both the rich and the poor as it pertains to “earthly treasures”.  Homes, automobiles, clothes, jewelry, etc. all are tools to distinguish between the rich and the poor.  While we may not think that we are partial and make a difference sometimes our actions tell another story.

This passage has also been taken out of context to justify “dressing down” for our worship services.  This passage does not condone that thought process at all.  It teaches about judging a poor man because he is poor and showing partiality to a rich man because he is rich.

The subject of dress in worship is a very controversial topic.  We find that our heart is to be right with the Lord and that we should not judge one's heart.  There is danger when we try to judge one's heart for we do not know the heart of a man.  God does!  We do see a man's actions and we can hear the words of a man.  Sometimes we can tell by the dress of a man or woman what statement they are trying to make.  For instance, if a man were to wear a shirt with a beer logo on it to serve on the Lord's Table we could make the observation that this individual may not understand the hypocritical message his shirt is sending.

Also, when we attend a wedding or even a funeral and we see our brothers and sisters dressed in their dressiest apparel and then see them in worship services to the Lord in very casual attire we can get an impression that the Lord is not as important as the event they did dress up for.  What is in their heart we do not know but we do get a message from them without them even speaking do we not?

We need to be very careful to remember that Paul stresses the importance of modest attire in 1 Timothy 2:8-15 and that man also must respect this teaching.  Also, Matthew 6:33 must stay fresh in our minds as it pertains to seeking first the kingdom of God.

God has done so much for us and it should be first and foremost in our minds that when we come together to worship Him that we dress appropriately to do so.  Yet, we must remember to not show partiality between rich and the poor pertaining to dress.  We must be very careful not to allow ourselves to get caught up that this allows us to dress down for the Lord as when we do this and dress up for other occasions which event have we put first?  Let us remember Matthew 6:33 when we answer this.

Yes, James 2:1-13 teaches us a powerful lesson about partiality.  Let us heed to what it teaches and not what we want it to teach.  It does not justify showing partiality because of the dress of a poor man nor does it justify “dressing down” in our public worshipping to God.