Monday, October 15, 2007

James 2:1-13: Partiality


"For whoever keeps the whole law, but falls short in one place, has become guilty in respect to all of it." ~ James 2:10

Mark Twain once wrote a fascinating essay titled "Does the Race of Man Love a Lord?". He argued that people have an innate tendency to view the rich and famous with awe and adulation. Although Twain would not say so, what we give celebrities - even successful, charismatic Christian ministers - is idolatrous lordship. Instead of worshiping the true God who laughs at the pretensions of worldly success, we love earthly lords. Then, when God, in His majesty, permits Satan to topple them (as Job was), we feel disillusioned.

This is not a new, media-driven problem; James identifies this same problem in the first-century Jerusalem church. His congregation, like the Pharisees, gave the rich places of honor and shunned the poor. James doesn't pull any punches; he says the church has become "judges with evil designs" (v.4). He then explains why Christians cannot judge anyone.

We, ourselves, are incapable of keeping the entire law by our own efforts. Some of us may have been judged as lawbreakers by secular courts. Even more of us have a speeding ticket or underage drinking citation on our records. We may not be murderers or adulterers, but we all have shown anger and lusted (Matt. 5:21-22, 27-28). We are all condemned; our only hope is in Jesus the Messiah, whose sacrificial "mercy triumphs over judgment" (v.13).

Let us also commit to a preference for the poor and for poverty of spirit, for James writes (v.5), "Did not God choose those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?" Amen.

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

http://www.purchaselevitranorx.com/#6gospel-joy.blogspot.com - buy viagra [url=http://www.purchaselevitranorx.com/#4gospel-joy.blogspot.com]levitra online[/url] levitra
levitra 10mg

Anonymous said...

tjpwb [url=http://drdrebeatsonlinesale.co.uk]beats by dre outlet[/url] vsmqj http://drdrebeatsonlinesale.co.uk ucehf [url=http://beatsdrdresales.co.uk]dr dre beats[/url] wyoyq http://beatsdrdresales.co.uk smewg [url=http://drdrebeatsonlinestores.co.uk]cheap beats by dre[/url] sdqpo http://drdrebeatsonlinestores.co.uk itcke [url=http://cheapbeatsdrdreonlinesale.com]beats by dre[/url] ymsfx http://cheapbeatsdrdreonlinesale.com qsrqb [url=http://beatsbydrdreshopping.com]beats by dre[/url] hzphd http://beatsbydrdreshopping.com qujpg [url=http://beatsbydrdreoutletforsale.com]beats by dre[/url] qlvqz http://beatsbydrdreoutletforsale.com hekl

Anonymous said...

kqvzc [url=http://louisvuittonhandbagsforsales.co.uk]louis vuitton sale[/url] sdxirz http://louisvuittonhandbagsforsales.co.uk ijxwy [url=http://cheaplouivuittonbags.co.uk]louis vuitton[/url] zvqvvh http://cheaplouivuittonbags.co.uk pmrzz [url=http://cheapestlouivuittonbags.co.uk]louis vuitton bags[/url] nohdrp http://cheapestlouivuittonbags.co.uk psqr [url=http://newlouisvuittonwalletoutlet.com]louis vuitton sale[/url] hwgmjp http://newlouisvuittonwalletoutlet.com freuc [url=http://discountlouisvuittonpurses.com]louis vuitton[/url] mmwtwk http://discountlouisvuittonpurses.com ssyuj [url=http://louisvuittonspeedyonlinesale.com]louis vuitton bags[/url] pjddkc http://louisvuittonspeedyonlinesale.com fuyh

Anonymous said...

xlcfk [url=http://newestredsoleshoes.com]christian louboutin[/url] whfktd http://newestredsoleshoes.com rvjrr [url=http://redbottomsoutletsale.com]Red Sole Shoes[/url] hlusdl http://redbottomsoutletsale.com ngjvw [url=http://cheaplouboutinoutletforwomen.com]christian louboutin shoes[/url] bgvui http://cheaplouboutinoutletforwomen.com vsurv [url=http://newchristianlouboutinssale.com]christian louboutin sale[/url] dqkhg http://newchristianlouboutinssale.com xkslh ndohw [url=http://bestchristianlouboutinstore.com]christian louboutin[/url] mjkfo http://bestchristianlouboutinstore.com wtqvq [url=http://louboutinonlinestores.com]christian louboutin outlet[/url] iyhzz http://louboutinonlinestores.com qalxo

Anonymous said...

teds woodworking , http://woodworkingplans1.com/#LypegeteDwent ted woodworking

Anonymous said...

mto [url=http://www.celineluggagetotediscount.com]Celine Bag[/url] ghm http://www.celineluggagetotediscount.com ptk [url=http://www.celinehandbagsdiscount.com]Celine Bags[/url] svt http://www.celinehandbagsdiscount.com jqi [url=http://www.celinebagxiao.com]Celine Bag[/url] uxj http://www.celinebagxiao.com kea [url=http://www.celinehandbagswe.com]Celine Bag[/url] npb http://www.celinehandbagswe.com tfq [url=http://www.drdrebeatsname.com]Dr Dre Beats[/url] tra http://www.drdrebeatsname.com iol

Anonymous said...

qav [url=http://www.beatsbydrename.com]Cheap Beats By Dre[/url] zuh http://www.beatsbydrename.com wpo [url=http://www.cheapbeatsbydrelo.com]Dr Dre Beats[/url] isf http://www.cheapbeatsbydrelo.com qkx [url=http://www.drdrebeatswe.com]Cheap Beats By Dre[/url] zct http://www.drdrebeatswe.com rgj [url=http://www.cheapbeatsbydrewe.com]Dr Dre Beats[/url] axc http://www.cheapbeatsbydrewe.com rex [url=http://www.beatsbydrewe.com]Cheap Beats By Dre[/url] wqf http://www.beatsbydrewe.com zpr [url=http://www.celineluggagetotediscount.com]Celine Handbags[/url] vct http://www.celineluggagetotediscount.com cgd [url=http://www.celinehandbagsdiscount.com]Celine Handbags[/url] epo http://www.celinehandbagsdiscount.com dvc

Anonymous said...

Hello. And Bye. Thank you very much.

Anonymous said...

Hello. And Bye. Thank you very much.

Anonymous said...

Hello. And Bye. Thank you very much.

Anonymous said...

Hello. And Bye. Thank you very much.

Anonymous said...

Hello. And Bye. Thank you very much.

Anonymous said...

ymz [url=http://www.hollisteroutletnamee.com]Hollister Clothing[/url] ffr http://www.hollisteroutletnamee.com jkj [url=http://www.hollisterjeansname.com]Hollister Clothing[/url] kxt http://www.hollisterjeansname.com grl [url=http://www.hollisteroutletname.com]Hollister Outlet[/url] flm http://www.hollisteroutletname.com rsu [url=http://www.hollisterjeanswe.com]Hollister Outlet[/url] hyc http://www.hollisterjeanswe.com tst [url=http://www.cheapbeatsbydrename.com]Hollister Jeans[/url] sfl http://www.cheapbeatsbydrename.com uxv [url=http://www.celineluggagetotediscount.com]Celine Bags[/url] zig http://www.celineluggagetotediscount.com ouh [url=http://www.celinehandbagsdiscount.com]Celine Bag[/url] cjl http://www.celinehandbagsdiscount.com sdj

Anonymous said...

pii [url=http://www.celineluggagetotediscount.com]Celine Bag[/url] ivd http://www.celineluggagetotediscount.com bla [url=http://www.celinehandbagsdiscount.com]Celine Handbags[/url] tlf http://www.celinehandbagsdiscount.com qfb [url=http://www.celinebagxiao.com]Celine Bags[/url] jpt http://www.celinebagxiao.com nzd [url=http://www.celinehandbagswe.com]Celine Handbags[/url] tca http://www.celinehandbagswe.com tew [url=http://www.drdrebeatsname.com]Cheap Beats By Dre[/url] faa http://www.drdrebeatsname.com oaz [url=http://www.hollisteroutletnamee.com]Hollister Clothing[/url] srk http://www.hollisteroutletnamee.com pis [url=http://www.hollisterjeansname.com]Hollister Outlet[/url] dqo http://www.hollisterjeansname.com bkl

Anonymous said...

hmz [url=http://www.celineluggagetotediscount.com]Celine Bag[/url] qur http://www.celineluggagetotediscount.com hza [url=http://www.celinehandbagsdiscount.com]Celine Handbags[/url] kot http://www.celinehandbagsdiscount.com yku [url=http://www.celinebagxiao.com]Celine Handbags[/url] mbr http://www.celinebagxiao.com qgy [url=http://www.celinehandbagswe.com]Celine Bags[/url] bpq http://www.celinehandbagswe.com gyc [url=http://www.drdrebeatsname.com]Cheap Beats By Dre[/url] ubx http://www.drdrebeatsname.com pmo

Anonymous said...

Hi, cheap propecia - finasteride sale http://www.sweetascanbeehoneyfarm.com/propecia.html, [url=http://www.sweetascanbeehoneyfarm.com/propecia.html]propecia cost[/url]

Anonymous said...

4, Terbinafine Generic - lamisil pills for sale http://www.lamisilfast24.net/, [url=http://www.lamisilfast24.net/] Buy Lamisil [/url]

Anonymous said...

4, Lunesta Cost - cheap lunesta online http://www.lunestasleepaid.net/, [url=http://www.lunestasleepaid.net/] Lunesta Cost [/url]

Anonymous said...

2, [url=http://www.dreamcoatsoft.com/]Generic Prednisone[/url] - Prednisone Online - prednisone pills http://www.dreamcoatsoft.com/ .

Anonymous said...

5, Order Isotretinoin Online - Isotretinoin Online - buy isotretinoin online no prescription http://www.isotretinoinonlinerx.net/ .

Anonymous said...

Blogger: Blogging in the Word - Post a Comment [url=http://www.somarxfastrelief.net/] Soma For Sale [/url] cheap carisoprodol - Purchase Soma Online - purchase soma online [url=http://www.prednosineonline4sale.net/] Order Prednisolone Online [/url] order prednisone online - Prednisone For Sale - order prednisolone [url=http://www.buystendrarxonline.net/] Buy Stendra Online [/url] buy stendra online no prescription - Buy Stendra Online - purchase stendra online [url=http://www.buymaxaltrxonline.net/] Cheap Maxalt[/url] buy cheap maxalt - Maxalt Cost - buy generic maxalt