"brothers of me, not with partiality hold the faith of the Lord of us, Jesus Christ of glory."1
Not with partiality hold the faith. Some translations say favoritism. This word is from prosópon and lambanó (from pros, towards, to, with and ops, visuage the front (as being towards view). If my countenance, aspect, appearance, presence, is of one exhibiting partiality then I am a respecter of persons, showing partiality or favoritism. It is interesting that right before this verse James speaks of pure and undefiled religion as to visit orphans and widows in distress, but he mentions it is also to keep oneself unstained from the world. How can we keep ourselves unstained from the world? well the next verse tells of one way. Do not show partiality or favoritism in ministry.
The world shows partiality to others based upon material things; fame, wealth, position, status... they circle those about them who have power and wealth. But we as a Church should not stain ourselves with this worldly way, we are to be influenced by godly standards. If a Senator enters my ministry and I treat him differently than the poor man, sitting him up front while I sit the poor man in the back, I show partiality. If I show him favoritism over the poor man then I have sinned. If this is a true statement then the opposite is also true; if I show favoritism to the poor man over the rich man then have I not also shown partiality and sinned? And while James uses the example of a poor man being treated differently than a rich man the analogy applies to orphans or widows, ministry in general. If during the ministry of ________ (poor, orphans, widows...) I show partiality, mistreating others then I have sinned.
To encompass is to include as a part; to cover or surround; some of the synonyms of encompass are to embrace, encircle, enclose, surround, gird.2 The new covenant church is referred to as the body of Christ, we are as its members and as members we are joined individually to the whole, we are as family, to show favoritism in this family is a sin. "So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith."3 Ministry encompasses everyone, there is to be no favoritism, no distinction from the poor, the rich, the pastor, the volunteer. The pendulum swings, to encourage service and sacrifice we swing into sin and abuse. I believe the reason many churches have problems getting volunteers, is because of this. There is a lack of good example by leaders; not only do leaders distinguish themselves by "sitting up front," but favoritism seems to be the norm.
“God shows personal favoritism to no man—for those who seemed to be something added nothing to me.”4 God measures us by our faith, our belief.5 Jesus chose twelve disciples and he spent extra time with a few, this was based on their faith, Peter, John, and James. Most volunteers probably haven't put their finger on it but they know something is wrong. In the name of serving, ministries are breaking higher commandments Jesus taught. And it gets worse, when I see a brother in need and say God bless but do nothing to meet his physical needs, then I sin. The scriptures say that I am to treat special those of the household of faith. There is this principle that I am to sacrifice, to have a servant's heart, but abuse and mistreatment should not occur within the body of Christ.
We are to be "submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ."4 To see how a man reverences God, look at how He treats the body, not at some external show of piety. Strong words but this is what the scriptures say. Treating others good, this in essence is the Golden Rule and the new commandment of loving one another as Christ loves us. By our unity and by our love will we reach others. There is this principle that I am to die to self but I am to live to Christ. Living to Christ! Christ commanded me to love others, to treat others good, so to live to Him is to follow His commandments. Living to Christ is not showing favoritism; treating volunteers badly telling them to take it in the name of _____.
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| Shelby |
The world shows partiality to others based upon material things; fame, wealth, position, status... they circle those about them who have power and wealth. But we as a Church should not stain ourselves with this worldly way, we are to be influenced by godly standards. If a Senator enters my ministry and I treat him differently than the poor man, sitting him up front while I sit the poor man in the back, I show partiality. If I show him favoritism over the poor man then I have sinned. If this is a true statement then the opposite is also true; if I show favoritism to the poor man over the rich man then have I not also shown partiality and sinned? And while James uses the example of a poor man being treated differently than a rich man the analogy applies to orphans or widows, ministry in general. If during the ministry of ________ (poor, orphans, widows...) I show partiality, mistreating others then I have sinned.
To encompass is to include as a part; to cover or surround; some of the synonyms of encompass are to embrace, encircle, enclose, surround, gird.2 The new covenant church is referred to as the body of Christ, we are as its members and as members we are joined individually to the whole, we are as family, to show favoritism in this family is a sin. "So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith."3 Ministry encompasses everyone, there is to be no favoritism, no distinction from the poor, the rich, the pastor, the volunteer. The pendulum swings, to encourage service and sacrifice we swing into sin and abuse. I believe the reason many churches have problems getting volunteers, is because of this. There is a lack of good example by leaders; not only do leaders distinguish themselves by "sitting up front," but favoritism seems to be the norm.
“God shows personal favoritism to no man—for those who seemed to be something added nothing to me.”4 God measures us by our faith, our belief.5 Jesus chose twelve disciples and he spent extra time with a few, this was based on their faith, Peter, John, and James. Most volunteers probably haven't put their finger on it but they know something is wrong. In the name of serving, ministries are breaking higher commandments Jesus taught. And it gets worse, when I see a brother in need and say God bless but do nothing to meet his physical needs, then I sin. The scriptures say that I am to treat special those of the household of faith. There is this principle that I am to sacrifice, to have a servant's heart, but abuse and mistreatment should not occur within the body of Christ.
We are to be "submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ."4 To see how a man reverences God, look at how He treats the body, not at some external show of piety. Strong words but this is what the scriptures say. Treating others good, this in essence is the Golden Rule and the new commandment of loving one another as Christ loves us. By our unity and by our love will we reach others. There is this principle that I am to die to self but I am to live to Christ. Living to Christ! Christ commanded me to love others, to treat others good, so to live to Him is to follow His commandments. Living to Christ is not showing favoritism; treating volunteers badly telling them to take it in the name of _____.