James 2: 1-13

James 2
Favoritism Forbidden
1 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?

8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”[a] you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,”[b] also said, “You shall not murder.”[c] If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment

How many times have you walked into a church a gotten stared at until it made you totally uncomfortable? How many times have you gone into church and immediately realized that people had "their seats" and were scared to sit b/c you didn't want to take one of them? Have you ever been asked to move or have your stuff moved? Have you ever noticed people whispering b/c of the clothing you or someone else wore to church? Have you ever been made to feel like you were unwelcome or unloved at a church?

Sadly I can answer yes to all of the above questions. Why is it that churchs have become a place of immediate judgement and a place where others are made to feel unwanted? Shouldn't we (the church body) be the ones who open the doors and say come on in no matter who you are or what you look like? We are supposed to follow Jesus's example and he didn't discriminate who He loved or where He went! When He was on the cross He didn't ask God to forgive the ones who knew who He was and believed, He didn't say don't forgive the these but forgive those. He asked for forgiveness of everyone.

Are we not all sinners? YES!!!!!!!!!!!! I am a sinner! The difference is I am REDEEMED! My goal is to make everyone feel welcome at church, my home, in my presence so that I can show the AWESOME LOVE of CHRIST to them! If I don't show them love what example do they have?????

Father God, I ask today that you let me see through your eyes and not my own. That I would see people not as clean or dirty, rich or poor but that I would see bent and broken people who need you! Let your awesome love shine through me to everyone I know and will know!