WEBVTT 00:00:35.439 --> 00:00:41.119 Hi, it's Pastor Jonathan, and thanks for downloading the FBC El Dorado Sermon Podcast. 00:00:41.359 --> 00:00:49.200 In today's sermon, we'll continue our study of the book of James as we consider James chapter 2, verses 1 through 13. 00:00:49.600 --> 00:00:57.920 In these verses, James teaches us an important lesson that healthy families forbid favoritism. 00:00:58.159 --> 00:01:01.759 But it's not enough for us just to forbid favoritism. 00:01:02.000 --> 00:01:04.480 We also must fight against it. 00:01:04.799 --> 00:01:14.719 My challenge and my encouragement to you is throughout the next five days, when you wake up in the morning, pray for vacation Bible school. 00:01:15.040 --> 00:01:22.640 Later today, in your inbox, you will receive those prayer points again that were published in our June edition of the Tidings. 00:01:22.879 --> 00:01:32.959 Put those prayer points on your bedside table, put them inside your Bible, put them in that place where you will see them first thing in the morning and pray through those prayer points over the next five days. 00:01:33.280 --> 00:01:45.040 Because nothing God-driven will occur at vacation Bible school without God's people humbling themselves in prayer before Him. 00:01:45.280 --> 00:01:47.439 And it was so exciting over the last week. 00:01:47.599 --> 00:02:02.480 You could just kind of feel the energy and the excitement building in our church as volunteers and staff were working together, preparing for vacation Bible school, building, constructing the set, having meetings about recreation and Bible study. 00:02:02.959 --> 00:02:10.400 And that energy and excitement really what it confirmed for me is that now summer is in full swing, right? 00:02:10.639 --> 00:02:15.520 Like the return of vacation Bible School 2021, summer is in full swing. 00:02:15.599 --> 00:02:22.479 And I don't know about you, but I love summer, and it's my guess that many of you love summer too. 00:02:22.639 --> 00:02:24.879 And so I'm really kind of curious this morning. 00:02:24.960 --> 00:02:27.360 We're just gonna start this way, kind of an unusual way. 00:02:27.439 --> 00:02:34.159 It's me channeling uh Man on the Street, if you're familiar with that sketch from the late night uh comedy hours. 00:02:34.240 --> 00:02:35.759 So we'll see how this turns out. 00:02:35.840 --> 00:02:40.400 It could go very poorly, and I'm I'm ready for that to occur. 00:02:40.560 --> 00:02:44.000 Um but uh so what's your favorite thing about summer? 00:02:44.080 --> 00:02:49.360 And I think Margaret Cup, Margaret's a teacher, and so like, hey, how are you doing today, right, Margaret? 00:02:49.439 --> 00:02:53.360 I didn't even tell you I was gonna talk to you, but I saw you and I was like, she's gonna have an answer for this. 00:02:53.680 --> 00:02:56.639 Margaret Cup, teacher, Hugh Goodwoman. 00:02:56.719 --> 00:02:58.159 What grade are you currently teaching? 00:02:58.879 --> 00:03:00.879 Fourth grade, and you've taught for how many years? 00:03:01.120 --> 00:03:01.520 30 years. 00:03:01.759 --> 00:03:02.479 30 plus years. 00:03:02.879 --> 00:03:06.159 30 years, so gone past three decades. 00:03:06.319 --> 00:03:07.280 Awesome. 00:03:07.840 --> 00:03:12.560 As a teacher for 30 years, Margaret, what is your favorite thing about summer? 00:03:12.800 --> 00:03:14.960 Not having to get up at 5 a.m. 00:03:15.520 --> 00:03:17.599 All right, not having to get up at 5 a.m. 00:03:17.840 --> 00:03:18.240 All right. 00:03:18.319 --> 00:03:21.439 I think we can all agree that's a pretty awesome and amazing thing. 00:03:21.599 --> 00:03:23.360 Uh get to sleep in a little bit. 00:03:23.520 --> 00:03:25.759 Um, who hey Hutch, what's your favorite? 00:03:26.000 --> 00:03:28.080 Yeah, you knew I was coming to you too, man. 00:03:28.240 --> 00:03:30.400 Because you're always up for a good soundbite. 00:03:30.560 --> 00:03:34.159 Um, Hutch, what's your favorite thing about summer? 00:03:34.960 --> 00:03:36.479 Not having to go to school. 00:03:36.719 --> 00:03:38.560 All right, we got some honesty in the room. 00:03:38.639 --> 00:03:40.960 Give Hutch a round of applause, everybody. 00:03:41.840 --> 00:03:52.879 So, um, in my family, one of our favorite things when it comes to summer is enjoying some very uh appropriate uh frozen treats. 00:03:53.120 --> 00:03:56.800 And we really like snow cones around my house. 00:03:56.960 --> 00:04:00.879 So, uh Will Colvin, do you have a favorite snow cone flavor? 00:04:01.280 --> 00:04:01.919 Blueberry. 00:04:02.319 --> 00:04:02.960 Strawberry. 00:04:03.039 --> 00:04:03.599 They're right here. 00:04:03.759 --> 00:04:05.439 Will strawberry is his favorite. 00:04:05.599 --> 00:04:08.879 Uh Camden, do you have a favorite snow cone flavor? 00:04:09.199 --> 00:04:09.840 Blueberry. 00:04:10.159 --> 00:04:12.560 Blueberry, y'all here, Camden, blueberry. 00:04:12.719 --> 00:04:17.040 So, um, I have a favorite snow cone flavor, full disclosure. 00:04:17.199 --> 00:04:22.319 Um, I haven't had a snow cone since I was a child because I don't need extra sugar in my diet. 00:04:22.480 --> 00:04:23.360 Can I get an Amen? 00:04:23.839 --> 00:04:28.240 But um, my favorite snow cone flavor is something called tiger's blood. 00:04:28.319 --> 00:04:37.759 Um, and it was all the mixture of all the red uh dye in one place with like cream on top, and it was absolutely amazing. 00:04:37.920 --> 00:04:41.600 So uh we've got time for just like one more question this morning. 00:04:41.759 --> 00:04:55.120 And and really, we're coming out of this period of like 14 or 15 months when um moms and dads who have kids living in their home, they've heard words like quarantine and lockdown, and now we're all the way back to summer. 00:04:55.199 --> 00:05:00.000 And I think like over this past 14 or 15 months, moms and dads, it's gonna make sense. 00:05:00.160 --> 00:05:04.399 I think they all have an answer to this question, although they may not want to give it to us. 00:05:04.480 --> 00:05:12.720 So I'm gonna ask this question to the uh coach of the El Dorado uh Wildcat, Stephen Jones, because he has four kids who live in his house. 00:05:12.800 --> 00:05:16.240 So, Steven, here's the question: Who's your favorite child? 00:05:18.319 --> 00:05:20.319 I don't think I can answer that. 00:05:21.759 --> 00:05:23.600 Is that because you've forgotten their names? 00:05:23.839 --> 00:05:25.120 Because I can tell you their names. 00:05:25.199 --> 00:05:27.040 Like I can feed you the names. 00:05:27.680 --> 00:05:28.399 It'd be a bad idea. 00:05:28.959 --> 00:05:30.639 You don't want to even like whisper it to me? 00:05:30.879 --> 00:05:31.040 No. 00:05:31.279 --> 00:05:32.000 No, yeah. 00:05:32.240 --> 00:05:41.199 So, you know, in life, so often we uh joke about uh parents having favorite kids, don't we? 00:05:41.439 --> 00:05:44.079 We talk about it, it's a joke, it's kind of a gag. 00:05:44.639 --> 00:05:53.519 But if you ever like ask someone who's your favorite child, they decide, well, I probably shouldn't answer that question. 00:05:53.680 --> 00:05:56.720 Or they say they don't have an answer to that question. 00:05:56.959 --> 00:05:58.639 Um did you know this? 00:05:58.720 --> 00:06:20.720 That maybe the reason um moms and dads don't want to answer that question is because several years ago a research study was performed and it discovered that 74% of moms and 70% of fathers actually did exhibit favoritism toward one child in their family. 00:06:21.360 --> 00:06:24.959 I mean, some of y'all are nodding your head like, that's believable. 00:06:26.240 --> 00:06:27.120 Did you catch that? 00:06:27.279 --> 00:06:34.720 Like, three out of four parents show favoritism towards a child who lives under their roof. 00:06:35.120 --> 00:06:36.720 What exactly is favoritism? 00:06:36.800 --> 00:06:37.680 What are we talking about? 00:06:37.839 --> 00:06:39.519 This is how I would define it. 00:06:39.839 --> 00:06:49.199 The practice of giving unfair preferential treatment to one group or one person at the expense of another. 00:06:49.759 --> 00:06:57.680 The practice of giving unfair preferential treatment to one person or group at the expense of another. 00:06:57.920 --> 00:07:03.439 So in a family setting, favoritism manifests itself in a variety of ways. 00:07:03.519 --> 00:07:15.040 Uh one parent spends more time with uh one child than the other children, or uh one parent gives more affection or more attention to one child than all the others. 00:07:15.360 --> 00:07:20.480 They give more privileges and less discipline to their favorite child. 00:07:21.120 --> 00:07:25.120 But favoritism, right, isn't a recent phenomenon. 00:07:25.759 --> 00:07:32.959 Uh just think of these families that we meet in the pages of the Bible, specifically in the first book of the Bible called Genesis. 00:07:33.199 --> 00:07:37.040 In Genesis, one of the first people we meet is that man named Abraham. 00:07:37.600 --> 00:07:43.519 His firstborn son is named Ishmael, and his second son is named Isaac. 00:07:43.759 --> 00:07:53.439 And you only need to like give a quick read of Abraham's story, and what you discover is this Isaac is the favorite child. 00:07:54.399 --> 00:08:02.399 And then Isaac, when he grows up and he has a family all of his own, um, Isaac follows in his father's footsteps. 00:08:03.120 --> 00:08:11.439 His favorite son is named Esau, while his wife Rebekah, her favorite son, is Jacob. 00:08:11.839 --> 00:08:28.079 And then Jacob, the favorite son of Rebekah, when he grows up and has a family all of his own, he follows the example of mom and dad, and he has a favorite son named Joseph, which really chap the hide of the ten older brothers, doesn't it? 00:08:28.560 --> 00:08:35.600 Now, in each of those stories, a parent's favoritism leads to disastrous consequences. 00:08:35.919 --> 00:08:41.279 When Ishmael is just a young boy, Abraham kicks him out of the house and sends him out into the wilderness. 00:08:41.759 --> 00:08:54.159 Isaac and Rebekah's favoritism, it puts Jacob and Esau at odds with one another, so much so that Jacob has to flee for his life and leave behind his family. 00:08:54.720 --> 00:09:01.360 And then Jacob's own favoritism, when he grows up, it sparks anger within those ten older boys. 00:09:01.600 --> 00:09:10.159 So one day, out of anger and hatred, they capture Joseph, they throw him into a pit, and they sell him into slavery. 00:09:10.799 --> 00:09:19.360 The consequences of favoritism in your family, they may not be that dramatic, but they are no less dangerous. 00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:25.519 A family therapist named Mallory Williams describes the consequences of favoritism this way. 00:09:25.679 --> 00:09:27.120 Listen to what she says. 00:09:27.440 --> 00:09:43.919 The biggest long-term dangers are depression, anxiety, unstable or even traumatic reactions and personal relationships, and performance anxiety for both the favored and the non-favored child. 00:09:44.080 --> 00:09:53.519 So whether you are the favorite or the not as favourite, there are disastrous consequences in the life of a child when favoritism occurs. 00:09:53.840 --> 00:10:01.600 So here's the thing: the stories of the Bible and the stories of our life are in agreement on this very topic. 00:10:01.840 --> 00:10:02.639 Here it is. 00:10:02.879 --> 00:10:05.759 Healthy families forbid favoritism. 00:10:06.240 --> 00:10:11.039 You may have feelings of favoritism, but you don't act on them. 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:22.960 That means that moms and dads, for the health of your family, you give your children equal time, affection, privileges, and yes, discipline. 00:10:23.679 --> 00:10:26.480 Now, equal doesn't mean the same. 00:10:27.039 --> 00:10:29.360 Every child is different. 00:10:31.279 --> 00:10:34.399 And every child is deserving. 00:10:35.360 --> 00:10:44.399 Every child is deserving of time and affection, privileges, and discipline. 00:10:45.279 --> 00:10:55.440 So we don't want to shortchange any of our children, the children God has put into our home, because healthy families forbid favoritism. 00:10:57.120 --> 00:11:08.639 And what is true of the family who lives under your roof is also true of the family that gathers under this roof. 00:11:09.840 --> 00:11:14.879 Healthy families forbid favoritism. 00:11:16.159 --> 00:11:21.840 This morning we're returning to the book of James for our series Authentic Faith. 00:11:22.159 --> 00:11:30.320 And since week one, we've defined authentic faith with that simple statement: authentic faith is actionable. 00:11:30.960 --> 00:11:38.960 Actionable faith transforms the way we engage with the world, how we interact with people outside of these walls. 00:11:39.360 --> 00:11:49.360 But authentic, actionable faith, it also transforms, it also shapes the way that we see and interact and treat one another. 00:11:50.080 --> 00:11:55.759 Authentic, actionable faith forbids favoritism. 00:11:56.399 --> 00:12:04.000 And that's a really important thing for us to listen or hear this morning from James as we read from chapter two in just a few minutes. 00:12:04.559 --> 00:12:10.720 Because favoritism is the standard operating procedure of the world. 00:12:11.759 --> 00:12:14.320 That is how the world operates. 00:12:14.639 --> 00:12:18.799 We see favoritism at work in our government. 00:12:19.120 --> 00:12:23.360 We see favoritism at work, well, in our workplaces. 00:12:23.759 --> 00:12:27.279 We see favoritism at work in our communities. 00:12:27.759 --> 00:12:30.320 Favoritism is all around us. 00:12:30.480 --> 00:12:34.320 And the Bible says that favoritism is forbidden. 00:12:34.720 --> 00:12:46.159 And that means that the church becomes this family, this place that stands in opposition to the ways of the world. 00:12:49.120 --> 00:12:51.759 And here's what we need to realize, though. 00:12:52.639 --> 00:12:56.879 Favoritism, and this is stronger language than sometimes I use. 00:12:57.200 --> 00:13:01.519 Favoritism is a demonic spirit of the world. 00:13:02.879 --> 00:13:10.639 Because favoritism stands in opposition to the character and the kingdom and the gospel of God. 00:13:12.879 --> 00:13:17.759 But favoritism is kind of like this crouching lion outside of our walls. 00:13:17.919 --> 00:13:21.440 It's lurking, it's hoping to infiltrate. 00:13:22.720 --> 00:13:36.480 Because whenever it gets even just an inch, even if that inch is just a passing comment or a single thought, it erodes trust in a family, doesn't it? 00:13:37.840 --> 00:13:41.120 Well, favoritism grasp just a single inch. 00:13:41.519 --> 00:13:57.600 When it looks like a person uh receiving favored treatment, they're maybe put into a position of leadership or influence solely because of the power and privilege they have in the world, it puts us at odds with one another. 00:13:58.720 --> 00:14:09.840 Favoritism, if it's allowed to grow and to flourish in a church, what it does is it fractures and it causes fissures in the very foundation of the family. 00:14:11.200 --> 00:14:30.080 We need to realize that favoritism, because of the way that our world operates, that it's the standard operating procedure of the world when it comes to how we see and how we um interact with one another, it is a very serious threat to the life of the local church. 00:14:30.799 --> 00:14:34.559 And its consequences are dangerous. 00:14:35.600 --> 00:14:40.720 But maybe because it is so prevalent in the world, it's not enough to just forbid it. 00:14:41.360 --> 00:14:44.080 We have to fight against it. 00:14:45.840 --> 00:15:09.519 So in our remaining time, James, the half-brother of Jesus, he's gonna remind us of three key strategies that the local church needs to implement so that they can fight against favoritism, so that they can see one another, interact with one another in a way that stands in opposition to the ways of the world. 00:15:10.080 --> 00:15:14.320 Strategy number one, honor God's character. 00:15:14.799 --> 00:15:18.960 Strategy number two, honor God's kingdom. 00:15:19.440 --> 00:15:23.519 Strategy number three, honor God's gospel. 00:15:24.399 --> 00:15:39.120 And those three strategies, when we implement them and live according to them, they not only help us have success in this fight, they also nurture within us that authentic, actionable faith that we are seeking. 00:15:39.440 --> 00:15:46.080 They also make us and grow us up into a healthy family of faith. 00:15:46.799 --> 00:15:49.759 So let's begin this morning with strategy number one. 00:15:50.159 --> 00:15:52.639 Honor God's character. 00:15:53.279 --> 00:15:57.279 Listen to what James says in chapter 2, verses 1 through 4. 00:15:58.240 --> 00:16:08.159 He says, My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 00:16:09.600 --> 00:16:19.200 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring in fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 00:16:20.480 --> 00:16:39.519 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, have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 00:16:40.960 --> 00:16:46.000 James begins chapter 2 by identifying the people he's writing to. 00:16:46.159 --> 00:16:49.120 He calls them his brothers and sisters. 00:16:50.399 --> 00:16:52.320 That's relational language. 00:16:52.639 --> 00:16:56.960 It tells us that James views the church as a family. 00:16:58.960 --> 00:17:05.119 But this family is not related to one another as a result of earthly lineage. 00:17:05.599 --> 00:17:10.720 They are related, they are connected to one another because of their heavenly Lord. 00:17:11.119 --> 00:17:15.920 They are believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. 00:17:17.039 --> 00:17:25.119 And with just those opening words, what James says, he says, family, let's come together, let's hold hands and let's approach Jesus. 00:17:25.200 --> 00:17:28.240 Let's stand in his presence together. 00:17:30.240 --> 00:17:38.960 Because when we stand in the presence of our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, the character of God is revealed to us. 00:17:41.440 --> 00:17:49.200 And the character of God is simply this: He is a God who forbids and fights against favoritism. 00:17:50.400 --> 00:17:54.480 Listen to what Deuteronomy chapter 10, verse 17 says. 00:17:54.799 --> 00:17:59.279 It says, For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords. 00:17:59.759 --> 00:18:15.200 The great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes, who shows no partiality. 00:18:16.079 --> 00:18:22.960 There is no space, not even an inch of space in God's character for favoritism. 00:18:24.799 --> 00:18:32.480 And maybe if we're being honest with ourselves, that revelation about God makes us a little uneasy. 00:18:33.759 --> 00:18:41.839 It makes us uneasy because on some level we hope God is partial to us. 00:18:44.160 --> 00:18:49.359 We hope God likes people and people like me more than he likes other people. 00:18:49.599 --> 00:18:53.440 They're okay, and I'm better than okay. 00:18:54.960 --> 00:18:59.359 We hope that God is partial to Americans over other nationalities. 00:18:59.680 --> 00:19:09.839 We hope that God is partial to Southerners versus Texans, because I know there is a real difference to the Texans who are in the room. 00:19:11.920 --> 00:19:18.400 That God prefers the educated and the employed to the uneducated and the unemployed. 00:19:19.759 --> 00:19:29.680 We just hope that God has this inch or two of favoritism and partiality in its character, and that he directs it towards me and people like me. 00:19:29.920 --> 00:19:37.039 Because in our mind, then it means like God puts this big divine rubber stamp on my life and he says, You got it all together. 00:19:37.359 --> 00:19:40.799 You're living just the life I envisioned everyone to be. 00:19:40.880 --> 00:19:52.079 Like if everyone could be like you, have your education, have your bank account, have your career, have your family, have your experience in life, they would be alright. 00:19:52.640 --> 00:19:54.400 If everybody was like me. 00:19:55.920 --> 00:20:01.519 Or maybe we just want there to be an inch or two of partiality in God's life. 00:20:02.400 --> 00:20:08.319 Because then we just believe that God's more likely to hear my prayers than the prayers of other people. 00:20:08.799 --> 00:20:13.759 Or God's more likely to share his blessings on me than on other people. 00:20:14.559 --> 00:20:16.319 But hear that again. 00:20:16.559 --> 00:20:23.119 Within God's character, there is not even an inch of space for favoritism. 00:20:23.519 --> 00:20:26.720 There is no partiality. 00:20:27.839 --> 00:20:31.759 Our God is a perfect heavenly father. 00:20:32.400 --> 00:20:34.480 He loves all of his children. 00:20:34.640 --> 00:20:37.440 He gives all of his children attention. 00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:40.559 He doesn't have favored and unfavored children. 00:20:40.640 --> 00:20:42.400 And here's the result of that. 00:20:42.720 --> 00:20:45.119 All of God's children can trust him. 00:20:46.160 --> 00:20:54.559 Like one of the fruits of favoritism in a family, one of the ugly, rotten fruits is that it erodes trust in families. 00:20:55.119 --> 00:21:06.400 But if we know a perfect heavenly father who has no favoritism in his heart, it means all of us can trust God completely with our lives. 00:21:07.839 --> 00:21:10.799 We can trust that he is who he says he is. 00:21:11.039 --> 00:21:14.400 He will keep and fulfill every one of his promises. 00:21:14.559 --> 00:21:16.640 He will never disappoint. 00:21:16.799 --> 00:21:20.240 He's not just gonna tell us something to get us off his back. 00:21:25.839 --> 00:21:28.240 That's who God is. 00:21:29.359 --> 00:21:34.000 That's God's character, and that's where our fight against favoritism begins. 00:21:34.960 --> 00:21:40.960 Then in verses 2 through 4, James describes this scenario. 00:21:42.000 --> 00:21:46.000 A scenario which does not reflect the character of God. 00:21:47.039 --> 00:21:52.079 Instead, he describes a scenario that reflects the character of the world. 00:21:53.519 --> 00:21:59.519 James uses an illustration to kind of reveal what occurs when you allow even an inch of real estate for favoritism. 00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:02.720 The church, within the body of believers. 00:22:03.119 --> 00:22:04.640 So here's his scenario. 00:22:04.799 --> 00:22:11.519 He says, Imagine a day when two men arrive and they walk in to the gathering of the church. 00:22:11.680 --> 00:22:15.119 They walk in, God's people are assembled and gathered in one place. 00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:21.200 One of the men, he is wearing a tailored suit, uh tailored suit and a gold ring. 00:22:21.440 --> 00:22:24.400 Literally, in Greek, he is the gold finger. 00:22:25.359 --> 00:22:26.480 James Bond, okay? 00:22:26.559 --> 00:22:27.200 Come on, guys. 00:22:27.440 --> 00:22:28.079 You there? 00:22:28.559 --> 00:22:30.160 He is the gold-fingered one. 00:22:30.319 --> 00:22:32.079 The gold-fingered one arrives. 00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:33.519 But then there's a second man. 00:22:33.680 --> 00:22:39.920 The second man arrives and he's wearing tattered pants, uh, a t-shirt that's dirty and has holes on it. 00:22:40.400 --> 00:22:50.480 Now, when the well-dressed man arrives who's wealthy, um, they roll out the red carpet, they escort him to the seat of honor, have a seat right there. 00:22:51.279 --> 00:23:01.200 When the other man who's wearing his tattered pants and his dirty t-shirt arrives, they say, crisscross applesauce, right over there, right in the floor. 00:23:03.359 --> 00:23:10.559 So scenarios like James, what he describes, were actually probably pretty common in the ancient world in the Roman Empire. 00:23:10.880 --> 00:23:20.000 In Rome, um, about 2% of the population possessed all of the wealth, and the other 98% of the population lived in poverty. 00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:28.000 There's no middle class, there's no working class, there's 2% who have it all, and 98% who have nothing at all. 00:23:28.480 --> 00:23:37.039 As a result, there's this very highly stratified culture with basically like a Roman caste system that's at play. 00:23:37.359 --> 00:23:41.200 And in public gatherings, the rich were given favor. 00:23:41.839 --> 00:23:50.160 They were given privilege because it was believed that if we treat the rich well, they will come back and want to be a part of us, even if we're poor. 00:23:50.319 --> 00:23:56.559 And when they attach themselves and sit with us, then they're gonna raise our social status in the world. 00:23:56.720 --> 00:24:06.000 A little bit of their presence and their power and their prestige, little uh pixie dust will kind of brush off on us and we'll become a little bit more like them. 00:24:07.359 --> 00:24:15.440 Now, we don't have seats for the suits and seats for the tattered pants, right? 00:24:15.759 --> 00:24:19.440 Like, that's not our culture that we live in. 00:24:20.640 --> 00:24:24.400 And in fact, like the privileged seat is like the back row seat, right? 00:24:24.480 --> 00:24:25.839 Like, that's where you want. 00:24:26.240 --> 00:24:29.279 No one wants to sit at the front row. 00:24:29.839 --> 00:24:30.480 Too close. 00:24:30.559 --> 00:24:32.960 I may look at them too much. 00:24:33.039 --> 00:24:34.000 I don't know. 00:24:35.920 --> 00:24:41.839 But we do have our own kind of culturally acceptable ways that we do the very same thing. 00:24:42.160 --> 00:24:49.680 And I've celebrated a marvelous five years here at First Baptist Church of Vel Dorado, and so we're just gonna have to see where this lands. 00:24:49.920 --> 00:24:51.839 What I'm about to say next. 00:24:52.480 --> 00:24:54.799 May make some of us really uncomfortable. 00:24:55.039 --> 00:25:06.720 But I but I think these this is the way James is teaching and the spirit of his teaching connects with a church in 2021 where we are located in South Arkansas. 00:25:07.200 --> 00:25:14.400 Um, so here's one example that I think kind of captures the spirit of James's argument. 00:25:14.720 --> 00:25:33.519 In the life of the church, um, we roll out the red carpet, we have the seat of honor, um, meaning we listen to the opinion of, value the opinion more of the person who can solely because of their wealth and power and privilege always write a bigger check. 00:25:34.319 --> 00:25:38.400 But the person who can't write a big check, we always write them off. 00:25:39.200 --> 00:25:40.799 We don't listen to them. 00:25:42.160 --> 00:25:44.799 That's kind of James's point, right? 00:25:45.200 --> 00:25:48.400 Like just because of your power and privilege, you earn something. 00:25:48.559 --> 00:25:53.200 Just because of who you are outside these walls, you get listened to. 00:25:53.359 --> 00:25:55.200 Your opinion matters more. 00:25:55.839 --> 00:25:59.119 Chriss Cross applesauce, you sit over in the floor. 00:26:00.240 --> 00:26:14.400 Or maybe another example would be this um it's considering someone for a role of leadership, a lay role of leadership, like being a deacon, simply because they have a powerful, influential job in the community. 00:26:14.960 --> 00:26:19.519 That is the only qualification that went through the mind in that decision-making process. 00:26:19.680 --> 00:26:30.079 But we automatically, you would write off someone who, when they get home from work, has grease on their hands, or maybe um they're in between jobs. 00:26:31.839 --> 00:26:41.359 Those are a couple of ways that are kind of culturally acceptable in churches to discriminate according to appearance. 00:26:43.680 --> 00:26:47.599 There are more that could make us even more uncomfortable. 00:26:48.000 --> 00:26:55.599 But it's all of those times in our life together when we defer to people who have more than. 00:26:57.680 --> 00:27:03.279 Every time in our life together when we say, Well, you know who he knows. 00:27:03.519 --> 00:27:05.680 You know who his family is. 00:27:07.599 --> 00:27:15.200 And the person who has less they enter, the person who has no family who's notable, they're like crisscross, applesauce, you in the floor. 00:27:15.279 --> 00:27:19.279 We, you know, you can come, but like you're not really a part. 00:27:23.519 --> 00:27:26.640 That's when we discriminate according to appearances. 00:27:26.960 --> 00:27:34.079 And in those moments, even when like those are like passing thoughts, those are single words, right? 00:27:35.359 --> 00:27:39.839 But those are moments when we lose the fight against favoritism. 00:27:41.039 --> 00:27:45.599 And we reflect the character of the world and not the character of God. 00:27:46.400 --> 00:27:58.079 The character of God says, My church, listen, you will see the world, according to the words of 2 Corinthians 5, to regard no one from a worldly point of view. 00:27:58.559 --> 00:28:08.079 In other words, we're not gonna honor or dishonor someone because of their appearance, because of what they have, because of their privilege or their power, how the world outside views them. 00:28:08.240 --> 00:28:12.240 Instead, we're just gonna see everyone with the eyes of God. 00:28:12.480 --> 00:28:22.720 We're gonna see everyone is made in the image of God, uniquely gifted by the Holy Spirit, someone who is valued and loved and cherished. 00:28:23.680 --> 00:28:27.440 And when we do that, we're winning the fight. 00:28:27.680 --> 00:28:30.640 We're reflecting God's character. 00:28:31.279 --> 00:28:36.400 Strategy number two is this, then honor God's kingdom. 00:28:36.640 --> 00:28:39.680 Two more verses, the next two, verses five and six. 00:28:39.920 --> 00:28:53.279 James says this listen, my dear brothers, 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? 00:28:53.680 --> 00:28:56.720 But you have dishonored the poor. 00:28:56.960 --> 00:28:59.599 Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? 00:28:59.759 --> 00:29:03.839 Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 00:29:04.400 --> 00:29:07.359 Here's what uh James does in those two verses. 00:29:07.519 --> 00:29:12.640 He's trying to expose the lunacy of favoritism in the church. 00:29:12.960 --> 00:29:16.880 He's like, why are you operating according to the rules of the world? 00:29:17.119 --> 00:29:24.079 These people that you're honoring because they have power and privilege and wealth, they're dragging you unjustly into court. 00:29:24.160 --> 00:29:26.480 They're treating you terribly. 00:29:27.200 --> 00:29:34.240 Or maybe, James, for us, it would say this: like, you always complain about how the government runs. 00:29:36.160 --> 00:29:39.680 You always complain about the favoritism at work. 00:29:40.880 --> 00:29:46.240 You always point out the favoritism in your community, and you wish it wasn't that way. 00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:56.640 So, why in the world are you practicing favoritism in the one place that it is absolutely forbidden? 00:30:01.359 --> 00:30:06.160 Why are you honoring the kingdom of the world and not the kingdom of God? 00:30:09.440 --> 00:30:18.079 And we honor God's kingdom when we remember what did James say, God has chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world. 00:30:19.200 --> 00:30:26.480 God has chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world. 00:30:27.119 --> 00:30:32.960 Earlier this week, I read that statement, and immediately the Holy Spirit reminded me of that story. 00:30:33.119 --> 00:30:47.920 You know the story in uh Mark chapter 12, when one day Jesus and his disciples, they're um sitting right outside of the temple of Jerusalem, and they see a group of wealthy men go up to the offering box at the temple, and they put in wealth. 00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:52.400 Like they put in lots of gold, lots of coin, and and and then they'll walk away. 00:30:52.559 --> 00:31:03.200 And then this poor widow comes up and she just has like a few cents to her name, um, just a few coins, and she puts everything, every bit of the wealth attached to her name. 00:31:03.359 --> 00:31:09.680 She puts it inside of that offering plate, inside of that box, and then she just walks away. 00:31:10.400 --> 00:31:12.400 Now the world would assume that what? 00:31:12.640 --> 00:31:15.759 Jesus is gonna honor the men who gave more. 00:31:16.799 --> 00:31:19.839 He's gonna honor the gold fingers, right? 00:31:21.599 --> 00:31:24.480 But that's not the way of the kingdom of God. 00:31:25.759 --> 00:31:35.599 Jesus looks at his disciples and he says, This, he says, Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 00:31:35.839 --> 00:31:37.920 She put in everything. 00:31:38.720 --> 00:31:44.079 All she had to live on. 00:31:45.920 --> 00:31:56.480 This woman honors the kingdom of God because she approaches God as this completely dependent child. 00:31:59.039 --> 00:32:08.799 You see, in our fight against favoritism, this means that we we no longer see one another, we no longer interact with one another as white collar, blue collar, and no-collar. 00:32:09.519 --> 00:32:18.079 Instead, we honor God's kingdom because we first and foremost see one another as dependent children. 00:32:19.599 --> 00:32:24.000 None of us can depend upon ourselves. 00:32:25.200 --> 00:32:34.319 Like part of the reason you roll out the red carpet, right, for someone who's wealthy, is because you think you can depend on some things that they can give you. 00:32:35.039 --> 00:32:38.799 Like they have something they can offer that can make your life easier. 00:32:38.960 --> 00:32:43.279 That's what it was in the first century, and that's often how our mind operates as well. 00:32:44.880 --> 00:32:46.799 But we can't depend upon them. 00:32:47.039 --> 00:32:49.440 We can only depend upon God. 00:32:50.079 --> 00:33:00.720 You know, we're like the children of Israel in the sense, like we're wandering through this wilderness, and every day we're learning to be dependent upon the God who sends manna from heaven and water from the rock. 00:33:00.960 --> 00:33:10.160 We're learning every day to be dependent upon the God who guides our very and every step of the way with his presence in our life. 00:33:11.359 --> 00:33:18.319 And when we're truly dependent upon God, listen, there is no space, not even an inch of space for favoritism. 00:33:20.480 --> 00:33:23.759 Because listen, we don't look to one another. 00:33:24.720 --> 00:33:26.000 We look to God. 00:33:27.200 --> 00:33:28.480 We depend on him. 00:33:32.480 --> 00:33:35.519 Strategy number one, honor God's character. 00:33:35.759 --> 00:33:39.039 Strategy number two, honor God's kingdom. 00:33:39.839 --> 00:33:40.880 Let's go to the last one. 00:33:41.039 --> 00:33:44.400 Strategy three, honor God's gospel. 00:33:44.880 --> 00:33:46.799 Verses twelve and thirteen. 00:33:48.319 --> 00:33:54.880 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom. 00:33:55.599 --> 00:34:01.039 Because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. 00:34:01.440 --> 00:34:06.400 Mercy triumphs over judgment. 00:34:08.159 --> 00:34:20.960 James concludes this section, this passage of teaching, by instructing the church and saying, Let every word that is spoken and every act that is performed be scrutinized according to this one rule, this one law. 00:34:21.119 --> 00:34:24.960 Let it reflect the law that gives freedom. 00:34:25.760 --> 00:34:31.440 That law that gives freedom is the gospel, the good news. 00:34:32.159 --> 00:34:38.960 Galatians chapter 5, verse 1 declares, It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. 00:34:40.559 --> 00:34:54.960 And this gospel, listen, it fights against favoritism, because it is given to all who believe without regard to any power or privilege or prestige that they possess in the world. 00:34:57.039 --> 00:35:09.039 The freedom offered by this gospel, listen, it fights against favoritism because it is not purchased with dollars in cents. 00:35:09.280 --> 00:35:13.199 It was purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ. 00:35:14.800 --> 00:35:28.079 It's a freedom that is offered not because of who you are, but a freedom offered because of who he is, who Jesus is, and what Jesus has accomplished. 00:35:29.920 --> 00:35:41.760 And to honor the gospel, to see one another and treat one another according to the gospel, it fights against favoritism because we're not just dependent children, we are also needy children. 00:35:43.760 --> 00:35:51.360 Needy children who every single day we're honoring the gospel in our life and saying, God, I need your grace, we all need your grace. 00:35:51.599 --> 00:35:54.480 God, I need your mercy, we all need your mercy. 00:35:54.559 --> 00:36:02.559 Don't keep your mercy from anyone, God, give it all to us because James says, Surely mercy triumphs over judgment. 00:36:04.880 --> 00:36:16.719 Now, if I were to be honest, if I weren't preaching through James, I don't think I would have ever picked James chapter 2, verses 1 through 13 for a Sunday morning. 00:36:20.960 --> 00:36:23.920 That's a passage that makes me really uncomfortable. 00:36:25.920 --> 00:36:29.760 Makes me kind of uncomfortable to say some of the things it forces me to say. 00:36:31.039 --> 00:36:39.199 And I think that's in part because it just goes against every um way in which our world operates. 00:36:39.840 --> 00:36:50.159 Like we are so shaped and indoctrinated to believe that favoritism should be a standard operating procedure. 00:36:50.320 --> 00:36:57.119 There should be preferential treatment shown to certain people and certain groups of people. 00:37:00.400 --> 00:37:18.880 But God, listen, God's word, when we just willingly say, passage by passage, I need to hear God's word, whatever he has to say for me, even if I don't want him to have said that to me through his word, when we walk through it, it opens our eyes to some realities that are already there. 00:37:20.880 --> 00:37:24.960 And he says, now that you know, no more. 00:37:25.840 --> 00:37:46.639 Now that you know, now that you know who I am, now that you have been reminded how my kingdom operates, the truth of my gospel, you need to see one another and interact with one another in a way that honors who I am, honors what I am bringing into the world, and honors the good news that Jesus declares. 00:37:48.239 --> 00:37:53.679 And we honor those things because we want to have an authentic faith. 00:37:54.800 --> 00:38:07.679 A faith that is actionable, and a faith that, listen, is so nurtured in us that we become the healthy family that God so desires us to be. 00:38:08.000 --> 00:38:11.920 God wants us to not be a dysfunctional family of faith. 00:38:12.159 --> 00:38:16.480 God wants us to be a healthy family of faith. 00:38:18.159 --> 00:38:22.400 Which means like we have to be people who are aware and say, that's forbidden. 00:38:22.559 --> 00:38:23.920 We're gonna fight against it. 00:38:24.960 --> 00:38:27.199 And how we see and how we treat one another. 00:38:28.159 --> 00:38:30.480 Let's stand together for a time of prayer. 00:38:35.119 --> 00:38:36.960 Would you just pray with me? 00:38:37.599 --> 00:38:40.000 Almighty God, your word. 00:38:41.840 --> 00:38:47.119 There are moments when we read it and it is a word of encouragement. 00:38:48.079 --> 00:38:54.000 It's a word of comfort, it's a word of compassion over us. 00:38:55.280 --> 00:39:01.440 But then there are our words that we read and they fall like a ton of bricks. 00:39:02.159 --> 00:39:03.920 They are heavy. 00:39:06.320 --> 00:39:12.079 And I feel like James II, God is one of those tons of bricks in our life. 00:39:13.840 --> 00:39:18.320 We just wish he didn't put it that way with such strong language. 00:39:23.440 --> 00:39:28.880 Forgive us when we see one another and interact with one another based upon the ways of the world. 00:39:32.400 --> 00:39:44.159 Help us to think about every thought and every word that we speak, to make sure it's in line with your character and your kingdom and your gospel. 00:39:45.760 --> 00:39:55.119 That our words and our thoughts are lined up, God, with who you are and what you have done. 00:39:56.400 --> 00:40:03.039 We want to stand against kind of the ways of the world because we think there's a better way, the way of Jesus. 00:40:04.159 --> 00:40:07.119 Help us to see one another through your eyes. 00:40:09.920 --> 00:40:14.639 Created in your image, uniquely gifted, loved, cherished, valued. 00:40:17.199 --> 00:40:18.800 Holy Spirit. 00:40:19.599 --> 00:40:21.920 Thank you for meeting with us today. 00:40:22.559 --> 00:40:27.679 Through the words of James, the half-brother of Jesus. 00:40:28.880 --> 00:40:35.039 And now our musicians are gonna lead us in a familiar hymn, that hymn just as I am. 00:40:36.800 --> 00:40:49.199 And the words of this hymn are so simple and so familiar to us, but it is just that declaration that we can approach God, baggage and all, past and all. 00:40:50.159 --> 00:40:56.960 And when we step into God's presence, we find a God who has no partiality in his heart. 00:40:57.119 --> 00:40:57.760 Amen. 00:40:59.360 --> 00:41:08.400 A God who is filled with love and compassion, whose kingdom will come again, whose gospel is true and brings dead men to life. 00:41:09.119 --> 00:41:11.840 Respond to that God right now. 00:41:12.079 --> 00:41:12.960 Let's sing.