Back to Basics 2 (Favoritism)

I mentioned Philippians 2 as a basic--Christians are servants of others, not just in the church but to those outside the church as well. Christians empty themselves of their status and think of others first.

Here's another basic from James 2:1--"Believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism."  I'm deeply troubled that someone would push back and say, "This is only within the church." Jesus' message to love our enemies extends all such values beyond the church to everyone else.

In fact, the example James gives points to individuals who are in your midst but do not really belong there (not to mention that the word James uses is actually synagogue rather than church): "Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?" (2:6-7). James uses the example of a wealthy patron who expects the best seat in the gathering.

Christians treat everyone fairly. Christians don't play favorites on the basis of status or wealth. Christians don't discriminate on the basis of gender or race. These are fundamental Christian values.

This speaks to prejudice. Regardless of what we might think the tendencies are of a certain group, we must let all individual persons show us by their words and actions what they really are. We must act the same toward a person in any group. We must welcome into our churches people of any group and be excited that they have come.

Here's a strong word. We must not be unnecessarily offensive to people from other groups. A lot of Christians scoff at political correctness and always point to excesses. But the basic value of political correctness is Christian 101--don't say or do things to others that are hurtful or hateful. It would be more Christian to err on the side of the oversensitive than to err on the side of causing offense. There's no debate to be had here. This is basic Christian common sense.

So people somehow turn inclusive language into something of the Devil. Really? Speaking in a way that takes seriously the fact that the women in the room are just as present as the men? That's not showing favoritism. That's being Christian. What Christian motive would say, "I'm going to show those pansy liberals and intentionally only use masculine imagery"?

How is it that Satan somehow gets Christians completely turned around to where they actually feel they are standing up for God when in fact they are acting out worldly values? Our language and our actions should be loving toward everyone in the room. Anything else is of the Devil.

Christian ABCs...