What if church functioned like a sporting event—which service you attended and where you sat depended on the price you paid? In James’ day, a similar situation forced him to challenge the church’s preference for the rich, who were oppressing the poor. The underlying issue was partiality. Through James, God commands us to treat everyone the same because that’s what he says we are.
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Does inequality bother you? Why? On what basis would you make that kind of moral determination? #boldJames
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The church is in the world but belongs to the kingdom. #boldJames
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In other religions you get what you earn—it’s works. In Christianity, you get what Jesus earns—it’s grace. #boldJames
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We treat people equally because they’re equal—that’s what the Bible says. #boldJames
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We’re all equal in humanity and depravity. Those who belong to Jesus are equally saved, loved & forgiven. #boldJames
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Only through a biblical worldview is there any basis for considering everyone equally valuable. #boldJames
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Only Biblical thinking leads to dignity, value, equality among all people. Nothing else accomplishes that. #boldJames
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We were made not to sit on a throne, but to fall before a throne. #boldJames
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We were made not to be worshiped by God in our glory. We were made to worship God in his glory. #boldJames
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- The church is in the world but belongs to the kingdom. The problem is that sometimes the church thinks in a way that is more worldly and less like Jesus’ kingdom. #boldJames
- Evolution perpetuates inequality through survival of the fittest. Religion perpetuates inequality by teaching that people can earn their way to God or higher consciousness. Only Christianity provides a consistent, moral argument for equality. #boldJames
- The difference between Christianity and other religions is in other religions you get what you earn. It’s works. In Christianity, you get what Jesus earns. It’s grace. #boldJames
- We’re equal in our humanity. We’re equal in our depravity. The Bible says that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. And those who belong to Jesus are equally saved, equally loved, and equally forgiven. #boldJames
- The glory of Jesus Christ means that his seat alone is the seat that matters, and that you and I shouldn’t be particularly concerned about where we sit, even in this life. #boldJames
Recommended resources
The sin of partiality
By Pastor Sutton Turner
“Rich people need pastors. There is no doubt that the Bible provides special comfort, blessing, and hope for the poor. In ministering to the poor, however, we must not completely abandon those with means. Ironically, the book of James is often cited to justify such partiality. [. . .] The thrust of this passage is anti-partiality, not anti-rich. But many Christians read these words and decide to hedge their bets by avoiding the wealthy altogether. Fear of committing the sin of partiality leads them to commit the sin of reverse partiality.”
5 Ways we experience the power of the gospel in community
By Dan Hallock
“We were saved into community. God has gathered under his roof an enormous crew of former rebels, and he has turned us into family. Christian community is where we get to experience the power of the gospel in its full power.”
Practicing biblical hospitality
By Trisha Wilkerson
“Often when we talk about hospitality, we think of ‘entertaining.’ But entertaining has little to do with real hospitality if the goal is to impress others rather than to serve. How do you know if you are being hospitable or just entertaining?”
