Unloving Christians

James 2:1-12

A missionary friend was traveling across the south, and on Wednesday night, stopped at a church for the prayer service. Since he was planning on driving most of the night, he didn’t rent a motel, just changing into clean slacks and a sport shirt in the restroom at a gas station.

Upon entering the church he was informed that because of the way he was dressed, he’d not be allowed to sit in the main seating area, but could sit in a small separate section where he wouldn’t be seen. After thinking about it. He decided that with such an attitude, they probably wouldn’t have any thing of spiritual value to offer anyway and left to find a different church.

For several years, missionaries were encouraged to read "Dress for Success", because it would make such a difference in how they were supported. Pastors required that anyone taking part in a service wear a suit and tie, and some even dictated what colors were acceptable. The same philosophy was common among the Scribes and Pharisees. Matthew 23:5 describes their attitude. “But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments.”

Under the Law, God directed Israel to make a special border around their garments as a reminder to themselves of what God commanded them. Numbers 15:38-40 describes the border. “Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue: And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring: That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God.”

They were also to wear a bracelet or head band with scriptures on it to remind them what God commanded, as Deuteronomy 6:6-8 describes. “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.”

The Scribes and Pharisees had begun to enlarge these as a decoration, and to make their religiousness obvious to others. They were no longer to remind themselves to obey God, but to impress others. Some Jews brought the same philosophy to being a Christian, treating those able to dress in such fashion as more spiritual or better than others. James addresses the situation.

“My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?” (James 2:1-4)

Literally, James says that to isolate someone or exclude them from participating in a service because they don’t meet some arbitrary dress code is evidence of an unspiritual and wicked attitude. I Corinthians 1:27-29 states that God has chosen to use things the world considers worthless so man can’t take pride in worldly things. “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.” Discriminating against someone on the basis of their clothing indicates a lack of understanding of God and his working.

“Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?” (James 2:5-7)

Bernie Madoff used fine clothes, expensive offices, and impressive associations to cheat people of billions of dollars. Rich business men, politicians, and criminals take unfair advantage of common people continually. The same men push to get prayer outlawed and accuse God of promoting wicked standards. Why should we accept them as spiritual models?

It is sin to forbid someone to take part in a service because they don’t meet our standards, or to give some one preference because they have a higher position, are richer, or have better connections. Those churches which refused to allow a person to collect the offering without a suit and tie, or forbid a man to preach because he had on the wrong color shirt were in sin.

“If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.” (James 2:8-11)

II Corinthians 3:17 tells us, “… and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” Unless God has specifically forbidden something, it is not forbidden. However, there is responsibility with the liberty. Galatians 5:13 warns, “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” Our liberty is not to be used to fulfill fleshly desires such as controlling others or amassing wealth. It is not to be used in such a way as to encourage others to sin or to turn them away, as we see in I Corinthians 8:9. “But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.” Liberty is not to be used as a way of getting at someone, as for example making them listen to your style of music to get even. I Peter 2:16 says, “As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.” We are going to be judged as to how we have handled that responsibility.

“So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath showed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.” (James 2:12-13)