"The Caste Church"

You have heard, "The clothes make the man," but God sees differently. In the church, there should not be a caste system. What is the difference between showing favoritism and having close friends within the church family?

The Caste Church

(James 2:1-13)

Introduction:

A.  God called Samuel to anoint a new king over Israel.  The throne of Saul would be taken from his house and given to another.  So God sent Samuel to the town of Bethlehem.  He told Samuel to invite Jesse to the sacrifice and there God would show him whom to anoint.  So Samuel did as God had command.

B. 1 Sam 16:6-7, “When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” Brethren, let us pray, “Give me the eyes of Jesus.”

C.  At the home of Simon, a Pharisee a woman came in and began to wash the feet of Jesus with her tears.  The Bible tells us in Luke 7 that Simon, in his heart, said, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is — that she is a sinner.” Jesus knew the heart of Simon, but asked him openly this question, “Do you see this woman?”  Of course he did!  He saw her; she was ruining his dinner party.  She was an uninvited guest and person who had a reputation, yes he saw her!  But the truth is, he did not see her, he saw only a reputation, not an individual.

I.  I Am God

A.  James says to us (verse1).  It is a command.  He then gives a practical illustrations (verses 2-4).

B.  In his autobiography, Mahatma Gandhi wrote that during his student days he read the Gospels seriously and considered converting to Christianity. He believed that in the teachings of Jesus he could find the solution to the caste system that was dividing the people of India.  So one Sunday he decided to attend services at a nearby church and talk to the minister about becoming a Christian. When he entered the sanctuary, however, the usher refused to give him a seat and suggested that he go worship with his own people.
Gandhi left the church and never returned. “If Christians have caste differences also,” he said, “I might as well remain a Hindu.”

C.  James says that if we do such we become “judges with evil thoughts.”  Showing partiality or favoritism sets one up as the judge of men. It makes one as though he or she is God. We tell who can and cannot worship God, we decide who is and who is not acceptable to God. This is something only God can do.

D.  While I believe we do well in treating everyone equally in this congregation, we can always do better.  Many people tell me how friendly we are as congregation and how nice people treat them when they come here.  I am proud of the way you extend God’s hand of welcome to people who walk through those doors and desire for them to become family.

E.  Is there a difference between showing favoritism and have close friends within the church family?  Yes.  James is not saying that you should have the same emotional bonding and feeling with each person.  But we don’t have a right to lift some up or tear someone down simply based upon their position in life or the color of their skin or any other aspect of the individual.  That is sin.  Let us seek to see people as God does and enjoy the relationships of everyone within the church family.  We really have a great congregation, but James give an example that is opposite of what society does.

II.  God’s Example

A.  Read verses 5-7.  The truth is, the people who came to Jesus to hear him teach were often the poor, hurting, or outcasts.  It was often the rich, the religious, and the powerful that sought to kill Jesus.  I don’t believe James is teaching that poor are better than rich, but seeking to give a practical example of who often turns to Christ and who often turns on Christ.

B.  If there is a calling, then let the calling be “blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”  The bigger question I see coming from James is “who belongs in the kingdom?”  Is it the rich?  Is it the powerful?  Is it people like me?  Brethren, we need to get out of our comfort zone of evangelism and realize that all are called by God and our job is to sow seed not become soil testers.  Let’s be people who are rich in faith and let socio-economics have no part in the Christian fellowship.

III.  Partial Christianity

A.  In the last section of our text James talks about keeping the whole law, not just the parts we like.  Have you ever struggled in this area?  We can’t pick and choose which parts of God’s law we like better than another.  “I quote the scriptures on baptism, but I don’t quote much on the work of the Holy Spirit.”  Sorry, it doesn’t work that way.  I can’t simply pick my favorite verses.  I am called to live the fullness of the message of Jesus Christ.

B.  Another way of putting this is we can’t say, “I’m pretty good, I have stole anything or killed anybody.”  But then we yell at someone when we don’t get our way, gossip about a brother, or look down on someone who is struggling in a sin we never struggled with.  James says “you can’t do that.”  Of all these verses, these are the ones that I think hit the church today the hardest.

Conclusion:

A.  Let’s close by considering verses 12 and 13.  For those of us who either think we are God or act like we are God and rank people according to our standards, beware.  That type of judgment shows no mercy to people we think are less than us.

B.  It is no different some of the Jews in Jesus day who would look down on “known sinners.”  The truth is, judgment is coming and it will come on us in a manner similar to how we judge others.  I need mercy and forgiveness, but several times Jesus taught that we would receive forgiveness the same way we show it to others.  For us to make a church into a new caste system destroys God’s work.

C.  Let God’s word touch your heart this day and bring you into love for everyone in this congregation, for everyone who walks through these doors, and open wide our hearts and the love of God.  For man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.  If you are here today and in need of God’s grace, don’t let any feeling keep it from you.  God has called you and we will welcome you.  Please come and accept his forgiveness and our love as we stand and sing.