Taking Strides Series
Discrimination
There's a wonderful story about a Chicago bank that once asked for a letter of recommendation on a young Bostonian being considered for employment. The Boston investment house could not say enough about the young
man. His father, they wrote, was a Cabot; his mother was a Lowell. Further back was a happy blend of Saltonstalls, Peabodys, and other of Boston's first families. His recommendation was given without hesitation. Several
days later, the Chicago bank sent a note saying the information supplied was altogether inadequate. It read: "We
are not contemplating using the young man for breeding purposes. Just for work." Neither is God a respecter of
persons but accepts those from every family, nation, and race who fear Him and work for His kingdom (Acts
10:34-35). (Kathleen Peterson)
FOR DISCUSSION
Why is there discrimination toward certain people? Why do we show favoritism?
Encounter
read God’s Word so that He can speak to you.
James 2:1-13
My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a
gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. 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 discriminat-
ed among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 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? But you have insulted the poor. 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 slandering the noble
name of him to whom you belong?
If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right. But if you show favoritism,
you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of
“DISCRIMINATION” - TAKING STRIDES - FAITH ALIVE ! 365 SERIES - MARCH 13, 2016
breaking all of it. For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!
Explore God’s Word
asking questions of what you saw.
The notes which follow may help you to think through these questions
1)
Let’s be honest. Suppose the scene described in James 2:2-3 were to happen this week in our church—instead of
rich or poor, you might think in terms of race or appearance. What do you think would happen? How would
we treat the two people differently?
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2)
If you are in a position of authority in the church, take this opportunity to evaluate the church’s response to
visitors—not just the stated policies, but the actual behaviors. Is favoritism shown? If so, what can you do
about it?
In James 2:5-7, what does it say about the poor and the rich?

How does this connect with the previous point about favoritism?

Do you think James is promoting a “reverse favoritism,” in which we welcome and honor the poor more than the
rich?

This might be a good time to talk with your spouse and family about the financial decisions you make. How do
your spiritual principles come into play? This is more than just a review of your fiscal security, but a chance to
ask, “Where does our security really come from?” How can you as a family keep from loving, serving, or trusting
in money, while still being good stewards?
“DISCRIMINATION” - TAKING STRIDES - FAITH ALIVE ! 365 SERIES - MARCH 13, 2016
Explore (cont.)
What is the “royal law” James mentions in verse 8?
3)

4)
How does showing favoritism break that law?
According to verses 10-12, how would James respond to someone who said, “I’ve kept seven of the Ten
Commandments. That’s a passing grade, right?”

In James 2:12, James speaks again of the “law of liberty” (see 1:25). But his previous comments seem to be more
restrictive, forcing us to keep every point in the law. How does the law give us freedom?

If you have been working hard to keep God’s rules, and you’re troubled by this assertion that breaking even
one command makes you a lawbreaker, talk with a pastor, teacher or Home Group leader about this. Ask how
to unpack the idea of God’s “mercy.”
Two key words appear in verse 13. What is judgment? What is mercy?
5)

How does the idea of mercy bring us back to the matter of showing favoritism?
“DISCRIMINATION” - TAKING STRIDES - FAITH ALIVE ! 365 SERIES - MARCH 13, 2016
Notes On The Passage
( Adapted, Thomas Constable, Expository Bible Study Notes)
1 - Partiality implies an inclination to favor a person or thing because of strong fondness or attachment. We say that an
orchestra conductor, for example, has a partiality for the works of a particular composer. Treating people with partiality may
spring from predilection, or from prejudice, or from bias. Predilection implies a preconceived liking formed as a result of one's
background, temperament, etc., that inclines one to a particular preference. We might say a certain person has a predilection
for murder mysteries. Prejudice implies a preconceived and unreasonable judgment or opinion, usually an unfavorable one,
marked by suspicion, fear, intolerance, or hatred. We might say racial prejudice incited a certain lynch mob. Bias implies a
mental leaning in favor of or against someone or something without passing judgment on the correctness or incorrectness of
the preference. One might say someone has a bias toward the color blue.
2-3 - "Assembly" is literally "synagogue." In the early history of the church, Jewish believers met in Jewish synagogues—until
their unbelieving Jewish brethren forced them out! This reference suggests that James probably wrote this epistle early in the
history of the church.
4 - The form of James' question in the Greek text expects a positive answer: "You have, haven't you?" The usher made two
errors. First, he showed favoritism because of what the rich man might do for the church if he received preferential treatment.
He should have treated everyone graciously, as God does. This reflects a double-minded (and hypocritical) attitude in the
usher, thinking like the world—in this special case—while thinking as God thinks in other respects (1:8). Second, the usher,
who represents all the believers, manifested evil motives in judging where to seat the two visitors. His motive was what the
church could obtain from them, rather than what it could impart to them. The Christian and the church should primarily seek to
serve others, rather than getting others to serve them (cf. Mark 10:45).
5 - Since God has chosen "the poor of this world" to be the recipients ("heirs") of His blessings ("the kingdom"), it is
inconsistent for Christians to withhold blessings from them (cf. Matt. 5:3; Luke 6:20). In reality, God has chosen more "poor"
people than rich (cf. Luke 1:52; 1 Cor. 1:26). The "heirs" of this kingdom, those who will receive it, are believers (cf. 1:12; Matt.
5:3, 5; Mark 10:17-22; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Gal. 5:21; Eph. 5:5).
6 - When a Christian dishonors "the poor," he or she treats them exactly opposite to the way God treats them (cf. 1 Cor. 11:22;
1 Pet. 2:17). James reminded his readers that the characteristic response of "the rich" to them had been to "oppress" them (cf.
Mark 13:9; Acts 4:1-3; 13:50; 16:19; 19:23-41).
7 - The rich not only typically oppose Christians, they also typically speak against Christ ("blaspheme the fair name"). To
"blaspheme" or slander (Gr. blasphemeo) means to mock deliberately, or to speak contemptuously of God. Perhaps those who
were blaspheming Christ's name were unbelieving Jews (cf. Acts 13:45).
8-9 - James did not mean Christians should avoid honoring the rich, but that we should love everyone, and treat every individual
as we would treat ourselves (Matt. 7:12; cf. Lev. 19:18). The "royal (Gr. basilikos) law" is "royal," in that it is the law of the King
who heads the kingdom (Gr. basilikon) that believers will inherit (v. 5). It is also "royal" in that it is primary; it governs all other
laws dealing with human relationships (Matt. 22:39; cf. Lev. 19:18). Moreover, it is "conduct of a high order that is worthy of a
king." Favoritism also violates specific commands found in God's Word that reveal God's will in interpersonal dealings
(Matt. 7:12; cf. Lev. 19:15).
“DISCRIMINATION” - TAKING STRIDES - FAITH ALIVE ! 365 SERIES - MARCH 13, 2016
Notes On The Passage
10-11 – The practice of preferring certain individuals makes one a violator of God's "law." We "become guilty of all" in the sense
that we have violated God's law, not that we have violated every commandment in that law. One can never claim to behave
righteously because he or she keeps only part of God's laws. James illustrated this point with a hypothetical case involving
two very severe violations of the law. Not all sins are equally serious, in that the consequences of some sins are greater than
others, but all sins are equally serious, in that any sin is a violation of God's will.
12 - The "law of liberty" (1:25) is the law of God that liberates us now: "It for freedom that Christ set us free" (Gal. 5:1). It was
the same as the law "of Christ" (Gal. 6:2), in contrast to the Mosaic Law. As free as we are under the law of Christ, we need to
remember that God will judge us (Rom. 14:10-13; 1 Cor. 3:12-15; 2 Cor. 5:10). We need to speak and act accordingly, namely,
without prejudice toward others.
13 - God will not judge us with partiality: He will punish the unmerciful unmercifully ("be merciless to one who has shown no
mercy"). We need to understand this statement in the light of other revelations concerning how God will judge believers. We
are in no danger of losing our salvation or even experiencing God's wrath. However, we will suffer a loss of reward if we sin
by practicing unmerciful favoritism (2 Cor. 5:10; cf. Matt. 5:7; 6:15; 7:1; 18:23-25). On the other hand, if we are merciful in
dealing with our fellow men, God will be merciful in dealing with us when we stand before Him (cf. Matt. 25:34-40). "Mercy
triumphs over (trumps) judgment," just as love triumphs over (trumps) partiality. We should accept one another with
courtesy, compassion, and consistency.
Going Further
One thing we can do to train ourselves to remember, is to memorize a part of what our Father has said to us. The Holy Spirit can use
this to change our thinking so that our “heads” are more like Jesus.
This week, memorize James 2:12-13.
“DISCRIMINATION” - TAKING STRIDES - FAITH ALIVE ! 365 SERIES - MARCH 13, 2016