James 2:2-4 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
James now gives a specific example of the principle of verse 1 in one long sentence. It is an overstatement to make a point. Sadly, it some situations, this scenario may actually take place. In modern churches, it is not often that someone with filthy old clothes comes into a church. How we dress is highly cultural and situational. There will be different expectations, depending on culture and location. But let’s use our imagination for a moment. Because of tradition, many people come to “church” (often interpreted to mean Sunday morning worship) with their finest clothes (such as suits and dresses). I was brought up that way. More “contemporary” people now wear regular clothes, jeans, or even shorts to Sunday morning. This can result in a tension between the two groups. This tension is starting to get at what James is talking about, but his statement goes even deeper. The problem is that we have made “church” an event and not a family. Is our church family accepting of those who do not fit our mold, culture, or expectations? It does not matter how a person is dressed: in rags, in shorts, in blue jeans, etc. Do we base our welcome on economic status, propriety, hair style, skin color (including tattoos)? If we place any condition on our acceptance, what does that say about our hearts and our motives? James even uses the idea here of “evil thoughts.” Our church may develop a persona of being unwelcome. Visitors can sense that within moments of arriving. They may even sense it walking by the building. That may be why our churches never get visitors.
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