My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. (2) For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, (3) and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes, and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” (4) have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? (5) Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?
Our verses today were written by James, the half brother of Jesus and the head of the early Christian church in Jerusalem. The verses focus on partiality and why it was/is wrong. James is giving us a negative example of public behavior and challenges us: if we show favoritism toward some and bias toward others it is a denial of faith and the gospel. The Christian faith is utterly incompatible with favoritism. His words apply to all prejudice based on economics, status, race etc. This sin stems from pride and plagues every generation. The sin of partiality persists especially where specialized churches are aimed at a homogeneous congregation unit, not New Testament churches where there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, slave and freeman.
Partiality usurps God’s sovereignity. It is faith in Christ that brings us all to salvation, whatever our backgrounds, in God’s family. Partiality puts man as a judge in the place of Jesus Christ. When we exalt men on account of their wealth or power or status we rob glory from Jesus Christ who gives us everything we are and have. When we make distinctions among people based on outward factors we set ourselves up as judges – we do not see the hearts of men as God does. God’s choice of those He elects for salvation is completely based on God’s choice and purpose and they are saved apart from any merit or qualifications on the part of those chosen. So in the outreach of churches petty favoritism and shallow prejudices are shown to be incompatible with the Christian faith. This does not mean it’s wrong to make appropriate distinctions.
Partiality here is self serving discrimination that is based on shallow externals which is a generational failing. I was made aware of partiality when I went to art school and there were no clues visible as to the background and status of others. We were all dressed in rather poor clothes with little or no jewelry, covered in paint. With no externals we learned to look at others as fellow travelers with no partiality or bias. We are here to walk each other home.