Pastor Chris’ Corona Quarantine Epistles to the Flock of AIC Ngong Road, in Dispersion and Isolation. 49th. Edition.
Dear People whose Names Are Written in the Lamb’s Book of Life,
Today we start on James chapter 2. Verses 1-13 are one long section, developing from Condemnation of partiality (vv. 1-7), into the Completeness of God’s law (vv. 8-13), but we will deal with half of it today (vv. 1-7). The Favouritism of the Human Attitude (vv. 1-4). James strikes home in this admonition. It sounds like he is talking about us. Our general tendency is to favour the rich and famous, at the expense of the poor and anonymous.
We probably do that because we expect that the rich will return the favour. We invite them to fundraisers and seat them in the best place, serve them choice food and drink, and fuss over their every apparent need or want. As someone once said of a prominent politician in Kenya, “When he sneezes, everyone offers him a tissue.” In contrast, the poor are either ignored or made to feel small.
We have heard of pastors who have told their congregations, for instance, that they did not want to hear the clink of a coin in the offering basket. For poor people, twenty shillings may be a real sacrifice, but we don’t want it, not with the rich giving wads of thousand shilling notes. This is so natural with us, that we often play along without complaining. If some rich or prominent person comes to church late (why should they come late?), we are made to give up a seat for them and it all sounds fine! Such an attitude stinks before God. The Fairness of Heaven’s Approach (vv. 5-7).
In contrast to the human way, God has chosen the poor and given them faith and an inheritance. This is not because poverty is a virtue and wealth an evil, but the poor readily trust God and devote themselves to him, which is the import of the phrase, “love him.”The rich, on the other hand, are characterised by two things: Bullying (v. 6). They oppress people and make sure they have their way and when they do not, they sue! No one is secure, who does not do the bidding of the rich and powerful. Blasphemy (v. 8). Often, the rich think that they have got where they are purely by their own efforts and ability.
They give no glory to God and even say the most unsavoury things about God and his servants. When some of our politicians come to church and we invite them to speak to us, they boast, call themselves Christians and even shout such phrases as, “Praise the Lord,” or “God is good…” Yet we know the person is not a believer and his/her life is one of conmanship and evil. For them to purport to praise God is blasphemy, and we let it pass. Something to chew on, eh?
Your Loving Pastor Chris.