November 29, 2020, James 2:1-13, ISSL Reflections, Post 2

IV.
Here is how this week’s Scripture is translated in The Message –
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+2%3A1-13&version=MSG

James 2:1-13 (The Message)

My dear friends, don’t let public opinion influence how you live out our glorious, Christ-originated faith. If a man enters your church wearing an expensive suit, and a street person wearing rags comes in right after him, and you say to the man in the suit, “Sit here, sir; this is the best seat in the house!” and either ignore the street person or say, “Better sit here in the back row,” haven’t you segregated God’s children and proved that you are judges who can’t be trusted?

Listen, dear friends. Isn’t it clear by now that God operates quite differently? He chose the world’s down-and-out as the kingdom’s first citizens, with full rights and privileges. This kingdom is promised to anyone who loves God. And here you are abusing these same citizens! Isn’t it the high and mighty who exploit you, who use the courts to rob you blind? Aren’t they the ones who scorn the new name—“Christian”—used in your baptisms?

You do well when you complete the Royal Rule of the Scriptures: “Love others as you love yourself.” But if you play up to these so-called important people, you go against the Rule and stand convicted by it. You can’t pick and choose in these things, specializing in keeping one or two things in God’s law and ignoring others. The same God who said, “Don’t commit adultery,” also said, “Don’t murder.” If you don’t commit adultery but go ahead and murder, do you think your non-adultery will cancel out your murder? No, you’re a murderer, period.

Talk and act like a person expecting to be judged by the Rule that sets us free. For if you refuse to act kindly, you can hardly expect to be treated kindly. Kind mercy wins over harsh judgment every time.

V.
“… don’t let public opinion influence how you live out our glorious, Christ-originated faith.”

Does “public opinion” determine how we interpret and apply the “Christian faith”?

I guess we might ask, “Which public?”

That’s fair. There are certainly competing opinions on what is the right way and wrong way to act toward one another. And the “public” we identify with surely impacts those interactions.

VI.
Reread this Scripture and pay attention to how James contrasts the right way and the wrong way to act toward one another.

What one thing does he say that you want to accompany you in your interactions with those you meet today?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}


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