Stereotypes and Justice

Man did this set me off this morning.  Talk about stereotyping and being judgmental and showing partiality!  I'm going to take this a section at a time. 

James 2:1-10(NKJV)

1My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. 

2For 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, 

3and 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,” 

4have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

So we have James here condemning this.  Now I'm not saying we should be judgmental against the poor but what I am saying is that there is a reason that there is a saying about first impressions and why they are so important.  The author thinks that this is indicative of evil intent.  I see it more as normal human behavior.  

But didn't Jesus himself use a similar example about the wedding feast?  About sitting in places of honor etc.?    And when Jesus had the opportunity, He didn't condemn the practice.  He seemed to think it was quite normal.  Jesus' warning was to sit in an unpretentious place and let the host elevate you to  a place of honor vs assuming that honor for yourself.

In addition, Jesus has told us that there is clearly partiality shown in Heaven.  There will be places of honor and places of not as much honor.  I think it was the mother of James and John who asked Jesus if her sons could sit at the left hand of God and Jesus clearly told her that was an honor that he couldn't give. 

Now let's look at a different issue.  In the Old Testament we are warned not to show partiality in certain situations.  Situations that involve justice.  From a fairness or justice standpoint we are told that there should be no partiality shown to the rich or poor.  And yet here in James, the author is clearly showing partiality to the poor at the expense of the rich.  The way he views the rich and the poor is so stereotypical.

5Listen, 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? 

6But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? 

7Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?

Talk about stereotypes.  Let's look at the first question.  "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?" 

Does that mean all poor people are automatically saved regardless of whether they believe in God or not, just because they are poor?  Lets face it, we can go to any city in America and probably anywhere in the world for that matter and find poor people who have no belief in God and are not living Godly lives.  Is God really going to give them treatment that is equal with what He gives "those who love Him"?  We serve a just God.  Does that seem just to you?

So while portraying all poor as virtuous he goes on to paint all rich as evil.  Does that seem like real life to you?  There are many examples in the Bible where God rewards or promises to reward with wealth and prosperity.  Would it be James contention that God is rewarding those who please Him with evil gifts?

8If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” £ you do well; 

9but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 

10For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. 

And isn't that what James does in these verses?  He shows extreme partiality and I believe the real sin here is that it give some people verses from the Bible to paint all poor people as virtuous and all rich people as evil, promoting the very partiality that the Bible says perverts justice.