We’re doing a commentary through the book of James with an emphasis on justice and the kind of Christianity that treats people equally––a “Classless Christianity.” I put some of the highlights here in the blog to pique your interest enough to check out my brief audio teaching on these key verses.
Classism is when those WITH LESS are seen and treated AS LESS!
The first part of this chapter could be entitled: “Bigots Go To Church!” That is to say that a bigot is a bigot is a bigot and some of them serve as deacons, Sunday School teachers, and ushers at the door…
Jesus taught that hated Samaritans often make better neighbors than beloved Saints…
Our neighbor may well come from a different neighborhood, but they’re still neighbors and require the same respect that we give someone next door to us…
True Christianity is Classless… There’s no room in the church for law-breaking socioeconomic bigots…
James has no beef with the rich guy who comes to church wearing gold. His beef is with the ushers who want some of that gold in their offering plate…
Maybe it wasn’t money that they wanted from the gold-studded visitor, maybe is was the status of having him there. Some people act like having prosperous and powerful members in your church lends to the church’s credibility… I propose that it might well be the other way around, that a good church is one where the poor feel comfortable…
The racist landlord who rents only to whites is a lawbreaker. Why? Because they’re his “neighbors.” He might not want them as neighbors, but what he doesn’t realize is that they already are!
The way we care for the poor and treat everyone the way we would want to be treated is James’ chief example of the evidence of saving faith…
“If we only interact with middle-class Americans, we can deceive ourselves into believing that most of the world lives that way … Relating only to people of similar socioeconomic status affirms our lifestyle choices and dulls us to the gospel’s challenge to beware the dangers of wealth.” Derek Engdahl
If you’re one of the very few who haven’t yet read my memoir, what are you waiting for? By purchasing it you benefit Freedom House.
barney wiget 