A L M A C I A S

AN UNCHRISTIAN ATTITUDE

In the New Testament, we are able to find many lessons that were written in the first century to help the brethren of that time, as well as brethren of the present, as to what is expected from all of us who profess to be Christians. One of those lessons is found in James 2:1-13. In this passage of scripture, we find James addressing the brethren and teaching them that it is wrong for someone who professes to be a Christian to show partiality toward those who have more of this world's goods. James gives an example of someone who supposedly was a Christian who saw two men come into the assembly ­ one wearing a gold ring and goodly apparel and the other, a poor man in vile raiment. Yet, he did not treat each of them alike. In fact, he told the man with the gold ring to sit in a good place, while saying to the poor,"Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool." James said that such a Christian was being partial and thereby had become "a judge of evil thoughts."

James continued explaining to the Christians of the first century that God had chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which the Lord had promised to those who love Him, and yet these brethren were despising them. These brethren who were guilty of the sin of partiality had apparently not understood the lesson that the Lord had taught regarding "loving thy neighbor as oneself." Brethren, this is not limited to our being partial to someone who is very rich, or highly educated, or perhaps very well known, but rather this lesson applies to any time we make a distinction of people. Some make a distinction of people because of their race, color of skin, level of education, the car they drive, or the house where they live. People who do this have not understood that their attitude is completely wrong in the eyes of God. God, the Creator of the world, does not do this, so why should we who are a lot less than God do it? Can someone be a good Christian while treating certain people better than others? or thinking that those who have more are better than those who have less? James, inspired by the Holy Spirit, answered this question with a definite "No!"