What do you notice upon meeting someone? What about that triggers an emotional response? That could be favorable—you like someone instantly; it could be unfavorable—you feel an instant revulsion or dislike.
My wife and I serve on the hospitality team at church. Sometimes we are positioned at an entrance welcoming people into the building. Sometimes these are people new to us. We may need to direct them to facilities and meeting places.
These words of James occur to me when I’m working:
My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
We could judge people while entering trying to discern if they are appropriate for our gathering. I think we don’t. But this was obviously a problem with the new ekklesias that gathered in the wake of the new Jesus movement following the resurrection and then Pentecost. James was not happy. But I think I understand. I can give a little grace as they learn a new way of life. Up until the Jesus revolution, their world was defined from birth as distinctly segregated.
Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?
You may say, well it’s only one little “law” that I broke. James tells us the same thing we hear elsewhere in the New Testament:
If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
I take in people at a glance and form a preliminary opinion. I pray that I’m open for re-evaluation after speaking for a moment.
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