PARTIALITY
8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well;
9 BUT IF YOU SHOW PARTIALITY, YOU COMMIT SIN, AND ARE CONVICTED BY THE LAW AS TRANSGRESSORS."
James 2:8,9 (NKJV)
READ: Romans 2:11
Apostle James wants us to understand in the above passage that partiality is a sin, whoever did it has committed a sin, and such is convicted as a transgressor.
Partiality is defined by a dictionary as an inclination to favour one group or view or opinion over alternatives. It also means the belief in the superiority of a particular group—the made up of the same kind of people.
If I may ask, How do you relate with others? Either the people in the church or outside the church? Are you not partial in your relationship with the people you do believe that they are less important?
How would you say you are a believer in Christ, a disciple of Christ Jesus, when you are discriminatory and partial in your dealings with others who are not of your race or colour?
Are there godly virtues in your life that other people would see and know that you are a believer, even without telling them that you are one?
There are some professed believers that meeting them, it would be difficult to know or agree that they are believers; looking at their behaviours—because of how they relate with others. There are no godly virtues in such people at all, yet they claim to be believers, but they are purely like unbelievers. In fact, in some cases, some unbelievers behaves better than such so-called believers; when it comes relationship with others.
One of the qualities mentioned in the Bible, which whoever would serve in the leadership of the church should possess, is good reputation. This was mentioned when they were to appoint the first set of deacons, servers, in the early church in Jerusalem (Acts 6:3).
It was also mentioned when the qualifications for whoever wants to
serve as a bishop or an overseer or an elder are listed:
"MOREOVER, HE MUST HAVE A GOOD TESTIMONY AMONG THOSE WHO ARE OUTSIDE [the unchurched or the ungodly], LEST HE FALL INTO REPROACH AND THE SNARE OF THE DEVIL" (1 Timothy 3:7 NKJV).
What are the people outside saying about your Christian life or character? If people outside could not be attracted to the Christian faith because of your character, it means you are not a good
ambassador of Christ Jesus:
"NOW THEN, WE ARE AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST, AS THOUGH GOD WERE PLEADING THROUGH US; WE IMPLORE YOU ON CHRIST'S BEHALF, BE RECONCILED TO GOD."
2 Corinthians 5:20
A good number of believers' character is repelling people from Christ Jesus, they are not good ambassadors of Christ Jesus wherever they find themselves. The truth is, being a believer in Christ, or a disciple of Christ, is not about attending church meetings or gathering of believers, but how practical you are about the faith you profess. Churchianity is a disabling misrepresentation of Christianity
Churchianity is different from being a disciple of Christ Jesus. The word disciple comes from a Latin word meaning "learner". Thus, a disciple is a learner, a pupil, and an adherent of a teacher. A disciple is also a follower of the doctrines of a teacher or a school of thought.
Now, believers in Christ Jesus are called to be His disciples (Matthew 28:19,20).
A disciple would want to follow and obey the teaching of the teacher, his master. A disciple lives the life of his Master, Teacher (Matthew 10:24,25).
The disciples of Christ Jesus were called Christians in Antioch of Syria because they could see Christ in them (Acts 11:26). Can people see Christ in you, the way you relate with others?
Repent today if you are not the light which you supposed to be where you are; especially in how you relate with others:
14 “YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. A CITY THAT IS SET ON A HILL CANNOT BE HIDDEN.
16 LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE BEFORE MEN, THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS AND GLORIFY YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN."
Matthew 5:14,16 (NKJV)
Peace.