Would Christ be Welcomed in Your Chruch?

The following is a sermon preached at Old Chapel United Methodist Chruch today, September 6, 2009.

The scripture for this sermon was James 2:1-13. A scripture of reference to note in addition to the primary scripture is Romans 16:16 " In Christ divisions are insignificant"
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James 2:1-13

In the scripture of James 2:1-13, we have a letter written by James brother of Jesus. This letter was written in the mid 60’s C.E. This letter was not written to one particular church, but written to numerous churches in the Diaspora. In this scripture lesson the partiality, or discrimination, being addressed is most likely in a synagogue setting. It may not have necessarily been a worship service, but a meeting where decisions regarding the church were taking place amongst it members. We are able to break the scripture lesson into two segments. The first being vs. 1-7 which is focused on not showing any partiality in church and the second vs. 8-13 which notes that showing partiality is against God’s law.
In the First Century A.D., people were either rich or poor, slaves or free, Jew or Gentile, Greek or barbarian. We can see in Ga 3:28 that we are all one in Christ & Col 3:11 which says that Christ is all and in all. In modern day America we still place people into groups or classifications as we attempt to describe people and place them into categories. I believe it is human nature to do this as our brains work to somehow organize what we see. However, God calls us to aspire to have a nature of that of Christ. Whether rich or poor, both groups fall within God’s people and we do not glorify one that is God’s people, for the sake of the other or because of one’s status in culture. Being rich or poor has no impact in God’s eyes, it all about one’s heart.
In his autobiography, Mahatma Gandhi wrote that during his student days he read the Gospels seriously and considered converting to Christianity. He believed that in the teachings of Jesus he could find the solution to the caste system that was dividing the people of India. So one Sunday he decided to attend services at a nearby church and talk to the minister about becoming a Christian. When he entered the sanctuary, however, the usher refused to give him a seat and suggested that he go worship with his own people. Gandhi left the church and never returned. “If Christians have caste differences also,” he said, “I might as well remain a Hindu.” That usher’s prejudice not only betrayed Jesus but also turned a person away from trusting Him as Savior.
In modern day America, this very example that Mahatma Gandhi experienced is repeated in some churches across this great nation of ours. One Sunday morning, when I was about 6 or 7 years old, the church service was just getting started. My memory of this event is somewhat hazy, but I always have remembered it. As the service was starting a young black couple walked into the church. One could have heard a pin drop and the piercing glares shot right through them in this rural southwestern Virginia all white church as they slid into the back row. This memory has always stayed with me. We must remember that Christ died for all people, black and white, rich and poor as we are all one because “the blood of Christ makes us one” and as Christians we must challenge ourselves and our fellow Christians that “now is the time for his church to come together.”
We have to be cognizant of our tendencies to judge people on their outward appearances. This tendency is inconsistent with our faith. Take the Movie Shallow Hal for example. This movie obviously does not discuss the issue of rich and poor in the church or even racial issues, but it does address our own prejudices to judge people based on appearance.
As we delve into the scripture vs. 1-7 two very important questions come to mind.
1. Have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
2. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him?

To prefer the rich and discriminate against the poor is to align oneself with the secular world and to become worldly in the worst sort of way. If a poor man is a good man and the rich man is an evil man then why would we judge them on their outer appearance, for that matter until you get to know the person then how can you judge them if you do not know them. God does not judge us because of what we outwardly do, but what he sees in our heart that we really are. It’s like Shallow Hal, who when under Tony Robbin’s spell, he saw Rosemary’s heart and her inner person, who she was in God’s eyes. We must appreciate people for who they are and not what they have or how they look. We should look at people as God see them and that is through their heart.
The 2nd part of the scripture for today is vs. 8-13. I like the way it reads in The Message,

8-11You do well when you complete the Royal Rule of the Scriptures: "Love others as you love yourself." But if you play up to these so-called important people, you go against the Rule and stand convicted by it. You can't pick and choose in these things, specializing in keeping one or two things in God's law and ignoring others. The same God who said, "Don't commit adultery," also said, "Don't murder." If you don't commit adultery but go ahead and murder, do you think your non-adultery will cancel out your murder? No, you're a murderer, period.
12-13Talk and act like a person expecting to be judged by the Rule that sets us free. For if you refuse to act kindly, you can hardly expect to be treated kindly. Kind mercy wins over harsh judgment every time.
From vs. 8-13, there are two main phrases I want to discuss. The first is "Love others as you love yourself." And the second is kind mercy wins over harsh judgment every time. Both of these statements tie into what I think the main point is for this entire scripture, which is to welcome all into this “House of Prayer.” Rich or poor, black or white welcome all. As we read in Matthew 25:43 Jesus said “I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.” I believe this scripture speaks to the lesson today and that is as Christians, we must welcome strangers, we must love others as we love ourselves and grant mercy and grace to others as God grants grace and mercy to us. A stranger, rich or poor must be welcomed by us who call ourselves Christians, followers of Christ.
I close today with two questions for you to ponder: Are you a Christian? For real Christians are known by their love. And if you are, would Christ be welcomed here today?