An inclination to favour some person or group.Unfair treatment of a person or group on the basis of prejudice.
Discrimination, inclination, inequity, nepotism, one-sidedness, partiality, partisanship, preference, preferential treatment, unfairness, bent, bigotry, disposition, flash, head-set, liberality, inclination, inclining, intolerance, leaning, mind trip, mind-set, narrow-mindedness, one-sidedness, penchant, preconception, predilection, predisposition, preference, prejudice, prepossession, proclivity, proneness, propensity, standpoint, tendency, tilt, turn, unfairness, viewpoint.
James 2:8-13"If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, 'Love your neighbour as yourself,' you are doing right. But if you show favouritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as law-breakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, 'Do not commit adultery,' also said, 'Do not murder.' If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a law-breaker. Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment !"
In the story of Samuel, Hannah was barren and couldn't have any children, so she promised God that if He gave her a child, she would dedicate him to temple service. She subsequently had a baby boy, and many other children, but only Samuel was specially dedicated. Only Samuel became a prophet. Did she show favouritism? Did she discriminate against her other children by not sending them to the Temple too? Her other sons and daughters doubtless had other callings and were accordingly prepared for them. No-one knows what their attitude towards Samuel was. Perhaps they were jealous, perhaps they were more enlightened. No-one knows what the reaction of Hannah's sister-wife, Peninnah, was either, nor of her children, though judging from the account in the Old Testament she was not particularly spiritual. Samuel was treated very differently from his brothers and sisters and, as adjudged with a worldly eye, was shown undue favour. But what is right with God is not necessarily right with man, and this ought therefore to be an object lesson to us. It should remind us that whilst we must love equally, we must not treat our children as carbon-copies, but must be prepared to respond when they each receive their special calls.
The Hebrew bible is full of stories about family rivalry and favouritism by parents for certain children. Jesus often held up the outcasts as being particular favoured by God and as examples of great faithfulness. Liberation theologians have noted this theme and called it “the preferential option for the poor”. Does God really favour certain people at certain times?
The Scriptures are relentless in warning believers not to show partiality--not to make distinctions (James 2:4; Acts 11:12; 15:9) among human beings. "There is no distinction," says Romans (3:22-23), "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." The Scriptures, however, are also relentlessly hopeful that one day we will all "...be complete, equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:17, RSV) We share the New Testament hope that one day we may be "mature and complete, lacking in nothing" (James 1:4). We share the New Testament's confidence that "...the one who began a good work among (us) will bring it to completion...." (Philippians 1:6) God will work His purpose out.
OF COURSE there's favouritism in the church and it would make you weep. I see it every week and it appears that the one's who are shown favouritism, ironically, are those who think the sun rises and sets on them. They are loud, pushy, they suck up to the minister, they know the bible back to front but just can't put into action the teachings they read in the Bible.
Do not favour the rich over the poor. Why do we favour the rich? The basic assumption is that the rich is obviously “smarter”, more disciplined, more hard working and therefore a “better man” – someone more fit for the Kingdom of God. Jesus in Matthew 19:23 states “it is hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of heaven. Again, I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.
The sin of favouritism invades every walk of life. Selfish ambition, dissensions and factions are not only in politics, science the arts, and worst of all...IN CHURCHES. Scientific schools in ancient Greece were called with the word "heiresis". One of the qualities of God is that He does not show favouritism.. It means that He is impartial. He has a matter-of-fact policy. He judges a sin equally strictly in every case, whoever the sinner is. He also gives His mercy without favouritism to anybody, who believes in Jesus Christ.
Generally, the poor are spiritually advantaged. Because they are materially poor, they are more likely to truly realize their spiritual need – and entrust themselves to the grace of God. When we discriminate against the poor, we choose to humiliate those whom God has chosen to bless. To discriminate against the poor and to favour the rich is to act in a way that is contrary to God and to the gospel.
Treating people differently for whatever reason is appalling. The Bible condemns discrimination between one Christian and another. Since all were equally destined for death and destruction and since each has equally been saved by the blood of Jesus, the concept of Christians treating one another differently on the basis of wealth or gender or race for instance is ridiculous, yet it is rife in churches today, and probably always has been. And Christians wonder why people are sceptical of them!!!!
When God chose to bring a Roman Centurion to salvation and called Peter to take the Gospel to him he (Peter) was shocked to the core. Every prejudice that Judaism had bred into him against the Gentile dogs came to the fore. Had it not been for the strange vision that God had sent him he would have refused to go to Cornelius at all. Even when he did arrive at Cornelius' house he made it clear that he was not keen on the idea. But God had commanded and so Peter preached the Gospel, realising as he did so that God was demonstrating that there was no favouritism with God. Before he had even finished preaching, the Spirit fell upon the gathered gentiles. Since they had already shown evidence of having been baptised in the Spirit, Peter could see no objection to baptising them in water.
Do Nothing Out Of Favouritism
by Peter Kennedy
Nigel Brooks
"I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favouritism." - 1 Timothy 5:21
Bill Hybels, pastor of Willow Creek Community Church South Barrington, Illinois, tells the lesson he learned about favouritism: "One evening I stopped by the church just to encourage those who were there rehearsing for the spring musical. I didn't intend to stay long, so I parked my car next to the entrance. After a few minutes, I ran back to my car and drove home.
The next morning I found a note in my office mailbox. It read: 'A small thing, but Tuesday night when you came to rehearsal, you parked in the 'No Parking' area. A reaction from one of my crew (who did not recognize you until after you got out of the car) was, 'There's another jerk parking in the "No Parking" area!' We try hard not to allow people--even workers--to park anywhere other than the parking lots. I would appreciate your cooperation, too.' It was signed by a member of our maintenance staff.
I'm not the exception to church rules, nor am I the exception to sexual rules or financial rules or any of God's rules. As a leader, I am not an exception; I'm to be the example. According to Scripture, I am to live in such a way that I can say, 'Follow me. Park where I park. Live as I live.' That's why we all need people like my staff member to hold us accountable in even the small matters. Because when we keep the minor matters in line, we don't stumble over the larger ones. Just when I was starting to think, 'I'm an exception,' somebody on our staff cared enough to say, 'Don't do it, Bill, not even in one small area.' That's love."
Are you showing favouritism to others? Today in prayer, thank Christ that before Him there is no partiality or favouritism.
"The well-being of every community depends on impartial discipline." - B.S. Easton
God's Word: "My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favouritism." - James 2:1
The Herald (Harare)
July 16, 2002
Posted to the web July 16, 2002
A novice pastor with the Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe church last week torched part of the Waterfalls Assembly property following a dispute with some church leaders over his employment. Police Spokesman Inspector Andrew Phiri yesterday confirmed that part of the office furniture was burnt before a receptionist called for help. A receptionist was injured when the petrol inferno engulfed the church. The fire was however, quickly extinguished before it caused extensive damage. "The pastor is now facing arson charges and will appear in court soon," Insp Phiri said. He said they had not yet established the value of property that was damaged. The pastor graduated from Bible College in 2000. After his graduation, the church overseer is believed to have promised that he would immediately be employed at one of the assemblies. The promise never materialised. The disgruntled young pastor, carrying a bottle of petrol, visited the Waterfalls Assembly last Thursday demanding to have the matter resolved but found the pastor at that church in a meeting. But the patience of the new pastor ran out while waiting at the reception area and he sprinkled the petrol on the computers and some furniture before he set the office ablaze. A church member who was present when the pastor went on rampage said he threatened to burn down the whole church if favouritism persisted in the church. "The pastor said he had had enough of the senior church members' half truths and crooked ways," he said.
Favouritism is the inclination to show undue preference to someone, for example by giving them “special attention”, hence making others feel that they are unfairly treated. James addressed this issue in his letter. In the first century, people tended to be either wealthy or poor – there were few in-between stages. The mistake of some Christians was to make a fuss of the wealthy when they identified themselves in any way with the church. Not all could be comfortably seated in the church’s meeting place, and so the rich were offered the good seats. Now it is never wrong to be considerate of people and to want to provide them with the best, but these commendable things become wrong when we deliberately give them to some and deny them to others.
If people deserve to be honoured on account of merit or commendable actions, that is appropriate. But wealth does not in or of itself deserve honour. The Christian’s life is to be free from favouritism and it should find no place within the corporate life of the church. In Western society, the majority of people tend to be in-between – we may not be rich but we are not poor. Therefore, the form of favouritism that we find may not be linked with wealth. We must therefore examine carefully, in our welcome, do we prefer some to others. Are we neglecting a certain “less popular” group – people that we don’t notice very much? The bright, the beautiful, the popular ones always get their attention. So, look out for the neglected ones.
I Thought this was an extremely good article.
WHY ARE CERTAIN SINNERS NOT WELCOME?
by Spencer Gear
Let's suppose that a smelly, unshaven, ragged, drunken homeless person walked into your church service next Sunday. Minutes later, he was followed by a fashionable, well-dressed, vivaciously attractive business woman. Which one would you find easier to accept into your church fellowship? Honestly?
I was made aware of the way some churches accept, reject and ostracise people when I was in discussion recently with a redeemed homosexual. God wonderfully saved him out of the sin and lifestyle about 10 years ago, after being in a 15-year homosexual relationship with the one partner.
He told me of how he revealed his past to one person in a church he attended. He would never do it again. He was treated with contempt, was avoided by people, regarded as a spiritual leper; parents would not let him near their children, when this information got to other church people.
When I shared this story with a pastor friend of mine, he related how people in his church used to treat a transvestite who visited their church. He would cross-dress, one time as a woman, another time as a man. When he came to church and sat in a vacant pew, nobody would sit with him except the pastor and his wife. If he came into a seat where people were already sitting, they would get up and move to the other side of the building.
Yet, if God saves you out of a lifestyle of drugs and alcohol, anger and rebellion, stealing, breaking and entering, even adultery and sexual promiscuity, you may be more acceptable to church people. Why? Do we show favouritism towards certain sinners? If this kind of activity happens in our churches, I believe we are sinning against that person and ought to make it right before God and the person.
Paul to the Romans commanded all believers: "Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God" (15:7, NIV). The New Revised Standard Version reads, "Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God." The KJV: "Wherefore, receive ye one another..."
What does the Greek word, proslambano, mean? Accept, welcome or receive? Commentator Charles Hodge says that it means to "take one another to yourselves; treat one another kindly, even as Christ has kindly taken us to himself." [2]
F.F. Bruce puts it in straight-forward terms. It comes with the idea that you should "take your fellow-Christians to your hearts as well as to your homes. If Christ's example is followed, as Paul enjoins, the welcome will be unreserved, and God will be glorified by the mutual love and kindness of His people." [3]
The tenses of the verbs in the original language indicate that we are to keep on accepting one another continually as Christ has accepted us once for all when He died for us.
Note the pattern: "Just as Christ accepted you." The perfect, sinless Son of God accepted you into God's divine family. Your background was irrelevant to him. He forgave your sins and removed them as far as the east is from the west.
He accepted you joyously. Remember the story of the prodigal son and his father (Luke 15:3-7)?
He accepted you for salvation in spite of your sin. "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8). When Jesus was having a meal with some people with a bad reputation, the Pharisees said to Jesus' disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" (Matt. 9:11).
Jesus will accept any sinner impartially: lesbian, paedophile, prostitute, child abuser, men who commit domestic violence, those who sleep around, gossips, the angry, etc., etc. There is "no partiality with God" (Rom. 2:11).
That's how he accepts you. What amazing grace!
We are called to live out Christ's example in the way that we treat one another in our church and home. It is a true mark of godliness and growth if we accept one another this way. If we fail to do this, it is a destructive demonstration of carnality. This horrible sin is a blight on our witness to a watching world. If I don't show love and compassion towards everybody, it is an affront to the Saviour.
A congregation that is divisive, quarrelsome, contentious and judgmental gives the world a reason to ridicule Christ's church and reject the One who is the only hope of salvation.
Why should we receive one another without discrimination? According to Rom. 15:7, the goal is to bring glory to God. If we live out Christ's example in our response to one another, this verse assures us that we will "bring praise to God." Even though the context in chapter 14 of Romans deals with weak vs. strong believers, in this verse Paul does not mention any special class of believers whom we should welcome into our fellowship. It applies to the weak and the strong, Jews and Gentiles. All believers are called to accept one another, no matter what our past.
If we don't do this, we limit the ministry of the Christian community through the local church. Sinners, therefore, lose the dynamic of being part of a caring body of believers. Many have found the healing of Christ through a compassionate group of Christians. We are exhorted to "bear one another's burdens, and thus fulfil the law of Christ" (Gal. 6:2, NASB). How can we help the person struggling with anger, lust, lying or domestic violence, if we close up shop against certain sinners? If there is no partiality with God, why should there be with Christians?
As I have shared this emphasis with Christians, some have responded: "Ex-paedophiles are still dangerous for the safety of children. Would you want your young teenagers in company with an ex-homosexual?" I ask them: "Is it okay to expose your children to ex-thieves, ex-liars, ex-gossips, ex-adulterers, ex-pornographers and ex-perverts?"
Of course we need to be careful to supervise our children with people who have had a reputation. With those who have not yet proven they have been redeemed, we will need to be cautious. "Faith without works is dead."
However, too many Christians with a sordid and criminal past have been so turned off by some hypocritical believers that they would never venture to be transparent about their personal background in sin. These people may live in our congregation and we may never know the extent of their spiritual journey. They can be such an encouragement to fellow-travellers. These people are handicapped from receiving the full benefit of the body of Christ. A redeemed lesbian told me the other day, "I would never ever own up to my past in any church again. I have been too hurt by people in the church. I am tired of the hypocrisy." What a tragedy!
During a devotional at a Christian ministers' association meeting, I shared about this need of unconditional acceptance of one another. The response was a sample of what could happen in any of their churches. A short devotional only occasionally receives a response at such meetings. However, this one caused discussion for at least 30 minutes. One pastor told of his brother who was a drug addict and homosexual, who committed suicide when he was aged about 37. Whenever that pastor visits the city where his brother lived, he has to live with the stigma, not of his own sin, but of his brother's. Where? In the church!
Another pastor was quick to respond, "Some people have to live with the consequences of their sinful lifestyle before coming to Christ. This is just the way it is. Besides, why would anybody want to talk about his or her past?" Other pastors affirmed the need for the church to be more welcoming of everyone, no matter how sordid their history. How would the drunken hobo or the stunning business woman be received in these churches?
Mary Ann Bird writes about something very personal to her. She said, "I grew up knowing I was different, and I hated it. I was born with a cleft palate, and when I started school, my classmates made it clear to me how I looked to others: a little girl with a misshapen lip, crooked nose, lopsided teeth, and garbled speech.
"When schoolmates asked, `What happened to your lip?' I'd tell them I'd fallen and cut it on a piece of glass. Somehow it seemed more acceptable to have suffered an accident than to have been born different. I was convinced that no one outside my family could love me."
"There was, however, a teacher in the second grade that we all adored -- Mrs Leonard by name. She was short, round, happy -- a sparkling lady.
"Annually we had a hearing test. Mrs Leonard gave the test to everyone in the class, and finally it was my turn. I knew from past years that as we stood against the door and covered one ear, the teacher sitting at her desk would whisper something, and we would have to repeat it back -- things like `The sky is blue' or `Do you have new shoes?' I waited there for those words that God must have put into her mouth, those seven words that changed my life. Mrs Leonard said, in her whisper, `I wish you were my little girl.'
"God says to every person deformed by sin, `I wish you were my son' or `I wish you were my daughter." Will you accept all who are deformed by sin into your congregation? Will you encourage the people in your church to welcome everyone, no matter what their past?
I urge you, in the name of Christ, to make all redeemed sinners welcome when the church gathers and when the church functions during the week.
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