James 2:8-11
You 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.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
An auctioneer will often bundle several items together in a box and offer them for bid as one item. There is a “cardinal rule” among seasoned auction-goers that you don’t mess with the items on the table! If you only care about one particular item in a box and don’t want the others, you had better be prepared to purchase everything. Taking out the item you want and putting it somewhere else is considered a huge “no-no!” Still, there will often be people who try to stealthily move their favored item to another box – or another spot on the table. I’ve seen more than one bidder “win” a box of items only to find that the very thing he/she was after had gone missing!
While this sort of action will not be the end of the world in the context of an auction purchase, such behavior matters tremendously in Spiritual terms. I am truly amazed that many “Christians” want to categorize actions according to their own preferences. They “grade” the deeds of some and deem their behaviors to be significant, while others’ exploits are just “discards in the box.” And then they rate each person according to their “sin meter.” Many of us also select the people with whom we want to associate - much like an auction bidder picks out the best item(s) in the box - and then we toss the others to the curb.
Christianity does not work this way. We cannot pick and choose… who we love and treat with respect and care…or which actions and behaviors are unacceptable (or sinful) and which of them will be tolerated or excused. We are called to love others as we love ourselves. We are expected to love God and obey His law… and to prayerfully study God’s directives, so that we are clear about what He is saying. In other words, we cannot interpret God’s commands in a manner that suits our desires and whims… or makes us popular with others in our social group.
I don’t know about you, but I am pretty weary of those who claim the name of Jesus and then mistreat others. I cannot imagine that a single person who feels this sort of judgment and/or disdain has a desire to become like these so-called “Christians”… or to follow the God they follow. Surely this must break God’s heart…and as Disciples of Christ, it should cut us to the very core.
My prayer for each of us today is that we would truly examine our hearts… that we would spend time in prayer and meditation, really listening for God’s voice. Hear what He is telling you and follow His lead. If you are judging others or picking and choosing which of God’s laws to follow – or interpreting them to suit your own agenda – change today. If you are discriminating against any of God’s children in any fashion… or if you are choosing to associate only with those you consider like-minded or “lovable,” get over yourself this minute! Ask God to genuinely - and completely - change your heart. To offer God anything less dishonors Him. I can’t imagine that any among us wants to do this… can you?
©2012 Debbie Robus
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