08 May Second Class

Early in my radio career, some 40 years ago, I worked for a small radio station in Wisconsin. Like all radio stations, it had an on-air or programming staff and a sales staff. One day a memo was issued informing us that the parking stalls adjacent to the building were reserved for sales staff. Programming staff were to park at the far end of the lot. This edict made clear management’s estimation of the value of the respective staff teams.

This was driven home to me particularly hard one day when I came to the station in the early afternoon in the middle of a driving rain, I mean it was coming down in buckets. It didn’t matter. When I attempted to park near the building, the general manager with a stern point of his finger reminded me of my “rightful place.” I share this not to judge or hold a grudge (I don’t. I look back and smile at the episode). Rather, this is intended as a cautionary tale.

We can very easily behave the same way in the church body. This most commonly happens in one of two ways:

1. If we are selective in whom we invite to church.
2. If we put a premium on certain people already in the church body over others.

Jesus’ half-brother James made clear in his letter to churches that there is no room for favoritism in the church body:

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?

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? James 2:1-8 (NIV).

Well-intentioned churches have often targeted certain populations for outreach: young families, young singles, the affluent. There’s nothing wrong with that, of course. But shouldn’t we also consider going to a city park where the homeless gather and invite them? Is there really any room in God’s economy for selectivity? Let’s look again at some of James’ words:

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?

There are no second-class citizens in God’s economy. Another passage from James 2:

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. James 2:8-10 (NIV)

This is easier to miss than you might imagine. This past winter, on a bitterly cold day, a homeless woman approached me in downtown Green Bay and asked for $4 for a bus pass. It would allow her to stay warm for that day. I gave her $10 and felt very good about myself. As I drove away, it occurred to me I could have offered to buy her food and I certainly could have invited her to church. I did neither.

I encourage you to ask God to show you any recent missed opportunities in your life that you can learn from. I also encourage you to pray that He keeps you alert for opportunities in the future. One more from James:

“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?”

— Pastor Jerry Bader