Imagine for a moment that you are a part of the congregation of this newly established religious group that is called “Christian”. You have listened closely to the message it has presented concerning Christ, and as a new found believer, you are made an “usher” in the church. You are excited about your assignment, especially when you observe Mr. Prominence visiting your group for the first time ever.
Assured in your mind that you would be following the desires of the leadership of the congregation, you very quickly select a seat assignment that puts Mr. Prominence close to Mr. Noteworthy. In doing so, you have to move the poor man into a location that identifies him as a “poor” man. That amounts to the indication that you are looking at Mr. Prominence as more important. It is repulsive that, even in the church, there are those who lack sufficient maturity to reveal equality.
James goes on to ask a very straightforward question: “Have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives? In calling attention by the action taken, James makes a bold statement when he says to the believers: “If you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.” (James 2:9)
A little further in that 2nd chapter of James we read: “So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty.” The old saying: “Let your walk talk and your talk walk” should find a home in the heart of every believer.
I am certain that you did not miss how James identified those who allow themselves to be en-snared by the devil’s activity as becoming “judges with evil motives”. What seems but a simple snare, is sin before the Almighty!
ETCetera 