7:44 AM
I'm interested in knowing if you feel that this passage directly relates to how people dress in present-day meetings of the Church. Bear in mind that it was written in a time when the wealthy class was separated from the poor by a wide margin. There were no textile mills that churned out expensive-looking clothing at reasonable prices. If you were poor, you typically dressed in a "poor" way.
My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?
For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor”—well, doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives?
Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him? But you dishonor the poor! Isn’t it the rich who oppress you and drag you into court? Aren’t they the ones who slander Jesus Christ, whose noble name you bear?
Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law.
James 2:1-9 (NLT)
There are plenty of passages that speak more directly to the issue of how we dress when we meet. I've heard this one referred to moderately often, and I'd like to know what you -- as opposed to John MacArthur or Matthew Henry or other commentary authors -- believe this passage is getting at.
My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?
For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor”—well, doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives?
Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him? But you dishonor the poor! Isn’t it the rich who oppress you and drag you into court? Aren’t they the ones who slander Jesus Christ, whose noble name you bear?
Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law.
James 2:1-9 (NLT)
There are plenty of passages that speak more directly to the issue of how we dress when we meet. I've heard this one referred to moderately often, and I'd like to know what you -- as opposed to John MacArthur or Matthew Henry or other commentary authors -- believe this passage is getting at.
