Personal Favoritism

Prejudice is a perpetual problem at all levels.

Our faith is tested by how we view and how we treat those who are different from us.

Objective of this lesson : 1. From the very beginning Christianity has always been countercultural. 2. There are many reasons why people develop prejudices. 3. Prejudices are part of the old man. 4. Prejudices are sinful.

I. Christianity has always been countercultural.

The Jews were a segregated people. II Corinthians 6: 16-17 "I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate," says the lord "and do not touch what is unclean; and I will welcome you."

Jews were forbidden to marry foreigners. Ezra 10: 11 Now therefore, make confession to the Lord God of your fathers and do His will; and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives. Cf. Deut. 7: 3-4

Acts 10: 28-29 And he said to them, "You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean. 29 "That is why I came without even raising any objection when I was sent for. So I ask for what reason you have sent for me."

all stations were mixed The church was the only place where people of all stations were mixed in one group.

II. There are many reasons why people become prejudice.

Some sources of prejudice : Culture Bad experience Misguided Ignorance Pride Blinded by sin

III. Prejudices are part of the old man that must be buried.

“Personal favoritism” { prosopolepsia } 1 respect of persons. 2 partiality. 2a the fault of one who when called on to give judgment has respect of the outward circumstances of man and not to their intrinsic merits, and so prefers, as the more worthy, one who is rich, high born, or powerful, to another who does not have these qualities. “to lift one man’s face above another”

Partiality, prejudice is the antithesis of Godliness. a. Rom. 2: 11 – Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God. b. Eph. 6: 9 – their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him. c. Col. 3: 25 – consequences of the wrong … he has done, and that without partiality.

We became one with God and with His family. I Peter 1: 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again through …

I John 3: 9-10 No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.

Philippians 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; Ephesian 2: 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household,

Love covers all differences. Being born again into a new family and given a new citizenship removes all causes of prejudice among Christians. Love covers all differences.

IV. James is explaining that an attitude of prejudice is sinful.

James 2: 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

Pre-judging is attempting to usurp God’s authority. James 4: 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?

I Corinthians 4: 5 Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts; and then each man's praise will come to him from God.   Philippians 1: 17 The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment.

We must make some judgments, but not on the basis of appearances. See : I Corinthians 5 & 6 John 7: 24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.

I Samuel 16: 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

We must make righteous judgments. Never judge what cannot be changed. All observables will be left behind. God monitors what we can’t see.

How’s yours ? We’ve been discussing our interpersonal relationships But even more is our relationship with God. How’s yours ?

Remember His Sacrifice

I Peter 2: 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;