James 2:1-4

"My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?" (James 2:1-4).

There is an epidemic in the body of Christ (this side of heaven) called partiality. It is not a term used often because it is justified as an issue of preference rather than prejudice, but it is easily identified in the over-saturation of church buildings and denominations across the United States.

In truth, church splits have fractured the bride of Christ and crippled our ability to unite because we show partiality to specific cultural, economic or peripheral (not foundational) theological differences.

We tend to justify our affinity to those we are similar to, which is not necessarily bad so long as it does not become undue bias or prejudice.

When we show favoritism within the church is when sin enters the equation and draws tempestuous lines in the sand.

In the example James gives, it is a monetary/economic issue that causes a man to stumble and disregard one person to show favor to another.

Superficial bias will only cause us to self-protect though, rather than compel us to reach out and create bridges to those who are different from us, especially the unsaved.

The simple fact is that the kingdom of heaven is a melting pot of people from every tribe and tongue for those who profess Christ as personal Lord and Savior.

So why would we draw lines in the sand here on earth within the church when there are none in heaven?

Our identity in Christ must dispel partiality and destroy bias because we are family, regardless of our superficial differences.