THEMES FROM SELECTED EPISTLES (a) Recount James' advice to Christians on how the poor and the rich should be treated in the church . (b) State four reasons ...

(a) James' advice on the treatment of the poor and the rich in the church (James 2:1-9)

James warns believers against the sin of showing partiality, using the example of two visitors who come into the assembly.

• He tells Christians who hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ not to show favouritism or partiality.
• He describes a situation where a man with gold rings and fine clothing and a poor man in shabby clothing enter the assembly.
• If the members pay special attention to the well-dressed man, saying, Sit here in a good place, while telling the poor man, Stand there or Sit at my feet, they have made distinctions among themselves and become judges with evil thoughts.
• James reminds them that God has chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom.
• He points out the inconsistency of honouring the rich, since it is often the rich who oppress the believers, drag them into court and blaspheme the noble name by which they are called.
• He urges them to fulfil the royal law, You shall love your neighbour as yourself. To show partiality is to commit sin and to be convicted as transgressors of the law.

(b) Four reasons why people should not discriminate against each other

1. All human beings are created in the image of God and possess equal worth and dignity.
2. God is no respecter of persons and shows no partiality, so His people must reflect His character.
3. Discrimination violates the law of love, which commands us to love our neighbour as ourselves.
4. Outward appearance, wealth or status is not a true measure of a person's value; God looks at the heart, and the poor may be rich in faith.