Don’t see the audio player? Click here.
Mahatma Gandhi wrote in his autobiography that during his student days in America, he read the Gospels and seriously considered converting to Christianity. So one Sunday, he decided to attend a nearby church and talk to the minister. But when he arrived, the usher refused to give him a seat and suggested he go worship with his own people. He said he left the church and decided, “If Christians have a caste system, I might as well remain a Hindu.” That usher not only betrayed Jesus, he turned a person away from trust in Him. That is why James, brother of our Lord was so emphatic in condemning prejudice. The Life Application Bible summarizes James’ eight reasons God’s people must avoid prejudice. In James Chapter 2, we find that prejudice is inconsistent with Christ’s teachings; it comes from evil thoughts; it insults people made in God’s image; it is a product of selfish motives; it contradicts the biblical definition of love; it shows a lack of mercy toward the less fortunate; it is hypocritical; and it is sinful. James writes, “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?” Of course James is not telling us to ignore the rich, or people of stature, only that we should not favor them over others.
