James 2:1–7 (ESV)
The Sin of Partiality
2 My
brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 2 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, 3 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,” 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers,
has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones
who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?
I remember one Sunday, we had a man come into church with all kinds of tattoos and body piercings, wearing a leather vest and black denim jeans. He came in right before the service started. I was glad to have him,
he was obviously different from our average worshiper. Then I noticed all the members turned around and they were staring at him. He didn’t feel welcome. He didn’t stay. He never came back. He was a living example
of this passage.
I pray: O Lord, you can change anyone’s heart. I ask that you work on my heart to be open to all people and help my congregation
to be open to all people. Amen.