Sermon 5th October 2015

Today one of our Honorary Ministers, Ben Hughes, continues our study of the book of James. The reading is from James 2 verses 1-13. 

Favoritism Forbidden

Dear father, teach us to be always merciful – to love mercy and justice and to seek peace. May you teach us this morning as we look at favouritism? Amen

As the children came in from the playground the teacher asked Susie what she had done during play time – The little girl said I played in the sand pit – the teacher said great if you can spell sand – I will give you a chocolate biscuit – Susie spelt sand and received a biscuit. Little Johnny then came in to the classroom and the teacher said to Johnny – what did you play with at playtime – he replied I played with a ball – the teacher said if you can spell ball you can have a chocolate biscuit – Johnny spelt ball and the biscuit was his. Then a small snotty underfed kid came into the classroom  and the teacher said – what did you do a break time – he said I ran and hid whilst Susie and Johnny threw stones at me – the teacher said that is terrible – that is discrimination – If you can spell discrimination you can have a chocolate biscuit.

(Because of translation differences between NIV and Good news Bibles and for simplicity – the words Favouritism, Prejudice, bullying and discrimination have been grouped together)

Many of you have firsthand experience of favouritism/prejudice.  Either favorable or not? And many of you might have experienced bullying and discrimination no doubt. If I received a pound for every child that I worked with who had been bullied in some way - I would be a very rich. Bullying is a significant driver in children failing at school. And bullying is easy to identify as it is so prevalent.  What is very difficult is harder is to find the fix – so the question this morning is how can we as Christians help people who have been bullied and discriminated against.

James is offering practical advice in helping us better deal with this

First of all - James is absolutely clear – there is no place for it favouritism/prejudice in our churches. And I include in that bullying and discrimination. James addresses his command to ‘brothers and sisters’ – suggesting that he had equality in mind from the outset.

And if James is not clear enough in the title –favouritism/prejudice forbidden!  -  He also uses Christ’s own powerful ‘Royal law’– ‘to love they neighbor as they self’ as his underlying justification.

And if you are still not clear about that and you might ask like Pharisees and lawyers cleverly asked Jesus ‘but who is my neighbour’? - you have the fantastic parable of the good Samaritan to answer your questions – and if that is still not enough to see how God works in the matter - then you the story of Mary Magdalene, or the calling of the Matthew and James- the healing of the leper, blind Bartimaeus, the healing of centurion’s daughter, (as we heard from our series in Luke) the untouchable women with internal bleeding.  They all illustrate James point that ‘those that are poor in the eyes of the world are rich in faith’.

So James fundamental solution is – ‘judgment measured with mercy at all times’?  And favouritism forbidden

And James adds – law on its own is of little use – and no law trumps another – breaking one means that you break them all - but add the magic ingredient ‘Mercy’– then law becomes fulfilled in the love of God through Christ!  

Laws are just piles of bricks – you need the binding mortar of love and mercy to build the house.

And that mercy and love are sometimes in short supply in our lives. There is a massive need for love and mercy in our world – especially when expressed in small everyday acts.

And the rationale of why we need to love is that we are blessed by God are we not? So we do the same to others– and how do we do that?  - Responding to need? Giving a care?  - Migrants, Asylum seekers – those torn up by war – they are the obvious ones of course -  then there are the less obvious and more distasteful ones nearer to home - drug addicts, criminals – those with illness and mental health.  – And like the Samaritans in the Bible - we have our modern day outcasts too – those that have ‘crossed the line’   - the ‘deserving poor’, the elderly that nobody knows what to do with, prisoners who fail to reform – and those that are far too rich – we must not forget them.  ‘The harvest is plenty and the workers few’ and as Christians, we are the workers!

And we can assume from James’ letter that we are allowed judge - let’s not be wrong about that - we are not to walk around with our eyes shut –- he says so in verse 13 – but we are to be wise in judgment and temper all judgment with mercy -  

And we must not fear God’s judgment on us either. A good parent will chastise – or ‘tell off’ the child that they love – God is a merciful loving father who judges fairly and squarely – even if it does not seem so at the time! Why accept being judged by the world and the devil when you can be instead judged by God. Much better – much healthier.  I know what I would prefer.

So let’s not begrudge being ‘chastised’ and let’s not begrudge the helping of others because God continues to give to us always – pressed down tenfold and over flowing. He gives and gives - He is merciful and loving and slow to anger and quick in love us for whom we are. His wrath and judgment remain of course and will always be there for those who follow evil disobedient paths – But His judgments will always be merciful and quick to forgive – especially if we ask for forgiveness and show remorse.

And by being merciful we are really saying - it is God that can change people’s lives. We as a church we should concentrate on people’s good behavior through setting an example – and we should try and be  positive  and ignore the bad in people. Let God will use the Holy Spirit to convict people – we do not need to do that work for Him.

So no favouritism in the Church just the joy of being favoured by God instead

So what are we meant to do when we come across dodgy favouritism going on or some nasty discrimination?  - Well we must act – we always need to do something about it – speak out rather than remain quiet! It is our duty as the church?

We must also help heal people when they have been victims of discrimination or favouritism – and that also includes victims of historical abuse. The church is a great place to help people live their lives with their scars and should offer people new hope when hope is lost.

The wounds might heal but scars remain. And like the scars that Christ bore on his hands feet and side – our scars are likewise the evidence of our own suffering which will be rewarded in the words ‘good and faithful servant who has been dutiful and faithful in small things – take up your seat in the Kingdom of Heaven where you will be trusted with many greater things’!

And if we are perpetrators of favouritism and discrimination – be alert and be aware of your error!

It is also easy to become a bully if everyone around is doing the same. Let’s be different and stand out from the crowd.

What others cannot see God can - God will Harvest the world and nothing is hidden from Him?

The reality is that there are consequences to everything we do – but I am just saying this as a reminder to myself as well as to you all - the slightest peace of cruelty will never go unnoticed by God – so we need to repent and make amends towards those that we have hurt in the past and avoid doing so in the future.  You’re not going to get away with it!

Finally to encourage us all here this morning

Herne Hill parish is a good and generous parish and we all work hard to be inclusive and non judgmental – my nudge to you this morning is yes – carry on – there is always plenty to do!  And we do is already very good. We have rotas new ideas to help - Church is busy and the needs are endless

But if the business of doing church becomes a distraction or a vehicle of favouritism then we should check our priorities.

if it all collapses next week and we turn up here and the heating is  bust, and the chairs are not out and there is no coffee– It should  not matter if we are this inclusive church.   

I am not saying that I do not appreciate a coffee after the service or a chair to sit on but I would not enjoy it if it was at the expense of someone not being made to feel welcome!

Lastly I want to say this – what if you are the person that is out of favour at the moment?  Or you are the person who is bullied or discriminated against – Perhaps you have never got over the bullying and discrimination that you suffered at school for example?

Yes and Cameron reminded us a few sermons back that  – life is not fair – but that is not good enough for James when it comes to favouritism and discrimination - and so if it is not good enough for James then it can’t be so for us. Let’s not accept favouritism, prejudice or bullying – let us actively repent and do something about it and let us set the example and make the difference positively discriminating if necessary.

And if you are hurting from rejection - then Church is the right place for you – a real Church is a ‘loser’s paradise’. Our founder was brutally and unjustly murdered and that would have remained the case if he had not resurrected.  The church is where little is large and less is more – if you want the world it is out there through those doors. We in here - are the world standing on its head. Upside down values of the Kingdom of Christ the king! (As CS Lewis Calls it)

Prayer – is the means and is the vehicle of inner change. Prayer helps us deal with our brokenness and rejections. When we pray we involve the power from the Holy Spirit which allows the worn out to rise up on Eagles wings – (as we sang)

Prayer is also a good means of communication to your bullies. Pray for your enemies and those that persist in bullying you – it actually works! Pray for your persecutors and bullies – and you will see change. Prayer works as a medium of communication where earthly words and plans fail.  Every week at church we have a prayer   team available – make use of it - go and pray for your enemies after the service – form a queue. Pray for them   whether they at work, at school, in the street and so on. List them by initial to God and He will complete the necessary unseen work in a way that helps everyone.

And Check and then double check yours self that you are not discriminating.  If you cannot invite everyone who wants to come to your party perhaps don’t have the party rather than risking hurting people. If you need to have a  hierarchical membership group  - then have an open agenda and open membership criteria and provide training, help and teaching so that people can improve themselves and join and progress. Nothing in the church should be exclusive and if you think you are better than someone else then it is time perhaps to give up and hand it over to someone more deserving. That is how talent should work – humble, selfless and serving and a healthy fear of God – the nutrient that grows God-fearing knowledge and wisdom.  

To finish – No favouritism just God’s favour. Let’s be alert and awake to any discrimination and let us use the tools that God has given us such as pray, songs and the word of God to make a difference. And let’s continue to make St Saviour’s and St Paul’s inclusive welcoming churches where people can come and be changing and renewed by God.

Amen