Treat The Rich And The Poor Equally

"My brothers and sisters, if you truly believe in our glorified LORD, JESUS CHRIST, you will not discriminate between persons.  Suppose a person enters the synagogue where you are assembled, dressed magnificently and wearing a gold ring; at the same time, a poor person enters dressed in rags.  If you focus your attention on the well-dressed and say, 'Come and sit in the best seat,' while, to the poor one you say, 'Stay standing, or else sit down at my feet,' have you not, in fact, made a distinction between the two?  Have you not judged, using a double standard?

Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters, did GOD not choose the poor of this world to receive the riches of faith, and to inherit the kingdom, which HE has promised to those who love HIM?  Yet, you despise them!  Is it not the rich who are against you, and drag you to court?  Do they not insult the holy name of CHRIST by which you are called?

If you keep the law of the kingdom, according to Scripture: Love your neighbor as yourself, you do well; but if you make distinctions between persons, you break the law, and are condemned by the same law." - James 2:1-9 

(Whoever makes a distinction between persons is not Christian.

Distinction of class, of color: there is never a reason for showing favoritism and not respecting the rights of each person, for making her wait or treating her less well.  There is at stake an instinct for justice that is linked with faith.

James speaks of distinctions within the Church and alas!  Often it is there that they tenaciously cling.  If in many countries the Church is much frequented by those who are socially well off, better educated, it is surely  because of its choices: our practices have cast aside others until they are no longer seen.

Did GOD not choose the poor of this world to receive the riches of faith?  The apostles who are our undisputed masters in faith were poor with regard to money and influence, but they were sufficiently rich in faith to sign it with their blood.

James says that the rich profane the name of CHRIST.  He speaks perhaps of the rich unbelievers who ridicule the simple faithful, or perhaps of the wealthy Christians whose way of life draws criticism of the name of CHRIST.  They profane the name of CHRIST and bring contempt on the Church.

James invites the Church to examine itself on the way we treat each other in our institutions: with whom are the pastors of the Church usually found, who are those with whom they feel at ease and in whom they confide.  What terrible truth would be revealed by an investigation of these points!)

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