Looking for Something Different

Text: James 2:1-17
Title: Looking for Something Different
9/6/09 Clarksville

He was looking for something different. He was sick and tired of being judged by his economic status. Surely there was somewhere he could go where that wouldn’t matter. Everywhere he went people were so quick to make assumptions. “He has more than he needs. If he’s a leader of this group he’ll give more money to it so let’s put him on the board of directors, make him an officer.” It was amazing how quickly people were willing to forget about his abuses of power and the injustices he was responsible for when they thought they might gain some financial benefit from his friendship. There were times it was so obvious the reason people were acting friendly had nothing to do with really wanting to know him, and everything to do with seeing dollar signs when he stepped through the door. It made it hard not to constantly question everyone’s motives, which is a hard way to live. He always had to wonder who was sincere and who wasn’t. Some days he just wanted to escape where no one knew anything about him, dress down and relax like a normal person. The constant pawing for his attention and his pocket was exhausting. It was a rare experience for him to be anywhere that it wasn’t an issue or at least a factor in how he was treated. He was looking for something different, somewhere he might be able to just be himself, be real, be just a guy and not a rich guy. That’s what he was hoping to find when he stepped into the door. At first he was excited. Such diversity - it was wonderful. But the closer he looked the more disappointed he became because even here, the poor folks were sitting with the poor folks, and the wealthy were getting their backs slapped and their palms greased. It wasn’t hard to see where he was expected to sit - even here he knew his place. He wasn’t so sure he wanted to stay because, well, because this place wasn’t any different.

He was looking for something different. He was sick and tired of being judged by his economic status. Everywhere he went people were quick to make assumptions. “That guy must be lazy. Probably an alcoholic, or a drug addict. Look at him. The least he could do is clean himself up. Better not leave any valuables out. Probably be a good idea to keep the kids away too.” Most places he went he was sure the reason people acted as they did had nothing to do with wanting to know him and everything to do with how he looked when he stepped through the door. It was hard not to constantly question other people’s motives. Hard to tell who was sincere and who wasn’t. Some days he just wanted to escape where no one knew anything about him, if there was such a place. He was looking for somewhere, anywhere that he might be able to just be himself, be real, be just a guy and not a poor guy. That’s what he was hoping to find when he stepped into the door. At first he was excited. Such diversity - it was wonderful. But the closer he looked the more disappointed he became because even here, the poor folks were sitting with the poor folks, and the wealthy were getting their backs slapped and their palms greased. It wasn’t hard to see where he was expected to sit - even here he knew his place. He wasn’t so sure he wanted to stay because, well, because this place wasn’t any different.

Favoritism. It happens when instead of seeing each other, we see labels, color, race, or whatever else we may look at that keeps us from seeing each other. The result is that people are given a place, and whether we communicate that verbally or nonverbally, they know where it is. The one place folks should be able to find something different is the church. But unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Read text.

Churches all over the NT had to be reminded that in Christ, we don’t see each other through the lenses of labels. Gal. 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nether male nor female for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Eph. 4:4-6 “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.” In Acts 10:34 - Peter had an eye-opening experience. He was so opposed to having anything to do with Gentiles that God had to give him a supernatural vision before Peter could finally say, “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts those from every nation who fear him and do what is right.”

Favor. Favoritism. It comes from the same Greek word that is translated “grace.” Grace is a complex word. It’s used to describe beauty and to speak of God’s unmerited favor toward us. It’s lovingkindness, good will, redemptive mercy, and the sum of all blessings rolled up into one word (see Vine’s Expository Dictionary). Around here we talk about grace being received, shared, and extended to the world. Favoritism or grace-ism is deciding who we will show favor, or grace to, and who we won’t. When we are selective about that, the church is guilty of reflecting the culture instead of reflecting the kingdom of a God who is gracious to all. In Luke 2:14 when the angels announced Jesus’ birth to the shepherds, remember what they said?” “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth, peace to those on whom His favor rests.” On whom does God favor rest? Everyone! God does not show favoritism because His grace, his favor rests on everyone. In Titus 2:11, Paul wrote, “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.” God’s grace isn’t selective. He gives divine favor to everyone. When we fail to do the same, we misrepresent God. When favoritism is at work in the church, not only people, but God ends up saying, “This isn’t what I had in mind. I’m looking for something different.”

One of the great challenges that faced James’ congregation, and millions of others since, is the challenge to resist the dehumanizing, categorizing, favor-playing ways of the world. We all tend to gravitate towards people like us. We notice pretty quick what makes us different, whether that difference is economic, social, racial, age, gender, or our favorite style of music. We end up surrounding ourselves with people who are like us. That may be natural, but far too often, here’s what it leads to: People have a place. The rich people sit here, the poor there. The young are here, the old over there. We have these unspoken signals that put people in their place, as if human beings were like a clean garage where every tool has its outline drawn on the peg board where it belongs, or a curio cabinet where every knick-knack has its specific spot.

Dehumanizing. That’s what happens to everyone when there is favoritism. People are treated like objects with varying degrees of value. They are put in nice, neat categories that keep them separated like the sections in my tackle box that keep the spinner baits and rubber worms away from each other. A place for everything, and everything in it’s place.

It’s one thing to do that with our tools, collectibles, and fishing lures. It’s something else altogether when we do that with people who were created in the image of God. People who have needs, wants, wishes and dreams, people who want a place to belong. People who need to know the divine favor, the grace of God. People who are looking for something different than the world gives them.

In a favoritism-filled world people are looking for something different. They’re looking for a place where they aren’t rich or poor, young or old, black or white, Asian or American, Steelers or Titans ?. People can go anywhere and be labeled, lined out and told their place. But the church, the Body of Christ - this is one place where grace is given to all.

When the church gets it right, here’s what it looks like. It’ looks like rich and poor coming to the same gathering looking for something different, and finding it! It looks like people finding a favoritism-free place of grace where we don’t see each other as rich or poor, old or young, male or female - we see each other as people. It looks like people from every race and age, gender and class knowing they have a place with everyone else who is receiving, sharing and extending the unmerited favor, the unconditional grace of God. Everyone who is tired of being labeled and is looking for something different, they’ll know they’ve found it here when we get it right. That’s one of the things it means for us to live up to the name on our sign - that we reflect the favoritism-free heart of our grace-giving God. Grace - divine favor, the unmerited and unconditional goodness of God. God has given it. The world needs it. And we are God’ vessel for displaying it. Amen.

Prayer

Benediction: “May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.” II Thess. 2:16-17