Judgment and Favoritism

Recently I have been doing quite a bit if thinking about judgement and mercy, and James has a nice section discussing this topic. Here are the verses - James 2:8-13 NIV:

[8] "If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. [9] But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. [10] For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. [11] For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. [12] Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, [13] because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

These verses are actually pretty amazing. James is basically saying that if we have a judgemental attitude, which is really what favoritism is, towards others, we are sinning. We are breaking the law just as much as if we murderers and adulterers. It is a very good thing that Jesus met all the requirements of the law, and paid for all our sins.

Here James says the opposite of favoritism and judgementalism, as alluded to in verses 12 and 13, is being merciful. I think James' point of reference for this, is that his focus is not on the one being shown favoritism, but the one who is not! Webster's has this as one of the definitions of mercy: compassionate treatment of those in distress. In other words looking on the less fortunate, the undesirable, the hurting, the sick, the poor, the broken, the handicapped and seeing them through the eyes of compassion. Those who are in such straits, who are treated poorly, experience a judgement about their situation that is sin, according to James. Often in the eyes of religious judgement, they are assumed to have brought their situation on themselves, through their sin or bad behaviour.

James makes it very clear, judgement without mercy will be shown to those who have not been merciful, so let us pray for eyes of compassion, and hearts for the hurting. Let us recognize that sin and sickness, poverty and all things not of God are the result of a fallen world, and the vast majority of time, having little to nothing to do with the person's actions. Even if we know for sure that a persons actions caused their situations, we should treat them with mercy and compassion, not judge them. I am reminded of Jesus treatment for the women caught in adultery, and His unwillingness to judge her. Let us, as a church extend mercy to those we meet, and show no favoritism in our dealings with people.