Love... Is Impartial

My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 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, 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,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

James 2:1-4 (ESV)

For God shows no partiality.

Romans 2:11 (ESV)

Among Satan’s most effective cons is a game I call “Beelzebub Bridge”, where one suit trumps/wins over other suits. 

It’s a sly game of power and bias! Like our world, it’s most often played in teams, and love has nothing to do with winning.

Every Christian with a brain and a heart, every Christian who studies the Bible, every Christian whose Model is Jesus…

Every “Christian” who’s not a hypocrite, every pastor (shepherd) leading a flock… couldn’t condone or possible prefer:

  • A biased spin over the truth of God,

  • A rich man’s gold over a poor man’s mites,

  • A proud man’s strut over a meek man’s walk,

  • A fair man’s face over a plain man’s scars,

  • A pastor’s nod over a seeker’s heart,

  • A pastor’s perks over a heavy cross,

  • A blessing verse over a tough-love chew,

  • A comfy pew over the narrow path,

  • A senator over a janitor,

  • A businessman over a homeless man,

  • A luxe lady over a working girl,

  • A selfish thought over a selfless one,

  • A golden calf over the Crucified!... 

Just as tempting is cultural bias. It tempted the priests in Jerusalem, and so many of them BIT Satan’s bait. The bait of bias still tempts us today! 

We’re not just continuing that foul game; fires of fervor are raging in churches. But these fires AREN’T the flames of God’s Spirit. Without any doubt, they’re flames of hellfire!

On the other Hand (the Almighty’s Hand)... our equal opportunity Savior denounced every form of favoritism… by the Words He spoke and the way He lived.

Actors, models, and talent for Christ: 

I know that you know LOVE IS IMPARTIAL (or it isn’t love at all. It’s bias). You’re commissioned to represent God’s love in film, fashion, music, and theatre. But also in church!

If you see bias in a house of God, approach your pastor humbly and gently. Share what you’ve see and why it concerns you.

If he agrees and works to stop it, GOOD! If he turns a blind eye and does nothing, pray to God. Either address it yourself, or find a new church– as the Lord directs.

Love… Is Impartial (Part  48)

NOTE: God is my Ghostwriter. If what I write is good, it’s from God! We’re all called to be actors (action stars) for Jesus. We’re all called to be models of Jesus. We all have gifts, talents, and a commission to multiply them in the world for His glory.

P.S. NO DEVOTION, PREACHER, or SERMON… can begin to replace personal time in the Bible. I wholeheartedly and clear-headedly recommend DAILY BIBLE READING.

WARNING: Don’t focus on your favorite verses, because taken out of context, they’re often misinterpreted. I plead with you to READ AT LEAST 1 BIBLE CHAPTER DAILY. How long does it take? An average of 5 to 10 minutes!

Carey Arban