Reginald Fitzwalter and his lovely bride had just celebrated their first anniversary. He was Lord of the Manor in Dunmow, England, and a man of means.
Tenderly, Reginald asked Lady Judith, "would you still love me, Judy, if I were a common laborer and not Lord of this Manor?"
"My dear," she sighed, "if we had only each other and rags upon our backs, I would blessed forever."
"Blessed forever." The words hung in the air like magic. And in that magic moment in the year 1104, those two lovers had an inspiration. It was the kind of conspiracy of which only lovers are capable. They would celebrate their first anniversary by rededicating themselves to God and to each other, but with a twist: they would disguise themselves as vagabond peasants and walk to the shire. There, they would ask the local pastor for a special blessing on their marriage.
So they did. The humble pastor was touched by the love of this - apparently - poor couple, and he laid both hands upon them and blessed them with a beautiful prayer. He then reached into his own pantry and returned with a flitch of bacon, which is a side of cured pork, and gave it to them as an anniversary gift.
At this, Lord Reginald and Lady Judy revealed their true royal identities! In appreciation to the pastor, they gave a generous gift of land to the local Abbey...with one condition: if any couple came to the Abbey on their anniversary and could prove their devotion to God and to each other, they would be rewarded with a blessing and a flitch of bacon.
So goes the story. Is it true? Chaucer, in the 14th century, believed it was true. To this day, a reenactment - the Flitch Trial - is held in Greater Dunmow, England.
It's an archetype, isn't it? The Prince and the Pauper. There are legends of King Stefan, dressed in rags, giving gifts to the poor. King Richard, disguised, finding a friend in Robin Hood the noble outlaw.
But all those stories point to an overarching epic truth: there is a Great Eternal King Who became a Carpenter. Jesus was rich, but for your sakes - Scripture says - He became poor so you might become rich.
In our Radical Faith study, James is about to deliver a startling lesson about God's heart for the poor - and the downtrodden in general.
James 2:1-13 (English Standard Version)
1 - My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.
Show no partiality, says James. As you hold the faith - since you hold the faith - because you hold the faith in Jesus, the Lord of Glory.
James begins with a radical statement that runs 180 degrees out of phase with human nature: Partiality and the Person of Jesus do not mix. They have nothing more in common than a frog and a bicycle.
Remember, it was Jesus Who set aside the privileges of His Deity. He took the form of a servant. He humbled himself, and humanity did not receive Him. The world couldn't comprehend the Light, because they were too busy judging that Light. They displayed their partiality - and they EXCLUDED the very SON OF GOD. Listen to their voices:
"Oh, no prophet comes out of Nazareth."
"He's not properly trained in our schools."
"He eats with prostitutes and criminals."
"He's a friend of sinners!"
"A glutton and a drunkard!"
"Probably demon possessed."
Yet it was this disguised King, the Son of Man, Son of God, Son of David, upon Whom the Father bestowed the name above all names.
The best minds in Israel? The power brokers of Rome? They "chose poorly." Of all people, Christians should be sickened at the thought of judging a book by its cover.
Going onto verse 2
2 - 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, 3 - 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," 4 - have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
A man wearing a "gold ring." The original text for that line describes the man as "Gold-fingered!" Fans of another James, James Bond may be shaken or stirred to learn that. But here's the image: Through the big glass doors, comes Goldfinger wearing his Armani suit. Right behind him stumbles in Jack Black in a stained, torn t-shirt. Who gets the better welcome?
Our 1st Impression team says, "Both!" Amen!
There's history hidden in this passage that helps unpack it. In the first century, Rabbis held civil courts called Tribunals. The guidelines for these courts were well known.
A rich man with a case against a poor man had two options: he could either dress the defendant well like himself, OR he could choose to wear humble clothes, too. Both men were required to either stand or sit during the proceedings, because the court tried them as equals.
The tribunal saw favoritism as a perversion of justice.
James is essentially saying, "If a court of law sees partiality to the rich as an abomination, how much more should the Kingdom of the Messiah - the suffering Servant - actively show kindness to the poor?"
More about this in a moment. Let's move on to verse 5:
5 - Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?
God has chosen the poor. James jangles us, and he echoes the words of Jesus Himself: "blessed are the poor, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!" Radical faith, like our Radical Savior, is biased toward the bottom. It has a heart for the outcasts, the poor.
I'd like you to raise your hand if you have a car to drive and a place to sleep tonight. Hold those hands up and look around. If you have a hand in the air, by world standards, you are wealthier than 80% of the people on earth. Even in the pinch of a recession, we are not poor.
Let's recognize our blessings and view James' words soberly.
He goes on in verse 6:
6 - But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? 7 - Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?
James observes that oppressors tend to be rich, not poor. In the 1st century, Roman law gave a debt collector the right to physically drag a debtor to jail.
The passage made me wonder: how many times have I seen a poor person issue a court summons? And as to mocking our faith in Jesus, I'll admit it usually comes from places like Hollywood and the intellectual elite.
James suggests that the poor make better friends than the rich! He evens hints that if we favor the wealthy, we've placed ourselves on one team while God is on another!
There's some hyperbole there, maybe some irony in James' tone, but he clearly wants us to think through our values and allegiances.
Let me add here that Scripture does NOT teach poverty as a free pass to glory! No one will be refused salvation because they have a good portfolio. First, in Christ, there is no east or west, bond or free, male nor female! Second, poor people can be dazzled by wealth as easily as the rich. Finally, lots of wealthy people have the gift of giving.
The question isn't whether you have wealth, but whether wealth has you!
There are terrific examples of generosity all around us. So many have sacrificed their time, talent and treasure to see the vision of Stonebridge go forward. At the same time, you support Missions, Aid to Women, House of Hope, the Mission of Hope, the Angel Tree ministry at Christmas and so many other good things. Every Wednesday, scores of men and women here attend Financial Peace University, developing tools to help them be more generous. This is the stuff that reflects God's heartbeat in James 2.
Let's go onto verse 8
8 - If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing well. 9 - But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 - For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. 11 - For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
Partiality - favoritism - of any kind is a sin. It's deadly and dishonoring as murder or adultery. Like any sin, favoritism is enough to destroy you.
I've shared the gospel with people who say, "I'll get to heaven. I'm a pretty good person - I've never killed anyone!" It's a relief to know they haven't had 15 seconds of shame on America's Most Wanted! But God has set the bar higher than that!
If your strategy is to win God's favor with a good life, here's the standard: A life of 100% flawless perfection from the womb to the tomb. He's not looking for a six foot jump, but a 60,000 foot jump. James says that "failing in one point," even showing favoritism, makes us guilty of it all.
Friend, abandon that dead plan. Make a bee-line for the Cross of Jesus instead.
He who knew no sin became sin for us. Embrace the good news and throw yourself on His mercy that triumphs over judgment. Have you received that free gift? Don't put it off.
James finishes with verse 12 and 13:
12 - So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. 13 - For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
The judges will be judged. The merciful will be shown mercy.
How can that be, Pastor Phil? You just said salvation is a free gift - now you're saying if I'm judgmental, God will refuse to give me mercy?
Jesus Himself says that, and it's really quite terrifying. In Mt. 18, there's the parable of a kind master who forgave a servant's million dollar debt! Later - that same servant - the one forgiven of this huge debt - threatens and chokes a man who owes him just a few dollars.
The kind master morphs into a very scary man. He shouts, "you wicked servant! I forgave all that debt, and this is how you treat your neighbor? Deal breaker, pal." And that, according to Jesus, is a picture of God if we don't forgive each other. In James' words, "Mercy triumphs over judgment."
This is NOT salvation by works. It's something much more sobering: A judgmental spirit is the horrible revelation of who we really are.
Judged people will judge people.
Graced people will grace people.
When we've encountered the "Law of Liberty," we've been pronounced forgiven by God Himself and set free. In return, we will "so live and so act" as people who have been forgiven and set free.
Take an inventory of your heart: If you often find yourself standing in judgment of your pitiful co-workers, unthankful family, the idiot drivers on the road, air-headed clerks, that worthless husband, and so on, there's good reason for you to question whether you've had a transforming encounter with Jesus Christ.
On the other hand, if you find it normal - and desirable - to forgive and release the people around you, that's an indication that you've truly experienced the "Law of Liberty." You've been forgiven much. You love much. It shows.
In my mind, I have a picture of Jesus and Cyndi Lauper singing this duet: "I see your true colors come shining though!" Those true colors are the revelation of your true forgiven identity. That's Christ in you, the hope of glory, completing the good work He began at Calvary.
That's what I want in my life. I know you want that in yours.
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We have a few moments to explore WHY we have a natural tendency to judge. René Girard is the Francis Schaeffer of Stanford's Philosophy department, and a great thinker. He says this:
"The beginning of all religion starts in the making of a distinction."
Rene Girard
Let's look again at James' opening words: "Show No Partiality." And in verse 4, he says that as evil judges, we have made distinctions among ourselves.
We are binary creatures by nature. We feel best when we're sorting things into two bins.
THIS is not THAT.
I like this. I don't like that.
I like 2%. I don't like whole milk.
Rich is good. Poor is bad.
The world functions according to distinctions. Divisions. Judgments. Partiality. We make choices all our lives, Saint. We have to show good judgment. As an engineer, if you don't make excellent distinctions, airplanes will fall out of the sky. If, as a banker, you don't show good judgment, you might end up in jail. Larry Ihnen and the FDIC will chase you down!
By nature and by nurture, we've been conditioned to make thousands of distinctions in the physical world.
Left to our own, we'll go on to judge the spiritual world, too. It's kind of like using an egg timer to measure eternity, but we'll do it. We'll decide:
This is holy. That is common.
This is sacred. That is secular.
Some of us still remember Aristotle's laws of logic: You know: A is A, and B is B and C is neither A nor B!
That's all well and good, but - even in NATURE - God doesn't always cooperate with our pristine human logic.
Sound is sound and light is light, right? Well, maybe not. Sound waves are heard as pitches - like A440 - but did you know that if you go up about 30 octaves, those sound waves turn into a spectrum of light waves? Even more strangely, physicists tell us that at higher levels, light waves display characteristics of both light AND particles. We're learning that the boundaries between sound, light, energy and matter are far more blurry than we thought.
But why should Christians be surprised about that? Didn't God speak light and matter into existence?
Even the basic doctrine of the Trinity blows binary logic right out of the water. The Father is a person, the Son is a person, and the Spirit is a person. At the same time, the Father and Jesus and the Spirit are One God.
The Trinity alone contradicts all three of Aristotle's basic laws!
The secret things belong to God - we need to give mystery and paradox a little elbow room.
In the Gospels, people came to Jesus with questions 182 times. Sometimes He'd correct the question. Other times He'd use the opportunity to tell a parable or He'd answer with another question! In fact, of the 182 questions put to Jesus, can you guess how many of these Jesus answered directly? Not many. Maybe only three.
Saint, the new wine of the Gospel couldn't be contained in the old wineskins of Judaism. Neither can it be contained in the old wineskins of man's reasoning. Wisdom that's pure and peaceable is WISDOM FROM ABOVE. A transcendent wisdom.
Apart from Jesus, we'll remain in bondage to the calculative life. It's a mindset that measures everything in terms of appearance, perks, prestige and power. What's in it for me? Where's the win? Did he get more than me? Is my name on it?
Jesus ushers us into a new way of seeing, a new way of being. His Spirit transforms us from a calculative mindset to a contemplative life, an abundant life that welcomes mystery! A life that's quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to be angry.
Caterpillars - those little bugs - wreck our gardens. They hang around with their caterpillar buddies, watching caterpillar TV, drinking caterpillar cola and snacking on Milkweed chips. Couch larvae, really.
But a caterpillar goes through a mysterious process - metamorphosis - it changes form and emerges as a new creation.
As a butterfly, he instinctively rises above the earthiness of the old caterpillar life. He rides the wind. He doesn't crawl around in the dirt anymore because gravity has lost its power. He finds a new life in a mysterious new world called the sky. Now his food is nectar.
Isn't that a picture of the Redeemed Child of God? A miracle transforms her into a new creation. She lives and moves and has her being in a mysterious new world of God's Favor. She's freed from the gravity of judgment, both upon her and from her. As James says, the perfect Law of Liberty reigns instead. It's a world almost completely upside down from the one she used to know.
James begins this radical book with a paradox: ""Count it PURE JOY when you experience trials..." Trials equal joy? That's the kind of upside down world Jesus talked about! No one showers us with more paradoxes and mysteries than He did! He said the BLESSED people are the poor, the mourners, the meek. To be great, we need to be small. To live, we have to die. His strength will be made perfect in our weakness.
Jesus could have incarnated Himself into glory and ease. He did the exact opposite. He went out of his way to choose not only poverty, but disgrace. His mother was pregnant when Joseph married her, something that probably cost Joseph his credibility in the community. Jesus taught without formal training, and even his own brothers didn't believe him. The religious leaders AND the civil authorities judged Him to be either a liar or a lunatic. They executed Him publicly as a pitiful, naked loser, and hung him on display with criminals.
No, Jesus Christ does not identify Himself with the Rich and Famous. "If you've done it to the LEAST OF THESE," He says, "you've done it to ME." Jesus militantly takes a place with the down-and-outers - He has friends in low places.
Are you thankful He reached out to you in your low place? Oddly, when we reach out to others in their need, we'll find Jesus already there.
There's no shortage of low places. Jesus also said, "You will always have the poor with you."
On earth, deficiency is everywhere! Poverty shows up as more than just poor people. There are poor marriages. Poor results. Poor examples. Poor weather and poor bookkeeping. Poor judgment, poor driving and poor behavior. Poor return on investments. Poor values. Poor credit. Poor skills and poor grammar. Poor performance. Poor management. Poor hygiene. Poor planning and poor follow-through!
Poverty surrounds us! Poverty IS US!
That's why I can guarantee, Beloved: - if it hasn't already - poverty will come knocking at your door, at my door. It will walk right down the center aisle of Stonebridge.
Who knows what form that poverty might take? It might arrive looking like a divorce, a disease, a frustration, a failure. Maybe, like James says, it will show up as a man in rags. Maybe, like Reginald and Judy, it will arrive looking like a poor couple in love.
But a poor something will come along - and it will be looking for your kindness. Don't judge that poor-something, Saint. Instead, take it to a good seat. Bless it. Give it what you can.
It may just be the Lord of the Manor in a clever disguise.
Phil Christensen 2009
