Less Respect
More Honor

It is a fact of life that most people tend to associate with and among others that they can identify by some attribute or classification that they have in common. Whether it is ethnic, social, religious, geographic or any of a host of other distinguishing categories. Unfortunately, this tendency sometimes results in an exclusiveness that borders on sectarianism. In a given city there may be any number of churches distributed in many "classes" of neighborhoods. What happens when a new resident is looking for a congregation with which to fellowship?  You know the answer. One can go to any town, drive around during Sunday service and observe the people at the various meeting places.  From a single glance at the neighborhood, the vehicles in the parking lot, and the condition of the building, we are able to make a fairly accurate guess as to whether we would want to worship there. Once we identify the denominational affiliation the choice is made. This is a natural selectivity and most of the time it is not based so much on ones elite attitude but rather upon ones insecurities. We want to be comfortable in our surroundings. So that  someone accustomed to traveling in a chauffeur driven limousine is not likely to adjust easily in fellowship with a congregation of the very poor. Conversely, a farming family that attends service in dungarees and arrives in the old pickup truck is not going to feel at home in the city church frequented by dignitaries and socialites. 

Again, I am not knocking the fact of selectivity because I also desire to be among folks that think, act and maybe (if they're lucky) even look like me.  What I do want to say, however, is that there is a limit to this kind of discrimination and the Bible sets forth the guidelines and restrictions. One way for us to approach the issue is by looking at what the Word of God says and teaches about the subject of "Respect of Persons". There are a surprising number of passages that speak about the issue, and they all take a negative stance against the practice. At this point we should declare the difference between respect of person and giving honor to whom honor is due.  The kind of respect that we call honor may legitimately be granted to older people (Lev. 19:32), to public officials (Rom. 13:7), to parents (I Tim. 3:4), to masters (1 Pet. 2:18), and of course to Christian leaders (I Thess. 5:12) among many others. The problem arises when partiality enters in. Partiality is to show favor to one person over another on the basis of some of the external factors mentioned above, i.e. economic, ethnic, social, etc. Such partiality is branded "respect of persons" and is always condemned. The most frequent idea or “word picture” found in passages that refer to partiality is that of somehow looking at, or otherwise regarding the "face" i.e. the appearance of the person.  Needless to say - but I must say it anyway - the theological grounds for prohibiting this partiality is found in the character of God Himself. God does not practice partiality and one who would represent God must avoid doing so also. 

Examine a few relevant Scriptures with me:
Lev. 19:15 says Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment:  thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.

Notice the double extension of this command, neither the poor, nor the mighty.  The Hebrew behind “thou shalt not respect” in this verse literally means "lift up the face". This is tantamount to the injunction in John 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. A point of interest in some of these portions is the close proximity of the responsibility we have to our close relatives and friends to faithfully challenge wrongdoing. Lev. 19:17 adds significantly to verse 15, Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. WOW ! What a difficult word (cf. Lk. 17:3 also). How contrary to our natural inclinations. We are more likely to excuse wrongdoing in our own, hoping to curry favor, trying to be liked, than we are to "tell it like it is", with the intention of rescuing them from sin. When I read this kind of advise from God, I ask myself  "Do we love those people enough to save them?" Even more, "Do we love them enough to loose them as friends for their soul's sake?" These are serious matters and the danger of partiality was as real for Moses and the Israelites under his care as it is for any Pastor today and the flock that they oversee. I think it is also worth noting how the idea of respect of persons is joined with both a willingness to rebuke and with the self-respect to refuse a bribe.

Deut. 10:17  For the Lord your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:

II Chron. 19:7  Wherefore now let the fear of the Lord be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God, nor respect of person, nor taking of gifts.

Prov. 24:23-25  These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment. He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:  But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.

Prov. 28:21-23   To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress.  He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.  He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.

Perhaps the clearest expression of the folly of partiality, and one that is appropriate to bring forth at this time is contained in James 2:1-9.  He begins... My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons...and then begins to step on all our toes by condemning the practice of judging according to appearance.  A well dressed person enters your assembly and a person in clothing described as "dirty" also comes through the doors.  What is the motivation for how they are treated? Or better yet let me ask the question; “how many of us would totally disregard the appearance?” Be aware that if anything, God leans toward the downtrodden.  Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?  But ye have despised the poor.  do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?  James gives us a grave warning in 2:9, and one which I must admit did not have full force in my understanding until recently. But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

As God adds to your congregation, He is likely to draw people from every strata. They are not all going to be "like us". Just how different they may be only He knows.  The fact that you have apparently received me is a good sign that you are not too picky.  Nevertheless, let us remember what we were before we found life in Christ. If you have been saved as long as you can remember then realize what degredation you might have experienced without Him.  Above all, settle this in your mind; when Peter was confronted with the unheard of eventuality that Gentiles were acceptable to God through Christ, he submitted humbly before an amazed assemblage of Jews  Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?  (Acts 10:47)  Let us not engage in respect of persons, but be quick to give honor to whom it is due.

Notes:

Lev. 19:32  Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the LORD.

Rom. 13:7  Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

Ex. 20:12  Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

I Pet. 2:18  Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.

I Thess. 5:12,13  And we beseech you, brothern, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish your; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake.  Ane be at peace among yourselves.

Luke 17:3  Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.