My Favorite Things

In the movie the Sound of Music, the character Maria played by Julie Andrews sings a song titled “My Favorite Things” to the von Trapp children during a frightening thunderstorm.

It’s hard to forget the lyrics that are likely running through your head as you read this blog

… Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens. The key to the song is when you have right thinking then “one won’t feel so bad.”

James in his epistle takes that right thinking to a much deeper level. “Not feeling so bad” is not his primary goal. Apparently, some believers at the time favored other believers who were rich and well-dressed. Others who were poor or not well dressed were shunned.

Chapter 2: 1 – 4: My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others? For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, "You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor"—well, doesn't this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives?

Favoritism goes against the command to love one another as oneself. We are all God’s creation and should be treated equally regardless of background or economic status.

We all have likes and dislikes. But showing favor and disfavor against believers based upon background and economic status is clearly wrong. In fact, so wrong James classifies the erroneous thinking as evil.

Robert Parlante
June 2015

The Face in the Mirror

The recent news about the state of the Christian church in America sounds troublesome. Fewer young people are attending church or even profess to be a Christian. They may claim to be spiritual but don’t see participation in a Bible believing church as part of their spirituality. Even some of the definitions people attach to their self-described spirituality can differ vastly from the Bible.

There is much debate on how we have gotten to this state.

James, in his epistle, points out several ways in which a person can redefine one’s personal spirituality … not necessarily for the good.

We deceive ourselves when we believe a redefined view of the character of God. James reminds us in chapter 1, verse 17: He (the Lord) never changes or casts a shifting shadow.

We deceive ourselves when we listen to God's Word without taking action. James reminds us in chapter 1, verse 22:  But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.

We deceive ourselves when we accept our own rationalization of our belief system despite what we read in the Word of God.

James reminds us we can fool ourselves into wrong thinking in chapter 1, verses 23 to 25::

For if you listen to the word and don't obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

Why not take a long and honest look in the mirror? And be open to where the Lord is drawing you!

Robert Parlante
June 2015