We are Better Together in Equality

James 2:8-13 

8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; 9 but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Being without partiality, showing no prejudice nor preference, is summed up in the scriptures by telling us to love our neighbors as ourselves (Leviticus 19:18).  This is the second greatest commandment after loving God, and demonstrates we are His as well (1 John 3:14).  Therefore we do well to listen and put faith to feet in living with love to God and man.  If we choose to not love, to treat others prejudicially or with superiority, we sin against God and man.  We have no excuse, and do not please the Savior who showed us such grace and mercy while we were sinners and His enemies (Romans 5:8).  None of us is so righteous over another that we can keep the whole Law, and all are equally guilty and deserving of judgment (Romans 3:23, 6:23), so we must humbly speak to each other and avoid partiality, especially among brethren as we assemble together in Christ’s name and church.  If we are to do to others as we desire to be treated ourselves, we show mercy and loving acceptance of those of all walks of life and all socioeconomic backgrounds as Jesus demonstrated while among us.  We need to learn that mercy to all is the victory over deserved judgment, whether to condemnation as unbelievers or when our books are opened to our shame as elect of God (Romans 14:10, 2 Corinthians 5:9-10).  We all answer to Him in the end.  Mercy and grace must rule our hearts and actions over acceptable sins of society - we are called to be better than that.