My dear friends, don’t let public opinion influence how you live out our glorious, Christ-originated faith. … Talk and act like a person expecting to be judged by the Rule that sets us free. For if you refuse to act kindly, you can hardly expect to be treated kindly. Kind mercy wins over harsh judgment every time (James 2:1 and 12-13 MSG).

During the time I was pondering James 2:1-13 I listened to a new-to-me podcast called The Sacred. On that episode David Brooks—of PBS Newshour and New York Times fame—was being interviewed about his journey to faith.

During that interview David shared about visiting churches and how—because he was well-known—so many people there would gather round to meet and greet him. To avoid this predictable “social rigmarole” as he called it, he began arriving late and leaving early. But then he discovered leaving without making contact made him lonely, and he realized that was destructive for him. 

This confirmed to me that James’ message remains relevant for us who gather in Jesus’ name all these centuries later. 

James zeroed in on the wealth-gap so obvious in the church of his day. Believers there had dragged into the church with them their learned-in-the-world opinions of who was worthy of respect and who was not.  

This passage speaks to three groups of us: Those who are well-off—maybe in wealth, but also maybe in intellect, or position, or fame. Those who are poor—maybe in resources, but also maybe in relationships, or mental health, or opportunity. And those who meet regularly to worship God in what they consider “their” local church. 

The “wealthy,” used to being esteemed, need to be relieved of that notion. Not by being shunned, but by being welcomed just like everyone else. No more, no less.

The” poor,” used to being overlooked, need to be relieved of that notion. Not by being fawned over, but by being welcomed just like everyone else. No less, no more.

The regular attenders, used to things being comfortable and predictable, need to be relieved of the notion that “their” church exists just for them. They need to be relieved of that notion by remembering “All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs the heart” (Proverbs 21:2 NIV). 

No more—and no less—is required than for our hearts to move us to live by the Rule of Love that sets us free. Living by that Rule, we will know how to sensitively welcome all who enter Chatham Community Church with us.  Even if that is someone famous like David Brooks. 

Our CCC Welcome teams do a great job of showing us how it’s done! Want to sign up for the fun?

The Sacred podcast, “David Brooks on his conversion, vulnerability…” lasts 50+ minutes. Find his “journey   story” at 24:12 - 29:31; his “visiting church” story at 28:50. (I think you’ll find the whole interview uplifting.) (Heads-up: There is a brief reference to politics near the end in case you want to check out before that.)