Playing Favorites -- March 11, 2009

You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous.
Deuteronomy 16:19

Partiality is everywhere is our culture. Everyone is so intent on taking care of their interests they are unaffected by reason. On TV all the “talking heads” point out the faults of the other political view but refuse to admit or even answer when someone from their side of things does the same thing – no matter how evident their hypocrisy. In many cases, our society has accepted the bribes of acceptance and pleasure. For once, I would like to see a leader in our country stand up and admit that someone on their side of the fence is indefensible.

It happens in the church too. We are protecting our friends. We are guarding our own ministry turf. We are looking fro recognition, influence, or control. Our eyes are blind, our word twisted even though we are supposed to be the wise, and the righteous. Proverbs 28 warns us that we are susceptible to even being partial over basic needs like food. Once we twist justice for a price, we open ourselves to negotiating for our price in almost every area of our lives.

In our country we pervert justice to favor the poor even though we are instructed not to in Scripture. ‘You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty. In righteousness you shall judge your neighbor. Leviticus 19:15 We are supposed to fairly judge our friends alongside those we are not close to or even don’t care for. Our Father does this with us. Both Paul and Peter tell us that God will not play favorites with His own children when it comes to disciplining humanity for sin.

The good news is that we will get justice in the end because we can count on God to bring us all to account. I am sure that I will get justice before the Father. Whichever side of it I fall. That is why I desire to practice mercy. I want God’s mercy to be poured out on me – so by default I desire for others. Knowing I can count on being judged the way I judge by the ultimate Judge helps me keep my partiality (selfishness) in check.

Because Judgment Begins In His House,

Pastor Jason