RESPECT OF PERSONS
Gil Yoder

One of the great characteristics of God is that He is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34; Rom. 2:11; Eph. 6:9; 1 Peter 1:17). This truth insures God's fairness to mankind. The doctrine of Calvinism contradicts this truth in that it teaches that God chooses some individuals over others for salvation, not based on any standard of obedience to God's commands, but merely on His whim.

In effect it says that God might choose to save someone who has never done a single thing to live righteously, and at the same time choose to condemn forever another who has sought to live as God would have him to live his entire life. But the Biblical doctrine of God's inherent fairness debunks this myth. While no one earns his salvation, if it were true that salvation has nothing at all to do with conditions of obedience, then the only way God could save some and condemn others to eternal condemnation would be for Him to be a respecter of persons, and there would be no inherent fairness in God's character.

Not only does the Bible tell us of God's fairness in these terms, it uses the same terms to instruct us toward fairness toward one another. Hear these words of James: "My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. . . . But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors" (James 2:1,9).

James used the illustration of those who show respect of persons toward the wealthy, while mistreating the poor, to drive this principle home, because it is such a common manifestation of the sin. However, there are other ways we can show respect of persons that might not be so obvious.

1) It is possible to reverse the illustration and show respect of persons for the poor, while mistreating the rich. The cultural class warfare promoted by many liberal politicians is a case in point. To show no respect of persons, all men should be treated equally regardless of their social status in society. Neither the rich nor the poor deserve second class treatment.

2) One can show respect of person by treating one man differently from another solely based on the race of the men. We usually use the term "prejudice" to describe this characteristic. That is a good term for it, because to show respect of persons is to pre-judge a man on faulty grounds. Men should be judged on their works, not on their color, just as God judges us (1 Peter 1:17).

3) We also demonstrate respect of persons when we condemn actions we see in our "enemies" but defend those same actions when we see them in our friends. Many brethren are well known for their defense of the truth, and willingness to call a spade a spade when error is perceived among those outside their sphere of association, and especially among those who have been previously marked for their error. We would not fault those actions at all, but sometimes the same brethren fail to show the same zeal of spirit, when the same errors are discovered among their friends. Perhaps all men have this tendency to protect those with whom they are close, but it is an error that is dangerous to all. It hurts the church, because error is not more quickly corrected. It hurts the brother we seek to protect, because it makes it more likely that he will not repent. And, it hurts us because we become a partaker in his evil deeds.

If we would be more like God, this characteristic should be put away from us. Let us treat all men with equanimity, and have not respect unto persons.

Family Bulletin Board

Remember in prayer and with cards, phone calls, or visits those who have chronic illnesses: Delsie Bishop. Reva Brewer, Ella Brumitt, Jamie Farmer, Francis Ferren, Elizabeth Fowler, Savannah Green, Lola Mae Hamlett, and Louise Hunt.

CONGRATULATIONS to Bruce and Brenda Crossman! Emma Caroline was born at 11:30am on Thursday,
May 8. She weighed 7lb 15oz and was 20 inches at birth. WELCOME, little Emma!

REVA Brewer has been at Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo for the past few days. She continues to need our prayers.