James 2:1-3 ASV, James 2:4 ASV, James 2:5-6 ASV, James 2:7-8 ASV, James 2:9 ASV, James 2:10 ASV and James 2:11-14 ASV

While James focuses on clothes and and accessories as a social measuring stick, that same measuring stick has changed in the twenty-first century. In many evangelical churches today it would be virtually impossible to make a value judgement on the basis of attire . . . as it no longer represents the cultural benchmark that formerly made it so convenient to apply. Today the "norm" in most churches ranges from sandals and shorts to three-piece suits; from jeans and a sweater to dresses, heels and stockings. While the outward trappings of social status have changed, the heart issue has remained the same: we all too often make assessments of an individual's "worth" by the social norms of the culture. So one has to look to his own culture to unpack the cultural issues from which we like to assess another's worth. I have to be honest - in looking at my own church, which is extremely diverse in its population, I can think of those that I have either consciously or sub-consciously avoided based upon social values. For example, in our church community where you live (reside) would be considered a social value against which you might be judged. If you went out in a 10 mile radius from our location you would find dirt poor, inner-city slums, and at the other extreme you would find spacious, upper middle class neighborhoods. Increase that radius to about 20 miles and you have even greater distinctions - the very wealthy, family money and powerful homesteads to the poorest of shacks. Another social value against which many are judged in our community is lifestyle choices. Those who are divorced; those who have struggled with addictions; those who have been incarcerated; those who have abandoned education; we tend to group these in a subculture and treat them differently than those who have come from stable, nuclear families and have pursued educational or other specialized training.