Volume 10 Number 1 - April 2002
Things We Don't Seem to Take Seriously
Part III
PARTIALITY
James, the half-brother of our Lord, spoke with great clarity about an issue that is obvious in the church. In James 2:1-13, James dealt with the issue of "respect of per-sons" within the church, which, simply put, is treating some people better than others on the basis of their economic or social position in the community. It was a great problem in the first century. Though we do not talk about it much, it is equally a problem in the church now.
This week I received an email message. You may have received the same message. It was about a young man un-kempt of person and in disarray of attire. He came into a prominent, "proper" church after the service had started. He walked down the aisle looking for a place to sit. Finding none, when he reached the front pew, he simply sat down on the floor. There was a deafening silence so awkward it was painful. What to do? As far as the congregation was concerned, this man did not belong there.
After what seemed an interminable minute or two, an elderly man in the back of the church struggled to his feet and lurched painfully down the aisle balancing on his cane. With audible and visible pain, he cringed, struggled and almost fell to the floor beside the young man. There was an audible sigh of relief when he was finally seated. The pastor watched the whole event in awkward silence. He finally collected what was left of his nervous ability to speak and declared that this morning they had SEEN the sermon.
Observe what James said about this kind of situation. He made several charges against these Christian people. He said, "You have regard for him that wears the fine clothes, and say, 'sit here in a good place.' And you say to the poor man, 'stand there or sit under my footstool.'"
Gold rings and fine clothes cannot make an evil man worthy. The quotation James recorded describes a foolish affirmation of a rich man and an insult to the poor man.
James went on to say, "Have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?" Not very many would think of this as evil, but that is the way James described it. Would it be that people, even Christians, favor the rich and deal shamefully with the poor? Could it be a tinge of envy of the rich and revulsion of the poor?
James had more to say. "Did not God choose the poor of the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love him?". In essence, James said that in offering regard to the rich and disdain for the poor, you take a stand in opposition to the choices and will of God.
Again, James said, "but you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and drag you into court?" He was saying that in offering favoritism to the rich, we play the fool. The rich abuse us and we give them deference.
James was not finished. "Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called?" James has removed the velvet gloves. He accused these believers of acting foolishly, ridiculously. The rich are the enemies of your faith and you offer them special treatment and privilege.
In one final accusation, James said, "But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors." Though many Christian people would never agree, James said that this kind of action is a sin worthy of judgment.
When I go to church in Haiti, I am considered the rich man worshipping among the impoverished. In some churches, there are no walls and only a sheet of construction plastic for a roof. The floors are almost always dirt. There is in that fellowship, however, an obvious sense of God's presence. They may not have any food in their huts. They may not be able to read the big Bible they carry to the service, but God is there.
Lest we be misunderstood, there is nothing essentially wrong with being rich unless it was unjustly gained or has become a source of pride. It was because of a very rich man that Jesus had a tomb in which His body could be placed. The Scriptures clearly state that there are some whom God has given riches because this is their ministry to use these blessings wisely in God's kingdom.
Let me ask you a simple question: If a rich man got out of his beautiful luxury car and started into your fellowship only to be accompanied by a homeless person, which of the two would you greet first? Let me put it in another perspective. If you needed a congregational leader and you had two equally qualified men - a day laborer who was an unusual servant of God and the CEO of a large corporation - which of the two would get the job?
As James said, "If you show partiality, you are committing sin." Something to ponder.
Bill Cooper
DORM UPDATE
In a previous newsletter, we told you about the need for a new girl's dormitory at the Emmaus seminary in Haiti. At this time, there are several things to report. As I indicated earlier, the building must be torn down and then rebuilt. So often in Haiti, cement blocks are made with as little cement as possible. This, of course, guarantees that eventually the building will crumble. That is what is beginning to happen at the girl's dormitory. Missionaries in Haiti have agreed to tear down the old building. Contractors from the church Bill attends have agreed to go down there and do the construction.
Bill has a friend in the construction business who knows an architect who is a Christian. The upshot is that the architect has drawn the plans for us and there was no charge for the work.
We asked you to pray with us that the money for the project would be available. A man had agreed to give $20,000 toward the project, but nothing had come in. Since then, this man has given OMS a letter of intent to give the $20,000 in ten equal payments - $2,000 a month for ten months. That was the amount needed to complete the project. We praise God for this provision and thank you for sharing with us in prayer.
I was stopped last week by a couple who gave me an envelope. When I opened the envelope there was a check enclosed for $2,000. This will be the first gift toward the rebuilding of the second building that is also beginning to crumble. This is the kitchen and dining facility for the school. We cannot praise God enough for the wonderful way in which He has blessed us in this effort.
REPORT ON BOOKS
Last newsletter we reported that the writing on a study of the epistles of Colossians and Philemon were about finished. Today we can announce that the writing is complete. The first proof reading is completed and it is now being proof read for a second time. By the time you receive this letter, this book should be ready to go to the printers.
For over a year, we have been working on a book dealing with the New Testament images that describe our intimacy with God. The writing is complete and the first proof reading is also complete. It has been corrected and is now being proofread for a second time before going to the printer. We hope to have this to the publisher by May 1, 2002. It takes 45 working days before printed copies are available.
At a recent meeting of the board of Directors of Logos Ministries, it was announced that the next books to be prepared for printing will be a sequel to DID YOU KNOW THIS?! The title of this book is FASHIONED BY CULTURE. We will also be working on a study of Ezra and Nehemiah to be published in one volume.
BILL'S SCHEDULE
March 23-29, Bill returned to Haiti for field meetings where we presented all the many changes that we have been working to update the seminary. At these meetings, the leadership of each of the five areas of ministry in Haiti approve or disapprove the plans each group has for the com-ing year. Your continued prayers for these decisions is appreciated. While he was there, Bill's teaching schedule for the 2002-2003 school year was set.
May 3-27, Bill will return to Kazakhstan to teach in the seminary in Almaty. You may remember that there are two seminaries in the same building - one for Kazakh students and the other for Russian students. Bill Will teach a course in New Testament Introduction to the Kazakh stu-dents in the morning and teach the same course to the Russian students in the afternoon.
June 3-7, Bill will return to Haiti for the graduation exercises. At the same time they will finalize the plans for the new school year that begins in September. This will be a great change. Until now, students came to school for three weeks and then went home for two. They came back for three weeks and then went home for two. Starting in September, they will begin classes and except for holidays they will be in school until the middle of June 2003.
June 27-30, Bill will attend the OMS convention held at Indiana Wesleyan University in Indiana. At this convention he will work with the leadership of OMS concerning the plans he wants to pursue in the 2003-2004 school year.
July 27-August 10, Bill will return to the Course of Study School at Garrett Seminary in Evanston, Illinois.
September 9-18, Bill will return to Haiti to welcome the new students and open the new school year. There will be a host of plans that need to be implemented and new things to get started. It will be a very busy time for him.
This is a picture of the class that Dr. Cooper taught while he was in Haiti in February. These are students, but most of them are also pastors of mountain churches on weekends.