Favoritism in the Church

We all have favorites. A favorite restaurant, a favorite musician, a favorite author, and even a favorite TV show. I wonder if we have favorites when it comes to the church we attend. I am not speaking about a favorite sermon or song in worship. I am referring to a favorite person. 

Is there a church member you go out your way to hang out with or speak to before and after church? Is there a family you welcomed in the church before they joined then want nothing to do with after they become a member? Pastors, do you have your favorite members while having members you wish would go away?

I know this sounds more like I am writing to teenagers than I am to all ages including adults. The truth is we are all prone to have favorites in the church. What does the Bible say about favoritism? 

Before I go any further, let me say this. There is nothing wrong with having close friends in the church. We know Jesus had close friends, His disciples, but we also see Jesus with opened arms to everyone that the Father draws (John 6:44). 

In James 2, the Bible says:

My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?

If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment (James 2:1-13, ESV).

Christians are not to show partiality to anyone. Does not matter if they are the same social stature as you or even have the same interests. We are not to show favoritism because it goes against the command to love you neighbor as yourself. Not only that, it goes against the character of God:

For God shows no partiality (Romans 2:11)

God shows no partiality (Galatians 2:6)

Favoritism hurts churches and it also hurts families (see Genesis 37 regarding Jacob favoring Joseph). If God shows no favoritism to anyone in all of creation, then what gives us the right to do that in our churches, our families, our neighborhoods, and our work place. 

Christians, if you are showing partiality in any way, confess your sins to God and repent. In this day, the church does not need to show favoritism. It need to demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit, which is the work of Christ in our lives showing that we are truly His.