pi"."'- . "ByMrs. BessieWUbon—-m
I
Introduction: Several years ago a man
was being considered, for promotion to a
prominent position in the Anglican church.
The man was qualified by virtue of his ed
ucation and experience for the post, and his
dedication and piety were well known. Yet
' there was sorhe unwillingness on the part of
his humble origins.—‘After all ’ .said nnP
bishop, ‘the man’s father was nothing but a
carpenter.’
Another bishop then asked for the floor.
‘Gentlemen,’ he said, ‘this morning in my
devotions, I just happened to be reading
about another man who was nothing but the
son of a ‘carpenter.’ Then, saying nothing
more he sat down. For a moment, there
was an embarrassing silence in the meet
ing, and then unanimously and without
further discussion, the candidate was ap
proved.
The ‘respect^persons’ that James talks
about in this chapter appears in our midst,
in a hundred different forms. Sometimes it
is reflected in racial prejudice. In other
situations it arises along economic class
lines or even where we got our education.
At other times, it reflects nothing but
childish snobbery. But whatever the form
or whatever the cause, James brands such
‘respect of persons’ as sinful.
Lesson Background: The first section of
today’s Scripture deals with showing par
tiality toward the rich. In this text James
makes it clear that snobbery stifles the
Spirit and prejudice perpetuates problems.
Be sure that you (we) don’t study these
verses in a haughty attitude of self
righteousness. We can profit from our
study only when we allow the searchlight of
God’s word to reveal the dark shadows of
our inner being and reveal whatever flaws
there may be.
(James 2:1) My brothers, as believers in
our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, you
must never treat people in different ways
aeeording to their outward appearance,_
Here James without a doubt condemns such
partiality as contrary to Christian faith.
‘Suppose a rich man wearing a gold ring
and fine clothes comes to your meeting, and~
a poor man in ragged clothes also comes.
If you show more respect to the well
dressed man and say to him, ‘Have the best
seat here,’ but say to the poor man, ‘Stand
\ over here or there, or sit here on the floor by
my feet,’ then you are guilty of creating
distinctions among yourselves and of
making judgements based on evil motives.
Listen, my dear brothers! God chose the
poor people of this world to be rich in faith
and to possess the kingdom which he
promised to those who love him. But you
dishonor the poor! Who are the ones who
oppress you and drag you before the
judges? The rich! They are the ones who
speak evil of that good name which has been
given to you. (James 2:2-7)
We could wish that James’ example were
an exaggeration, yet similar situations have
been described in the early church. For
that matter, we might find similar sit
uations existing in our churches today.
After all, it was not long ago when many
churches charged their members pew rent.
The choice pews, commanding a higher
rent,were claimed by the wealthier mem
bers, with the poorer members getting the
less desirable seats or having to stand.
By showing partiality based on outward
appearance, these Christians were be
having in a manner that was manifestly
wicked. It should be obvious to all that a
person’s soul is not more precious in God’s
sight simply because he happens to possess
greater wealth than someone else for the
few short years he lives on earth.
Read for yourselves, James 2:5-7. Here
James shows how the rich have no special
claim on the esteem of the church. In
deed, if there is a privileged group in the
1 church, it is the very poor whom the church
was treating so shamefully. God often has
selected the poor to be the recipients of His
special favors. The size of a man’s bank
account is not an accurate measure of his
faith. On occasion, God has deliberately
chosen the weak or poor in order to
confound the mighty (I Corinthians 1:26-29).
(James 2:l4)J What dotlrlt profit, my
brethren, though a man say he hath faith,
and have not works? Can faith save him?
For years theologians have argued the
relative importance of faith and works in
God's plan of salvation.
From tne position mat
James takes here, we are led to believe that
this problem had already arisen in the early
church. Apparently;**dme were arguin?
• that since man is saved by faith, then works
wore unnecessary. James is asking. “Can
: .the sort of faith that does not exhibit itself in
productivity save a soul and make a person
‘.a new creature?” James’ answer is a
• resounding no.
Faith and works are paired in the
Christian’s life and character.
• -i
L.C. Coleman
.Political pioneer
To Join NCSC
Coleman Is Recruiting
Local Senior Citizens
By Jalyne Strong
Post Staff Writer
L.C. Goleman, longtime
political pioneer in the
Charlotte community, is
recruiting Charlotte’s se
nior citizens to join the
National Council of Senior
—Citizens (NCSC) The
NCSC is a Washington
based national organiza
tion which aids senior ci
tizens in their knowledge of
national and local politics.
Progress has already be
gun on the establishment of
a Charlotte chapter of the
NCSC The second formal
meethig will be held 3 p.m.,
May 3, at the Carolina
Community Project, 2300
E. -7th St. "The-meeting
will consist of the election
of officers and formation of
committees,” Coleman di
vulged.
.1 am seeking out every
senior citizen group I know
of, to encourage them to
join the NCSC,” states
Coleman, coordinator of
one such group, Senior Ci
tizens United. “We need a
coalition of senior citizens
in North Carolina that will
address the political needs
and issues which are of
special concern to. the el
derly.”
The NCSC assists the
elderly through the dis
semination of political in
formation to its members.
It provides the records of
elected officials, recording
their stand on certain
issues. A quick study of a
political official’s re
cord enlightens one to whe
ther this politican is a help
or hindrance in getting
certain acts passed.
“The purpose of the
NCSC is to come in and
help the elderly help
themselves. These political
records are available to the
public, but no one takes the
time to look. We’ve never
had the resources before,”
Coleman points out.
“It is of important con
sequences that senior citi
zens become involved voter
participants and are con
scious of their voter
rights,” he added.
With substantial political
information in their pos
session senior citizens can
become a viable group that
politicians must reckon
with. The elderly will have
the knowledge to give or
Mint Sponsors
Cardmaking
Workshop
You can design your own
Mother’s Day cflrd at the
Mint Museun’s famjly
workshop, Saturday, May
12, 12-2 p.m. on the lawn of
the History Museum (in
side if raining), 3500
Shamrock Drive.
The special workshop is
free - all materials will be
provided - and the public is
cordially invited.
The special cardmaking
workshop, scheduled to
coincide with Mother’s
Day, May 13, la being held
in conjunction with the ex
hibition "The Seasonal
Trade: Holiday GUI And
Greeting Cards" currently
on view at the iflfeory
Museum through May 27.
Bring the entire fam
ily - everyone will have fun
making a card for some
one special.
For additional informa
tion. contact June Bliss,
0 3M-V7T7, t a.m. - S p.m.
Monday through Friday.
withdraw their support
from a politician who is not
concerned with the needs of
senior citizens.
For example, Coleman
has obtained the records on
Jesse Helms. Records
show that the North Caro
lina Senator has voted
against pertinent issues •
which directly affect the
elderly such as the Older
American Act, Home
Energy Assistance and
Disability Insurance.
Congressman Jim Mar
tin’s rfecords* reflect a si
milar unwillingness to pro
vide- government-assis
tance to society’s elderly.
- “With 4he—aid of the__
NCSC,” relates Coleman,
“senior citizens of this area
can form a ‘watchdog’ co
alition to monitor politi
cians' acts. Senior citizens
Have the time to see if the-}
government is providing
the services they are sup
posed to.”
Coleman has a long his
tory of political involve
ment in the Charlotte
community. He’s brought
benefits to the community
through his work with the
Westside Improvement As
sociation. Coleman was
also instrumental in the re
duction of bus fares and
ambulance service for the
elderly.
Anyone seeking more in
formation of the formation
of the Charlotte chapter of
the National Council of
Senior Citizens should
contact Coleman at 704
392-3149. Or call the Caro
lina Community Project,
704-372-0675.
JCSU Choir
Schedules
Spring Concert
The Johnson C. Smith
University Choir, under the
direction of Christopher W.
Kemp, will present its an
nual spring concert at 5
pm. Sunday, May 6, at the
Univerity Church. The se
lections of sacred and se
cular music will be open
free to the public.
Secular selections will in
clude “What WilT ffie
World Be Like Tomor
row?” by Looms McGlo
hon; “Gossip, Gossip,”
Betty Jones and Jester
Hairston (calypso) and
selections from “Porgy
and Bess” by George
Gershwin.
Sacred selections include
“Daniel, Daniel, Servant of
the Lord,” Undine Moore;
“Gloria,” from the 12th 1
Mass by Mozart; “Walk
Together Children,” Will
iam Henry Smith and
“Alleiui” by Randall '
Thompson*.-.
The choir has recently
toured Danville, Va., Dur
ham, N.C., Columbia gnd ,
Charleston, S.C.
Forum Cancelled
The May 3 9th Congres
sional District Candidates
Forum which was to have
been held at Ovens Audi
torium, has been can
celled.
Co-sponsors Central
Piedmont Employers Asso
ciation and the Charlotte
Chamber of Commerce de
cided to cancel the May 3
forum after evaluating par
ticipation in the guber
natorial forum on April 13.
Each of thasa advartisad itams is raquirad to ba raadily available for ^
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