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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Is the name Christian being ridiculed? | James 2:5 | Hank | 161724 | ||
Altajean: More than "making fun of" is indicated by the strong language of James 2:7. The Greek word used is "blasphemeo," meaning "to speak evil against." Not only do they (the rich) despise the poor and oppressed Christians, but direct their assaults against the Lord himself. Then as now the world hated Christ and His followers. --Hank | ||||||
2 | Is the name Christian being ridiculed? | James 2:5 | Wild Olive Shoot | 161742 | ||
Hi Hank, Wasn't James directing these comments to professing Christians though? I get the sense that he was reprimanding the brethren for showing favoritism to the rich and those who were actually oppressing or despising the poor, which is sinful in and of itself. Diminishing the grandeur of our Lord by exhibiting respect for outward appearances rather than inward grace. In a sense, it was Christians doing the blaspheming, but not for reasons of ridicule but because of their own ignorant, or not so ignorant, actions? Your thoughts on that would be appreciated. WOS |
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3 | Is the name Christian being ridiculed? | James 2:5 | mark d seyler | 161744 | ||
Hi Wild Olive Shoot, Here is the passage for referrence: James 2:5 Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court? 7 Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called? "They" that blaspheme would refer back to "the rich", which these early believers were showing favoritism to. "For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes," These are described as ones who simply come in. They may be professing Christianity or not, James doesn't say. "They" are addressed in the 3rd person, so we must see who James is addressing to see if they could be part of the church. If James is specifically addressing these comments to the leadership of the church, then it could be regarding members of the assembly. If James is addressing his comments to the general assembly, then it would seem to me to be concerning visitors. He writes to "the 12 tribes", "my brethren", later he will direct us to the elders, so I understand him to be writing to the general assembly, and so I would count these rich to be outside that assembly, and not Christians. Not that you asked for them, but these are my thoughts. Love in Christ, Mark |
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4 | Is the name Christian being ridiculed? | James 2:5 | Wild Olive Shoot | 161746 | ||
Hi Mark, Don’t ever hesitate to offer your thoughts. I’ll gladly listen to what you have to offer. After reading your thoughts, I think I see my error. James was admonishing the brethren for showing favoritism thus becoming judges with evil thoughts as stated in v4. But the blasphemous slanderers were the rich (in general) that were coming in, maybe not necessarily all of the rich coming into the assembly, but some of to whom they (the assembly) were showing favoritism. I would also think that if these rich men accepted the more prestigious positions being offered and let the poor be discriminated upon, they were more than likely not Christians or not acting as such anyhow. In any case, it seems I had the wrong idea here, as the blasphemers that are referenced would not have been the professing members of the assembly that James was addressing. Thanks for your thoughts and the redirect Mark, they helped, and I think I’m on the same page. WOS |
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