To Be Least

      My youth group recently took a missions trip to Guatemala City. There they worked on the completion of a road in the dump, and ministered for those who lived in the Guatemala City dumps. The youth pastor was talking about the trip there and one part of his talk caught my attention.

      The pastor was talking about how it was so cool to see other Christians on the other side of the world. He talked about the church that they attended while there. The next thing he said shocked me, however it did not seem to bother him or anyone else for that matter. He said that the people who lived in the dump were not allowed to enter the church because they were too dirty and smelly. He said that one of the ministries that is located by the dump is trying to get these poor people a church of there own as they currently do not have a church to attend. All this was said as something of passing thought. Something that had little significance, something that is normal. Apparently it is normal to exclude those who are poor and dirty. Apparently it is common to show favoritism.

¹My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. ²Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. ³If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," ⁴have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? (James 2)

      The fact that a large church would show favoritism to those who have money and prosperity troubles me. I have seen similar behavior here in America. God does not show favoritism, and neither should we.