Warning against Partiality
James 2:1-13
1 My brethren, have not the faith of our glorious Lord Jesus Christ in respect of persons.
2 For if there come into your company a man with a gold ring, and in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment, 3 And ye have a respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a goodly place, and say unto the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool, 4 Are ye not partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? 5 Hearken my beloved brethren, hath not God chosen the poor of this world, that they should be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him? 6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not the rich oppress you by tyranny, and do they not draw you before the judgment seats? 7 Do not they blaspheme the worthy Name after which ye be named? 8 But if ye fulfill the royal Law according to the Scripture, which saith, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well. 9 But if ye regard the persons, ye commit sin, and are rebuked of the Law, as transgressors. 10 For whosoever shall keep the whole Law, and yet faileth in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For he that said, Thou shalt not commit adultery, said also, Thou shalt not kill. Now though thou doest none adultery, yet if thou killest, thou art a transgressor of the Law. 12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the Law of liberty. 13 For there shall be condemnation merciless to him that sheweth not mercy, and mercy rejoiceth against condemnation.1 Corinthians 14:8
And also if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to battle?
"Let not Geneva be forgotten or despised. Religious liberty owes it most respect." John Adams, the second president of the United States