Thursday 5 February 2026

Psalm 129

Background
This week we are reading the letter of James. The letter’s author continues to focus on the practical outworking of religious belief with an example that will resonate with church communities for centuries to come. What do we actually do when new people walk in to our gatherings and buildings?

We may say we do not discriminate and welcome everyone equally, but is that really the case?  Would our approach be different if the new visitor was the local mayor, or MP or a national church leader?  And how different would that be from our approach to the person who arrived intoxicated, or wearing poorly fitting foul-smelling clothes? We may not so overtly discriminate by suggesting to one that they can 'have a seat here' while asking the other to 'stand there' (v. 3), but if we are honest our approach would be different with different people.

It appears that this was a real issue for the newly emerging Christian communities to whom the letter was first directed, as they are criticised for 'dishonouring the poor' (v. 6). Discrimination based on class and social hierarchies would have been familiar to them all. It would also be a widely accepted belief, as it still is for some Christian communities today who promote a 'prosperity gospel', that material riches were a sign of being blessed by God.

However Jesus was very clear in his teaching about the contrast between the rich and the poor. He speaks of a rich young man “Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 19:23) He also describes the rich fool building bigger barns to house grain only to be told he may perish before benefitting from them: “Those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich towards God” (Luke 12:21). This is referred to through one of only two mentions of Jesus Christ in this letter, on this occasion reminding the listeners that discriminatory behaviour favouring the rich not the poor would be at variance with “a belief in our glorious Jesus Christ”  (v. 1).

To Ponder:

• Reflect on a time when you experienced, or witnessed discrimination in a church setting. How did it feel and what can you do to help prevent others having similar experiences?
• What improvements could be made in welcoming new people to any groups or communities you are involved in?

Prayer
Welcoming God, we give thanks that you love us all as your children and no one is excluded. Help us to value all people and treat everyone with dignity and respect. Amen.

Bible notes author: Dr Richard Vautrey
Dr Vautrey is a local preacher and church steward in Leeds, and a former Vice-President of the Methodist Conference. He works as a GP and is a former chair of the BMA's GP committee.