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From this Sunday's readings:
“My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ?” - James 2:1
Favoritism, unfairness, discrimination, inequity...This is quite a criticism leveled at the early Christian community! His words still carry a sting even after almost two thousand years. No one wants to be seen as one who would engage in these behaviors. Ironically, what often drives people toward favoritism is concern about how they are seen.
As James writes, “For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Have a seat here, please,” while to the one who is poor you say, “Stand there,” or, “Sit at my feet,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?”
We operate under the spell of biases. We do this knowingly and unknowingly; consciously and subconsciously. Our minds are wired, taught, and conditioned with biases. Writers Harris Sockel and Buster Benson discuss “systematic errors in judgment that our brains use to help us make decisions.”
They write, “Biases help us work around human limitations. Researchers have uncovered more than 180 biases... [such as] action bias (we prefer doing something to doing nothing, even when doing nothing might be better). Cognitive biases are core to being human. The best thing to do is be aware of and open to the fact that you are biased and actively repair the damage done.”
James’ letter warns us to look out for biases like favoritism. He reminds us to “love your neighbor as yourself,” but what if you find your neighbor unworthy of your love? What if your neighbor has different political or religious beliefs? What if your neighbor drives the “wrong” kind of car or likes music you hate or has an uncle who smells bad? James doesn’t discuss what to do about biases that affect our thoughts and decisions. (The term “cognitive bias” was coined in the 1970s).
Were he writing today, I imagine James might include a few extra pages about bias, encouraging us to look inward and ask:
- How do you want to be perceived? As loving? Successful? Kind? Smart? Giving? Innovative? Non-judgemental? Decisive? Gentle? (etc.) How does this affect the way you treat others?
- What does it mean to be “worthy of love?”
- Is it possible to love someone you hate?
- Is love an action you choose? Does love come from faith?
- How are you serving others? What are your motivations for doing so?
Join us Sunday as we read more of this week’s scriptures. We’ll look at what Jesus teaches us about biases in relation to worthiness, faith, and love.
Blessings,
Vicar Jennifer
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