Bias and Partiality
By: Raymond Harris
Regarding Scripture: James 2.1-6a, 9
Note to the Reader
Presently, I am conducting in-depth study and research of the influence and use of the Old Testament within the New Testament. This study has been scheduled for, at least, the remainder of 2009. As such, a Special Announcement was given in September.
In particular, this article is a revision of the article “Favoritism” originally written by me in 2006. Additionally, I encourage you to invest additional time reading the Epistle of James in conjunction with this article.
Bias and Partiality
We all have something that we prefer over another. Almost everyone prefers one perfume over another, or one automobile over another, or one News Channel over another. These represent things that we prefer and, to a degree, are representative of our individual preferences, our personal favoritism – if you will. While various parties can and will vehemently argue the pros and cons over which perfume has a better aroma, or which automobile manufacturer builds a better vehicle, or which news outlet provides better coverage, these preferences are largely personal opinions, and serve well as examples of benign favoritism.
Family Favorites
The previous serve as examples of benign favorites because no real detriment comes from these types of favoritism. However, favoritism becomes detrimental when we allow our preferences to become preferential treatment that can influence our behavior with others. This type of personal biased favoritism can be seen in the biblical records of Genesis.
Consider Isaac’s family. He and Rebekah had two sons, Esau and Jacob. But, how did these parents interact with their sons? Isaac favored Esau. Rebekah favored Jacob. It is unfortunate that these parents each had a bias toward their “favorite” child. This favoritism also had an unintended outcome.
Consider Jacob’s family. First, it is unfortunate that Jacob learned child favoritism (i.e. discrimination) from his parents. Second, he did not learn from his parents’ mistake, instead Jacob behaved with favoritism toward his twelve sons. Of those sons which one did Jacob highly favor? Joseph, the firstborn son, of Jacob’s most beloved wife Rachel, received Jacob’s fatherly preferential treatment. Joseph was so favored by Jacob that his brothers were motivated, plotted and actually removed Jacob’s object of favoritism from the house.
Church Favorites
Consider the results within these families. This favoritism not only harmed Isaac’s family relationship but also influenced Jacob and then he harmed his own family relationship. While eventually brothers Esau and Jacob and then later Jacob’s twelve sons repaired their sibling rivalry, the existence of bitterness and hatred caused years of family distress.
The truth is that sometimes it is easier, sometimes much easier, for a parent to get along with, communicate, and/or train a certain child. But, how unfortunate it is when a parent or both parents allow this process to develop into a situation of playing favorites with their children.
The ease by which favoritism can be practiced means that we have to be always on guard or we will, unfortunately, carry this behavior over into our relationships. If it can and does occur in physical families, it certainly can and will occur within the family of God. But I am convinced that personal favoritism is not a result of something actively sought, preferential treatment generally seems to develop gradually, without notice.
As we are studying James this month, favoritism is one of the specific issues that the author addresses. In my personal experience with the church family, I do not believe that I have ever witnessed the favoritism described in James 2.1-4. However, we do still have favoritism. Our type of partiality? Cliques.
We all have our preferences for one group over another group of people. This preference may be influenced because of attitude, humor, style, or something else that has not been stated. While some might think this parallel is stretching, to the contrary, it seems that the behavior of cliques is very much representative of the example given by James.
Conclusion
We are human, and we experience various failures in various aspects of life. But, let us actively seek to be impartial. Is there one in the congregation who is not easily approachable? That is the person that needs us to seek them. May we seek out and build a healthy relationship with them, so our spiritual family does not suffer the bitterness and hatred as experienced by Isaac’s or Jacob’s physical family. May our Father bless us as we continue to encourage and strengthen each other.
