IMPARTIALITY - WEEK SIX

IMPARTIALITY - WEEK SIX
Meaning:
Impartiality is acting without bias or prejudice. It is a virtue that recognizes equality and brotherhood of all men, irrespective of race, social background and influence. It encourages progress, peace and unity. Impartiality also entails giving right judgment or opinion to a situation without fear and favor.
(b) EQUALITY OF HUMAN BEINGS BEFORE GOD
God made all man equal from creation for he created each person in his own image and likeness. The fact that some people have economic and material advantage over others cannot do away with the right bestowed equally on all humanity by God. This explains why God treat all men generously despite one’s nationality or color.
While at the house of Cornelius (Acts.10:34ff), Peter made this confession, “Truly, I realize that God does not show partiality, but in every nation everyone who fears God and does good is acceptable to him”. This statement is a confirmation of unbiased nature of God. Christians are therefore urged to be impartial in their dealings with their fellow human beings after the example of our heavenly father.
(c) WARNING AGAINST PREJUDICE BY JAMES
(James 2:1-13)
At a point in the history of the early church, the poor were looked down upon and discriminated against. James frowned at this attitude and through his letter; he gave a serious warning against partiality. He said “For if a man with gold rings and in fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in, and you pay attention to the one who wore fine clothing and say, “have a seat here please while you say to the poor man “stand there” or “sit at my feet”. Have you not made distinctions among yourselves and became judges with evil thoughts? He therefore beseech them to desist from such evil acts, as God does not discriminate as they do rather, he chooses the poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which he has promised to those who love him.
James reminded the Christian community that it is the same rich people they favor that most of the time oppress them, drag them to court, and blaspheme the honorable name which was invoked upon them. They should therefore beware of them.
He reminded them of Christ’s injunction to love their neighbor as themselves which is the fulfillment of the royal law, which is according to scripture, is that we should love our neighbors as we love ourselves showing favoritism is a sin and a transgression of the law.
Summary of the reason why partiality or favoritism is to be discouraged.
(1) God is not partial
(2) Everybody is equal before God
(3) The physically rich might not be rich in the sight of God
(4) The children of faith are the rich in the sight of God and are the heirs of the kingdom.

(d) THE GOLDEN RULE
Bible Ref: Mtt.7:12; Lk.6:31
In the course of his teaching on the mountain, Jesus taught his followers the golden rule. Jesus instructed them “so treat others the way you will like them to treat you; there you have the law and the prophets”. Christians should be mindful of their action towards others, since appropriate reward await them both for their action or inaction. Public good is to be placed first in whatever one does.
(e) NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF NEPOTISM, FAVORITISM AND TRIBALISM IN THE SOCIETY.
The Webster dictionary defines nepotism as the unfair practice by a powerful person pf giving jobs and other favors to relatives. Tribalism means loyalty to a tribe or other social group especially when combined with strong negative feelings for people outside the group.
Favoritism is the unfair practice of treating some people better than others.
These three related social ills have something in common, they do not consider equality of the persons involved, but is blinded by sentiments that are not reasonable.
The effects of these can cripple the development of a given society. The effects include:
(1) They introduce disunity and negative feelings among the different segments of the society
(2) They encourage sectional interest and inordinate desire for power and domination
(3) They promote distrust and unhealthy competition
(4) They kill the spirit of nationalism and patriotism
(5) National wealth and political power are not property distributed. This brings about uneven development
(6) They do not favor foster sense of belonging and commitment to one’s environment.

CLASS ROOM EXERCISE
1. Define Impartiality in your own words.
2. What was Jesus Reason for Teaching the Golden Rule.
3. Give your own reason why patialiity should be discouraged