Observation

REASONS FOR WHICH CHRISTIANS SHOULD AVOID DISCRIMINATION (JAMES 2:1-13)

This question was popular among candidates. Though candidates gave their own interpretation and version of what they understood the question to be rather to how James put it. Candidates’ performance was above average in this question especially in the B part. The challenge most candidates had was the inability to give out the points in an articulate manner as outlined by James in the bible. Candidates were expected to list out points such as

1. James in his teaching on impartiality advised Christians to keep the royal law/ love your neighbour as yourself.


2. Christians therefore need to love one another in order to avoid partiality.


3. To James, being discriminatory is a sin and therefore, anyone who fails to love his neighbour becomes a sinner.


4. To him, a sinner is a breaker of the law and whoever keeps the law and fails in one is guilty of all the commandments.


5. James observed that failure to love one another implies being partial, unjust and treating people unfairly.


6. He then warned Christians to avoid class distinctions among themselves by not looking down upon the poor and honouring the rich.


7. He said Christians should cease using physical appearance like dressings in judging and recognizing people at occasions.


8. James continued that if the rich is honoured, while the poor is dishonoured, then Christians were becoming bias in their judgements.


9. For the poor in the world were chosen by God and made rich in faith to be the heirs of the kingdom.


10. The rich often blasphemed against the Lord and were fond of dragging the poor to court where they obtained no justice.

REASONS PEOPLE DISCRIMINATE AGAINST ONE ANOTHER

1. Educational status.


2. Family background.


3. Cultural differences/ racism.


4. Social stratification.


5. Prejudice.


6. Religious differences.


7. Pride/ arrogance/ envy.


8. Political differences.


9. Financial status.


10. Gender differences/sexual orientation.


11. Ethnocentrism/ favouritism/ nepotism.


12. Level of exposure.


13. Unpleas