IMPARTIAL DECISION MAKING

 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. James 3:17

Being impartial and sincere means checking to see if we have a ‘log in our eye’ when we tell someone to take the ‘speck out of their eye’.

For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?  Matthew 7:2-3

If Christians are going to emerge from this crisis with unity and fellowship intact, we must walk the radical path of humility, sacrifice, patience, gentleness, mercy, and sincerity. We are impartial when truth is more important than political identity, family loyalty, denominational or religious identity. I am sure that you can fill in the blanks on the following statements from similar statements that you have heard which assume that a political or religious identity automatically guarantees belief on an issue.

All evangelical Christians should                              ;  All conservatives (or liberals or . . .) believe that                     ;  If you obey that ridiculous restriction, then you are a         
                    ;   If you are a member of that denomination then you                 .

If we are impartial we will not be influenced by feelings of bias or prejudice or loyalty to a group identity or label but be able to support the good and truthful while at the same time challenging error.  We will be able to honour authorities with obedience (Rom. 13) while engaging in appropriate legal civil pushback when necessary.  We will say what is peaceable, gentle, full of reason and mercy, impartial and sincere, regardless of what our group determines what we should say, or what others predetermine that we should say because of the label that we carry.