Sometimes my young sons and I play a game on the
road when we see Volkswagen Bug cars. The first person to see one of these
vehicles punches the nearby person while saying, “Punch Buggy.” Obviously, it’s
better that you are the first one who notices a Bug.
Recently, as I was driving into work I noticed a newer Bug but did not have any of my kids with me to play the game, so I hit myself. No, not really. Something did stand out about this particular VW Bug; however. The bumper sticker on the back stated, “Jesus loves you but I am His favorite!”Hmmmm. That statement seems kind of cute at first. Someone in my family actually chuckled a little bit when I shared this later. But biblically, this statement is not fully true.
Yes, Jesus loves you (for example; Ephesians 5:1-2 (ESV) Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.). There are great examples of Christ’s love in God’s Word (e.g. died for our sins). Proclaiming Christ’s love to the world is a good news truth statement; however, the second part of the bumper sticker phrase “but I am His favorite!” is not backed up by God’s Word. In fact, it goes against what Scripture teaches about God. And just to be clear, theologically, I believe God’s word teaches there is one triune God, one God existing in three Divine Persons; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. So, when we learn in God’s Word that God does not play favorites, this is true of the eternal Son of God even if His name, position, and title are not specifically identified when God is referenced.
Consider some Bible verses about God’s impartiality.
Deut. 10:17 ESV For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe.
2 Chron. 19:7 ESVNow then, let the fear of the LORD be upon you. Be careful what you do, for there is no injustice with the LORD our God, or partiality or taking bribes.
Job 34:19 ESV who shows no partiality to princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor, for they are all the work of his hands?
Acts 10:34 ESV So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality,
(other translations; NLT uses the phrase “no favoritism” and the KJV: “no respecter of persons.”)
Romans 2:11 ESV For God shows no partiality.
Galatians 2:6-7 ESV 6 And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me. 7 On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised
Colossians 3:25 ESV For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.
1 Peter 1:17 ESV And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile,
Showing favoritism towards people is a form of discrimination, treating people according to their rank, status, or importance, for example, at the cost of others. I realize at first glance that the phrase ‘respecter of persons’ sounds like a positive thing since it is a good thing to respect people, but this particular phrase is often used in the negative context, especially in God’s Word.
Here are some examples of favoritism in our culture. When a pastor gives extra preferential treatment toward the church member who tithes 90% compared to the member who tithes 10%, just because the previous one gives more money. Another example involves a father metering out discipline/punishment to his three sons who all lied to their father, except the dad only punishes two of the sons because the other son is his favorite of the three. Then there is the boss who gives extra perks to one of the employees just because they are good friends. This type of favoritism behavior is not God-honoring when we do it and it’s not representative of God’s character and conduct either.
What would it look like if God showed favoritism? It would be like God thinking this to Himself; “I really like that President of the United States more than that peasant worker in south Asia because he is such a great man and that small potatoes guy is insignificant so I will not judge the President for lying but I will judge the peasant for lying.” Or how about this example: Imagine God thinking this; “I really like that pastor in California more than the one in Timbuktu because he has a huge mega-church and wrote the best-selling book to date and he is Caucasian. I will make his life a lot easier because I like him more.” What? No way. Not happening. God doesn’t play favorites.
God is perfectly Holy and just and righteous. God loves people, sinners. God’s grace and mercy extends to all people. God is not partial in His judgment upon people. And He can’t be bribed by us somehow to act in our favor like He’s some sort of compromising politician, judge, or law enforcement officer. What is truly great news is that salvation is freely given by God’s grace through faith in Christ, for those who believe upon Christ as Savior and Lord. This is true regardless of who you are and your background.
God doesn’t show favoritism to the rich over the poor or the great over the small or one ethnic group over the other or one gender over another and neither should we (see Rom. 10:12, Gal. 3:28, James 2:1-9).
God doesn't play favorites. So, biblically, the driver of that Bug with the bumper sticker, me, you, none of us are God’s favorite.
What are your thoughts about this?
Mike
Recently, as I was driving into work I noticed a newer Bug but did not have any of my kids with me to play the game, so I hit myself. No, not really. Something did stand out about this particular VW Bug; however. The bumper sticker on the back stated, “Jesus loves you but I am His favorite!”Hmmmm. That statement seems kind of cute at first. Someone in my family actually chuckled a little bit when I shared this later. But biblically, this statement is not fully true.
Yes, Jesus loves you (for example; Ephesians 5:1-2 (ESV) Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.). There are great examples of Christ’s love in God’s Word (e.g. died for our sins). Proclaiming Christ’s love to the world is a good news truth statement; however, the second part of the bumper sticker phrase “but I am His favorite!” is not backed up by God’s Word. In fact, it goes against what Scripture teaches about God. And just to be clear, theologically, I believe God’s word teaches there is one triune God, one God existing in three Divine Persons; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. So, when we learn in God’s Word that God does not play favorites, this is true of the eternal Son of God even if His name, position, and title are not specifically identified when God is referenced.
Consider some Bible verses about God’s impartiality.
Deut. 10:17 ESV For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe.
2 Chron. 19:7 ESVNow then, let the fear of the LORD be upon you. Be careful what you do, for there is no injustice with the LORD our God, or partiality or taking bribes.
Job 34:19 ESV who shows no partiality to princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor, for they are all the work of his hands?
Acts 10:34 ESV So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality,
(other translations; NLT uses the phrase “no favoritism” and the KJV: “no respecter of persons.”)
Romans 2:11 ESV For God shows no partiality.
Galatians 2:6-7 ESV 6 And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me. 7 On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised
Colossians 3:25 ESV For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.
1 Peter 1:17 ESV And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile,
Showing favoritism towards people is a form of discrimination, treating people according to their rank, status, or importance, for example, at the cost of others. I realize at first glance that the phrase ‘respecter of persons’ sounds like a positive thing since it is a good thing to respect people, but this particular phrase is often used in the negative context, especially in God’s Word.
Here are some examples of favoritism in our culture. When a pastor gives extra preferential treatment toward the church member who tithes 90% compared to the member who tithes 10%, just because the previous one gives more money. Another example involves a father metering out discipline/punishment to his three sons who all lied to their father, except the dad only punishes two of the sons because the other son is his favorite of the three. Then there is the boss who gives extra perks to one of the employees just because they are good friends. This type of favoritism behavior is not God-honoring when we do it and it’s not representative of God’s character and conduct either.
What would it look like if God showed favoritism? It would be like God thinking this to Himself; “I really like that President of the United States more than that peasant worker in south Asia because he is such a great man and that small potatoes guy is insignificant so I will not judge the President for lying but I will judge the peasant for lying.” Or how about this example: Imagine God thinking this; “I really like that pastor in California more than the one in Timbuktu because he has a huge mega-church and wrote the best-selling book to date and he is Caucasian. I will make his life a lot easier because I like him more.” What? No way. Not happening. God doesn’t play favorites.
God is perfectly Holy and just and righteous. God loves people, sinners. God’s grace and mercy extends to all people. God is not partial in His judgment upon people. And He can’t be bribed by us somehow to act in our favor like He’s some sort of compromising politician, judge, or law enforcement officer. What is truly great news is that salvation is freely given by God’s grace through faith in Christ, for those who believe upon Christ as Savior and Lord. This is true regardless of who you are and your background.
God doesn’t show favoritism to the rich over the poor or the great over the small or one ethnic group over the other or one gender over another and neither should we (see Rom. 10:12, Gal. 3:28, James 2:1-9).
God doesn't play favorites. So, biblically, the driver of that Bug with the bumper sticker, me, you, none of us are God’s favorite.
What are your thoughts about this?
Mike
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