Christian Religious Studies Paper 2 Nov/Dec 2015

Question 8

  1. James 2:1 – 13

    1. James’ teaching on partiality
    Ways the church falls short of James’s standard/teaching

 

Observation

This question was popular with the candidates as many of them chose it in preference to Question 9 since the rubrics required them to answer a question in Section C. Majority of the candidates were able to outline the points which James spoke about in relation to partiality. These teachings included;

  1. Christians should not practice favouritism or discrimination but accept everyone as equals.
  2. There should be equity, love and fidelity among them.
  3. Discrimination between seats for the poor and the rich in churches should be discouraged
  4. Partiality causes not only division but makes people assume the role of judges with evil intention.
  5. There is the need therefore to fulfill the royal law of the scriptures in loving our neighbours as our selves.
  6. God does not show partiality, neither should Christians do.
  7. God invites both the rich and the poor for salvation without discrimination.
  8. Nevertheless, anyone who shows partiality commits sin and is convicted by the law as transgressor.
  9. James further advised that we must speak and act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty.
  10. A Christian is therefore advised to be courteous and compassionate towards his neighbour.
  11. According to James, judgment is without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy for mercy triumphs over judgment.

However, those who could not answer this question as presented by James in the Bible used their discretion and initiative to speak about what they know in relation to partiality which to a large extent, was not in accordance to how James preached about impartiality. Majority of the candidates who attempted the question scored low marks because of the scanty points they gave. 

The B part of the question was also problematic to the candidates in that, they required the knowledge of the A part to answer the B part. Since some candidates did a guess work in the A part, they also Guessed in the B part thereby, scoring below average in this question. However, to candidates that know the teachings of James about partiality, they performed excellently.