Lacking details or insight into either man's mind, this story can be interpreted many ways. Some people seem to feel that it showcases the uncaring nature of conservatives. They believe we are unwilling to do anything for anyone, that we expect people to do for themselves. I tend to look at it from the opposite perspective. The President, seeing this homeless man, could have said, "Yes, you're not worthy of coming into this Church, but I'll pray for you." Instead, he invited the man inside.

My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. [James 2:1-13]

In this passage, James reminds us that, in the eyes of God, every man is equal. The first several verses deal with the trappings of this physical world. There is an admonishment not to respect one person because he wears nice clothing while another man is shunned for being poor.

It is my opinion, though, that the more important part of this passage come sin verses 8-13. It reminds us not only that to share our faith "with respect to persons" is a sin, but that we are all transgressors of the law: "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." (v.10)

It is so very easy for us, as human beings, to look at someone else and think, "At least I'm not as bad as him." One of my favorite songs is by Ty Herndon, titled "Pray for me." The "narrator" of the song is approached by a poor man who says: "Pray for me, and I will pray for you." The singer's response is typical:

"I thought, Who is he to pray for me?
   As I hit my power lock.
Then the weight of my hypocrisy
   Fell on me like a rock."

Each and every one of us is imperfect. Because God is perfect and just, in order for us to earn our way into the kingdom of heaven, we would have to be perfect. Knowing that was a goal we could never reach, God sent his Son to die in our place, so that we would have an alternate path.

It is all too easy for Christians to accept Christ's sacrifice and forget exactly how filthy we were (and still are) without it. We look at other people, see how they're living their lives, and we look down on them. We need to try to reflect Christ's mercy in our daily walk, to allow the world to see a (very, very) dim reflection of Christ in us. Above all, we need to remember that any good we do is only because of the Holy Spirit in us.

Maybe this isn't a big problem for other people. Maybe it's just me, but I need to remember to witness any time I am called upon to do so. Too often, I look at the person to whom I'm talking, and take it upon myself to judge whether they'd be receptive. If God puts it on my heart to talk about Christ and his sacrifice to someone, I need to put down my doubts in whether that person will listen and talk about Him. To do otherwise is the same as if I'd turned away a would-be worshipper because of the clothes he was wearing, it is an example of having faith with respect to persons, and it is sin.

Pray for me.