Don’t treat people and things based on anything other than how they really are

The scriptures consistently instruct us to treat others with equal application of consequences.¹ The scriptural phrase for this—being “without respect of persons”—means to be impartial. Partiality is when you base your view or treatment of someone or something on anything other than its objective merit.² Partiality is possible with people, but also with things and ideas. Partiality is treating anything differently than it deserves, based on dispassionately applied uniform and objective standards.

All of the following are examples of partiality:

• When you treat others based on how they make you feel, rather than how they really are.
• When you ignore evidence that conflicts with your preconceived feelings about someone or something.
• When you resist an argument for reasons other than the pertinent facts.
• When you make a choice based on its ease rather than what is most beneficial.
• When you make choices based on fear instead of logical expectation of cost and benefit.

Impartiality prioritizes facts over feelings, while partiality often prefers feelings to facts. Partiality is dishonest because you are being inconsistent in your behavior between similar situations. Remember: honesty requires you to reconcile to reality, which includes acting consistently across examples of similar situations.

We should be on guard to ensure that we are treating other people and things according to their merit and without prejudice or bias. As we emulate God’s impartiality,³ we will incur his favor. As we deviate from God’s impartiality, we will incur his wrath.⁴