A Faith Well Lived: James 4:11-12
Pastor Phil Moser
August 11, 2024
Pastor Phil Moser
August 11, 2024
James 4:11-12
11 Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?"
Be Careful How You Speak
1. Slander never talks to the person; it talks about them (Matt. 18:15, 1 Pet. 4:8)
2. Slander is energized by suspicion. Ours is a relationship of trust, not skepticism (1 Sam. 18)
3. Slander speaks words against someone, violating God's command to love others (Jam. 4:11)
4. Slander fills in the blanks of wrong, internal judgement (Jam. 4:11)
Slander
- Gossipping words destroy a reputation (Pr. 16:28)
- Lying words destroy trust (Jer. 9:4-6)
- Critical words destroy potential (Eph. 4:29)
- Angry words destroy relationship (Pr. 15:18)
- Prideful words destroy the love of others (1 Cor. 13:4)
- Complaining words destroy gratitude (Phil. 2:14)
11 Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?"
Be Careful How You Speak
1. Slander never talks to the person; it talks about them (Matt. 18:15, 1 Pet. 4:8)
2. Slander is energized by suspicion. Ours is a relationship of trust, not skepticism (1 Sam. 18)
3. Slander speaks words against someone, violating God's command to love others (Jam. 4:11)
4. Slander fills in the blanks of wrong, internal judgement (Jam. 4:11)
Slander
- Gossipping words destroy a reputation (Pr. 16:28)
- Lying words destroy trust (Jer. 9:4-6)
- Critical words destroy potential (Eph. 4:29)
- Angry words destroy relationship (Pr. 15:18)
- Prideful words destroy the love of others (1 Cor. 13:4)
- Complaining words destroy gratitude (Phil. 2:14)
"Slander is a false tale or report maliciously uttered and tending to injure the reputation of another by lessening him in the esteem of his fellow citizens..." - Noah Webster, 1828
1. Slander never talks to the person; it talks about them (Matt. 18:15, 1 Pet. 4:8)
Matthew 18:15
If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.
1 Peter 4:8, NLT
Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.
2. Slander is energized by suspicion. Ours is a relationship of trust, not skepticism
James 4:11-12
11 Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?"
3. Slander speaks words against someone, violating God's command to love others.
James 4:11-12
11 Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?"
Matthew 18:15
If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.
1 Peter 4:8, NLT
Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.
2. Slander is energized by suspicion. Ours is a relationship of trust, not skepticism
James 4:11-12
11 Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?"
3. Slander speaks words against someone, violating God's command to love others.
James 4:11-12
11 Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?"
Slander is not done by the lips alone; it requires a listening ear.
4. Slander fills in the blanks of wrong, internal judgement (Jam. 4:11)
James 4:11-12
11 Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?"
Be Careful How You Judge
1. When you judge others, you are most often critical of elements that you cannot see (4:11).
"Behind the slander - behind the back of the person being slandered - is an act of condemnation. Instead of the divine measure of judgment in the word of God, the slanderer establishes his or her own measure and finds a brother lacking, worth of rejection." - K.A. Richardson
3 Occasions When Judgement is Necessary
- If it's plainly evident that sin is involved (1 Corinthians 5:1-3)
- If it's clear that a wrong belief is being practiced (Galatians 2:11)
- If the heart has been revealed through spoken words (Matthew 12: 34-35)
3 Occasions When Judgement is Discouraged
- If it's a matter of personal preference, not biblical violation (Romans 14:3-4)
- If their motives are unspoken and their intentions are unclear (1 Corinthians 4:5)
- If you have not first evaluated yourself (Luke 17:3)
- If it's plainly evident that sin is involved (1 Corinthians 5:1-3)
- If it's clear that a wrong belief is being practiced (Galatians 2:11)
- If the heart has been revealed through spoken words (Matthew 12: 34-35)
3 Occasions When Judgement is Discouraged
- If it's a matter of personal preference, not biblical violation (Romans 14:3-4)
- If their motives are unspoken and their intentions are unclear (1 Corinthians 4:5)
- If you have not first evaluated yourself (Luke 17:3)
2. When you judge others, you are not extending the mercy that you so freely received (4:12).
"Judging makes a presumptive statement about the destiny of a person or their works as a whole that really only God can make. Judging is an act that only the all-seeing, all-knowing God can perform. Only God, who knows the secrets of the heart, can judge that heart. Only God, who sees what is done in secret, can judge these things long before they come to light." - K. A. Richardson
James 4:12
There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?
There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?