Slander and Judgment

2. Slander and Judgment “Real Life” [James] Series [20] James 4:11-12

3. THE CAUSES AND REMEDIES OF QUARRELS AND FIGHTS [RECAP] • Root Causes of quarrels and fights (vs.1-6): • Sinful desires within us (the flesh) • Friendship with the world (the world) • Pride (the devil) • Godly Remedies that cure the root causes (vs.7-10): • Humble yourself and submit to God. How? • By resisting the devil and drawing near to God. • By repenting from your sinful ways and purifying your hearts. • By being serious about holiness and weeping over your sins.

4. SLANDER AND JUDGMENT: CLARIFICATION OF WHAT THEY ARE • What does it mean NOT to speak evil against others? • The word, “to speak evil of” [katalaleo] literally means to speak down maliciously or to speak negatively against others [which means broader than “slander” (NIV)]. • It does NOT mean avoiding difficult conversations; rather we are to (1) speak truth in love, (2) confront lovingly each other’s sin/offense, (3) rebuke/correct in admonition, (4) warn others about false teaching/teachers.

5. Rather, speaking the truth in love . . . Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Ephesians 4:15; Proverbs 27:7 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. Matthew 18:15 Correct, rebuke and encourage —with great patience and careful instruction. 2 Tim 4:2 17I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught;  avoid them.18For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. Romans 16:17-18

6. SLANDER AND JUDGMENT: CLARIFICATION OF WHAT THEY ARE • What does it mean NOT to speak evil against others? • The word, “to speak evil of” [katalaleo] literally means to speak down maliciously or to speak negatively against others [which means much broader than “slander” (NIV)]. • It does NOT mean avoiding difficult conversations; rather we are to (1) speak truth in love, (2) lovingly confront each other’s sin/offense, (3) rebuke/correct in admonition, (4) warn others about false teaching/teachers. • It means that we are NOT to bad-mouth others maliciouslywhich includes (1) willful false accusations, (2) exaggerations of faults that are real, (3) needless repetition of real faults, and (4) slander [= false testimony that defames another's reputation] – a list from the commentary by Richard Wolff.

7. SLANDER AND JUDGMENT: CLARIFICATION OF WHAT THEY ARE • What does it mean NOT to judge others? • It does NOT mean, “Do not DISCERN”: • We are to (1) evaluate/distinuish right from wrong, (2) test the spirits, and (3) exercise discernment.

8. 15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16You will recognize them by their fruits.”  Matthew 7:15-16 17and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. 2 Timothy 2:16-18 10As for a person who stirs up division,  after warning him once and then twice,  have nothing more to do with him,  11knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned. Titus 3:10-11

9. SLANDER AND JUDGMENT: CLARIFICATION OF WHAT THEY ARE • What does it mean NOT to judge others? • It does NOT mean, “Do not DISCERN”: • We are to (1) evaluate right from wrong, (2) test the spirits, and (3) exercise discernment. • It means, “Do not CONDEMN”: • We are NOT to (1) criticize unlovingly, (2) condemn others, (3) play God in passing final judgment.

10. WHY SHOULD WE TURN AWAY FROM SLANDER & JUDGMENT? 1) We must turn away from it because all believers belong to the same Father/Family. Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother. (vs.11a) • The usage of the word, “brothers” denotes the fact that is thicker than blood—i.e., we are in ONE Family of God. • To speak against or judge a brother/sister means to break the ONENESS of God’s family. • Slandering/judging others is the primary reason for church dissensions and splits [= to kill each other with words]. • Therefore, we are to be ONE FAMILY by loving one another in unity and harmony.

11. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:3-5 Few things are as dishonoring to the cause of Christ as Christians quarreling among themselves. Yet we expel people from our fellowship for adultery, while we tolerate discord between ourselves and other believers. We have failed to understand and obey the biblical imperative to “make every effort to do what leads to peace” [Rom 14:19]. Jerry Bridges

12. WHY SHOULD WE TURN AWAY FROM SLANDER & JUDGMENT? 2) We must turn away from it because otherwise, we criticize and judge the law. 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. (v.11b)   • By the law, James means the royal law [LOVE] which sums up the entire Mosaic law.

13.  If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing well. James 2:8 You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the LORD. Leviticus 19:16 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.  Romans 13:8

14. WHY SHOULD WE TURN AWAY FROM SLANDER & JUDGMENT? 2) We must turn away from it because, otherwise, we criticize and judge the law. 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. (v.11b)   • By the law, James means the royal law [LOVE] which sums up the entire Mosaic law. • If we slander or judge others, we put ourselves above the law rather than obeying the law as God’s will. • In so doing we make ourselves a self-righteous critic and judge over the law. • Therefore, we are to humble ourselves in obeying the royal law as God’s will for our speech life.

15. WHY SHOULD WE TURN AWAY FROM SLANDER & JUDGMENT? 3) We must turn away from it because it results from our pride—playing God’s role [the sole lawgiver and judge]. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor? (v.12) • The root cause of slandering & judging others is PRIDE which fuels our evil passion within us to insist our way. • By pride, we are led by the devil’s lure to think that we are wise in our own eyes—so, we become a judge of others. • However, the role of JUDGE solely belongs to God who has the power apply the judgment on all human beings. • Therefore, we are to humbly submit to God as our JUDGE, surrendering our unbroken self to the Spirit.

16. For the LORD is our judge; the LORD is our lawgiver; the LORD is our king; he will save us. Isaiah 33:22

17. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE • STOP bad-mouthing others maliciously. • Turn away from backbiting, slander, and malicious gossip. • Cling to speaking truth in love and to loving confrontation. • STOP judging others by jumping into conclusion. • Turn away from a prideful judgmental attitude. • Cling to humble submission. • START humbling yourself to pursue unity, harmony, and love with others. • Love one another. • Keep the unity of the church.