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Playing GOD: Warning About Judging and Playing Superior

This text examines James 4:11-17 to explore the dangers of playing God with others and ourselves. It discusses the negative implications of judging and asserting superiority, reminding us to humbly submit to God's will.

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Playing GOD: Warning About Judging and Playing Superior

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Presentation Transcript

  1. Playing GOD James 4: 11 - 17

  2. Playing GOD • What does that mean to you? • We are going to look at three things that James points out …(quickly) • Playing God with others • Playing God with ourselves • When you want to stop playing God

  3. Playing GOD…with Others • James 4:11 • “Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.”

  4. Playing GOD…with Others • So what are we trying to accomplish by Playing GOD with Others? • We want to put ourselves in a superior position

  5. Playing GOD…with Others • How do we Play God with Others? • We use the following: • You gotta… • You will… • You have to…

  6. Playing GOD…with Others • You gotta…you will…you have to • James says if we want to Play God with others, we need to • “Speak Against” our brothers and sisters • The Greek word here is “katalalei” • “To talk down to” • Basically, demeaning people or even talking about people who are not around to defend themselves

  7. Playing GOD…with Others • You gotta…you will…you have to • James says if we want to Play God with others, we also need to… • “Judge” others • The Greek word here is “krineis” • “To pronounce condemnation” • What do you need to know to “judge” someone fairly? • We need to know everything we can about that person

  8. Playing GOD…with Others • You gotta…you will…you have to • James also tells us that when we judge others we also criticize or speak against? • The law and judge it • Which law do you think James is referring to here? • I’m going to guess it’s the one he quoted back in Chapter 2, verse 8: • “…Love your neighbor as yourself…”

  9. Playing GOD…with Others • You gotta…you will…you have to • What do you essentially do when you break a law? • You put yourself above it • Declare that it’s a bad law, and that… • It’s not worthy to be obeyed • You are no longer a “doer” of the law • You’re a judge of the law

  10. Playing GOD…with Others • You gotta…you will…you have to • Who is the Lawgiver and Judge? • James 4:12 • “There is only one Lawgiver and Judge…” • And who might that be? • “…the one who is able to save and destroy.” • Sounds like God to me

  11. Playing GOD…with Others • “But you – who are you to judge your neighbor?” • Kind of puts the focus back where it belongs • On us • This doesn’t remove us from our civic duty • This is for that horrible, unkind, critical spirit that constantly finds fault in other people

  12. Playing GOD…with Others • Two HUGE reasons we should avoid “Playing GOD” with Others • We put ourselves in a position of authority that is reserved for God • We ignore and/or excuse our own shortcomings

  13. Playing GOD…with Ourselves • James 4:13 – 17 • What am I trying to get at here? • Here’s the question… • Are you the final authority over your life? • We think we are sometimes… • Invictus • Short Poem by William Ernest Henley

  14. Playing GOD…with Ourselves Out of the night that covers me, Black as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed. Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the years Finds, and shall find, me unafraid. It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.

  15. Playing GOD…with Ourselves • So what are the rules for Playing God with Ourselves? • Verse 13 • “Now listen, you who say, today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”

  16. Playing GOD…with Ourselves • Five Quick Rules that we Set • We selfishly choose our own time and schedule • We select the location that we want • We determine the length of our stay • We arrange activities that work toward our own benefit and pleasure • We predict our success • And probably brag about it

  17. Playing GOD…with Ourselves • James tells us why we can never win at Playing God with Ourselves • Verse 14a • “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow…” • We really don’t need to go any further • The other rules can’t follow without this one

  18. Playing GOD…with Ourselves • What else? • Verse 14b • “What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes…” • Psalms 90:3 – 6

  19. Playing GOD…with Ourselves • And lastly… • We have no right to ignore God’s will • James 4:15 • “Instead you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will we will live and do this or that.”” • By the way…our boasting is evil • Verse 16 • “As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.”

  20. When We Want to Stop Playing GOD • So…how do you stop? • James 4:17 • “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.” • Two simple rules • You must know the right thing to do • You must do it

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