Foolproof – JUDGING Faith
James 4:10-12
Recap: We’ve been studying in James about how to have a foolproof faith – a faith that can’t be fooled into embracing anything not of God if you’re saved, and a faith that can’t fool you into thinking you’re saved when you’re lost.
Setting: Throughout the letter, James has been offering verifiable proofs that authenticate genuine faith in a believer’s life. In the first (3) chapters James specifically addresses the saved people in the church, but starting in chapter 4, he turns to the lost people w/in the church who think their saved. As we discussed last week, these well-meaning unregenerated people can be identified by (4) actions: they create conflict, they’re judgmental, they’re defiant, and they’re greedy. Today we’re going to look at the second issue of a slanderous, judgmental spirit.
Text: Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him, speaks against the law, and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor? James 4:10-12
Note: As James begins to address the issue of judging, he points out that a critical spirit manifests itself w/ a slanderous tongue. Here we go again. The tongue is a troublemaker that causes us to trip and fall. (see Pr. 13:3)
Trans: A few months ago, a pastor friend of mine was diagnosed w/ nodules on his vocal cords. This isn’t a good problem for a preacher since he has to speak so often. His only cure was to not speak for 2 months – which meant he couldn’t preach, teach or counsel. We were talking about it one day and he commented, “You would be amazed at how godly you can be when you can’t talk.”
Note: As I have thought about his statement I couldn’t agree more. Our mouths get us into more trouble. More times than not, it is my children’s unguarded words that get them into trouble more than their actions; and the same is true for most people. According to James, slander is just the tip of the iceberg to a much more crippling issue – a critical, judgmental spirit.
I The RULE of Slander and Judgment
Text: Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law, and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.
Word: slander (katalaleo) it refers to mindless, thoughtless, derogatory, untrue speech intended to tear down other people.
Note: Slander is kin to gossip. Gossip is spreading truth about someone w/ the intent to defame and injure their person and credibility, while slander is spreading untruth w/ the same intention.
Note: But I want you to see something especially frightening about slander – it is authored by Satan – he is the master slanderer. One of his names (devil) means to slander. Satan unveiled this malicious tactic in the Garden of Eden when he slandered God’s integrity and motives before Eve. Think about it. The first act of slander was tied to the very first sin in human history.
Note: Now before I go any further, I want to be clear. Everyone is capable of spreading untruth w/ malicious intent – Christians included. Thus, while James might be focusing on the lost people in the church and their destructive tendencies, he’s speaking to every one of us. Slander can’t ever be a part of any Christian’s life.
A It DEMEANS Other People
Note: Slander tears people down destroying their personhood. It is exactly the opposite of God’s heart for His people.
Verse: Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the H.S. of God, w/ whom you were sealed for the Day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander, along w/ every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Eph. 4:29-32
Note: Paul commends us to be sure the only words that come out of our mouths are useful to building others up. In fact, anything that comes out of our mouths that doesn’t encourage grieves the H.S. b/c they’re sinful and destructive.
Story: A few weeks ago when I spoke on the tongue in James 2, a member told me a sad story about the power of harsh words. She told me that at one time in her life she took great pride in her ability to be sharp and quick w/ her tongue. Then one day she met a girl at work who was different and was being ostracized by others. She told me about how one day she had a brief encounter w/ the girl where she spewed several cutting, harsh words. At first she was proud of the vile that had proceeded from her mouth, until the next morning the girl didn’t show up to work b/c she committed suicide the night before. She told me that day changed her life forever. While she knows that it wasn’t her words that sent that girl to her death, she recognized she held some responsibility. She said she wonders what might have happened if her words had been helpful instead of hurtful – would there have been a different outcome.
B It DENIES God’s Authority
Note: We see in this text that slander and judgmentalism are partners in crime.
Note: God’s authority is His rule and reign. It involves His sovereignty and divine attributes. Furthermore, His rule is w/out question and w/out end. His rule is governed by His law – which is a law of grace and love. The Law is love codified – it is the expression of how to love God and others.
Insert: (1) You shall have no other gods before me– FOCUSED Love.
(2) You shall not make any graven image – FANATICAL Love.
(3) You shall not take God’s name in vain – FAVORED Love
(4) You shall keep the Sabbath holy – FERVANT Love
(5) You shall honor you father and mother – FAMILY Love
(6) You shall not murder – FORGIVING Love
(7) You shall not commit adultery – FAITHFUL Love
(8) You shall not steal – FREEHANDED Love
(9) You shall not bear false witness – FORTHRIGHT Love
(10) You shall not covet – FULFILLED Love
Note: And just to make sure we got it, Jesus summed up the entire Law and prophets when He said, Love the Lord your God w/ all your mind, soul, and strength; and love your neighbor as your self.
Note: James says that slander is more than just a breach of human decency; it is a breach of God’s Law. It is a violation of the Law of love and anyone who speaks against another brother shows no regard for God’s standard placing themselves in authority even over God’s rule. Here is the catch, a slanderer, by establishing himself as a judge, dethrones God’s righteous rule to enthrones his own unrighteous criticism.
II The RESULT of Slander and Judgment
Text: There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?
Insert: I recently heard a funny story about judging where a lady had bought a pack of cookies while waiting to board a plane. As she sat waiting, she noticed out of the corner of her eye that the man sitting next to her had opened the cookies and had eaten one of them. The woman was mortified. She couldn’t believe his audacity. So that she wouldn’t lose all of her cookies, she took one and ate it, but to her amazement, the man grabbed another one. Irritated, she removed all but one cookie from the pack. At that point, the man took the last cookie, broke in 1/2 leaving the other ½ for the woman. Right as she was about to let the man have it, she noticed an unopened pack of cookies in her purse.
A It DETHRONES God’s Grace
Note: By placing himself above the Law, the slanderer is also placing himself above the only true Lawgiver God. This is the desire of sin – to dethrone God, remove and replace Him as judge, and attempt to rule in His place.
Word: Lawgiver (nomothetes) refers to one who puts the law in place.
Word: Judge (krites) noun – refers to one who applies the law and doles out justice.
Note: Slander invites you to have a critical, judgmental spirit and arrogantly refuses to forgive b/c you put yourself in the seat of God as judge, jury, and executioner. A slanderer doesn’t judge judiciously, but w/ bias.
Word: judge (krino) verb – to judge unto condemnation – this is how slanderers judge
Note: There’s a false teaching that has been thrust unto all of us that says, “It is a sin to judge.” This statement couldn’t be more inaccurate. We’re most certainly to judge as to evaluate right and wrong, morality and immorality. In fact, we have a responsibility to judge each other to spur one another toward love and good deeds. At the same time, I want to be clear, it is absolutely wrong to judge someone so as to condemn them.
Note: Why? B/c we too are sinners in need of God’s saving grace. If it were not for the grace of God we would all be condemned.
Verse: But when the kindness and love of God our Savior was revealed, he saved us. It wasn’t b/c of any good deeds that we ourselves had done, but b/c of his own mercy that he saved us, through the H.S., who gives us new birth and new life by washing us. God poured out the H.S. abundantly on us through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that by his grace we might be put right w/ God and come into possession of the eternal life we hope for. Ti. 3:5-7
Note: As believers we are never to judge and slander another person instead we’re to go and help – prepared to forgive as we have been forgiven.
Insert: Matthew 18:21 – Jesus addresses the issue of when we feel like being God. Peter asked, “How often am I to forgive – 7 times (Rabbi’s said 3 times – Peter doubled it and added one)? Jesus said no – 70 x 7 (unlimited). Jesus then offered a parable – a slave is indebt $18 million (a debt he couldn’t pay). The slave is judged and loses everything. The man falls prostrate before the king and begs for patience and mercy. The king has compassion and releases him and assumes his debt (God has done the same for us in assuming our debt in Jesus). The forgiven slave then goes out and finds another slave that owed him 100 denarii (100 days wages – pocket change) In vs. 28 he seized him and began to choke him – he wanted justice even though he had received mercy. It is reported to the king what the slave had done – he was judged accordingly.
Note: Who are you to judge? I’m a forgiven slave. I wasn’t sinned against, God was. I didn’t die for sin, God did. Giving into this sin is likely b/c you’re lost. If by chance you are a Christian, you are cankered and God’s grace has soured.
Insert: Luke 17. Are we to forgive when we don’t feel like forgiving? Jesus says that He only want you to do to others what He has done for you. Forgiveness is not a feeling; it is an act of faith and obedience.
Story: Boss asks employee to run an errand even though he’s tired, does he do it? Yes, b/c his boss has asked him. You do what you’re told, not what you feel.
Note: Why do you do it? Vs. 10 – b/c you’ve been commanded by God. This parable is about doing something even though you don’t feel like doing it – the context is about forgiveness. This is freeing, b/c I can obey God do what He asks, even though I don’t feel like doing it.
Verse: In Him we have redemption through His blood the forgiveness of sin. Eph. 1:7
Trans: Why should I be kind and forgiving to others when they hurt or betray me instead of slanderous and judgmental – b/c Jesus forgave me my debt.
B It DEFAMES Your Person
Note: James offers a stinging rebuke in these words. He is saying to all of us, “Who do you think you are sitting as judge, jury, and executioner on someone else?
Note: Jesus said the same thing in the Sermon on the Mount when he instructed His listener to judge lest they should be judged and to get the plank out of their eye before they worry about the splinter in someone else’s life.
Note: Paul also addressed this issue w/ the Romans 12 when he exhorted them to not think more highly of themselves than what is appropriate.
Point: To judge or slander others is the opposite of a true believers greatest quality – humility. According to Scripture, a person w/out humility is w/out Christ.
III The RESPONSE to Slander and Judgment
Note: There is but one right response – humble yourself before God and He will lift you up. Instead of choosing to slander and judge, choose to be like Jesus and offer encouragement and forgiveness. (7) things happen when you forgive.
1 You release and loose others from their guilt and shame.
2 You become obedient to God – you give others a blessing.
3 You practice self-control that honors God.
4 You become a magnanimous person – bigger than the hurt.
Insert: Can you imagine when Jesus was on the cross and they spit on Him and He spits back. Can you imagine if He would have said come over here – if I can get this foot loose I’m going to kick you in the face – not very Savior like – it is a great quality not to stoop down to your accusers
5 You become Christ-like.
6 You allow for God to provide godly shame – Rm. 12
Verse: Never take revenge, my friends, but instead let God’s anger do it. For the scripture says, "I will take revenge, I will pay back, says the Lord." Instead, as the scripture says: "If your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them a drink; for by doing this you will make them burn with shame." Do not let evil defeat you; instead, conquer evil w/ good. Rm. 12:19-21
7 You prove yourself a child of God – Ph. 2
Note: When we’re overcome by evil and drop down to its level, we extinguish our witness if we’re saved, but more than likely reveal the lost, religious condition of our souls.
