To Judge Or Not To Judge - James 4:11,12

To Judge or Not to Judge - James 4:11,12

When I was in high school, there was this guy in my class that was on the rough side. He smoked, cussed, had long hair. Later we became good friends but before that – I remember a day a Christian student approached him sharing a judgmental comment. This is how my friend responded. He took a drag off of his cigarette and said, “Well the Bible says, “Judge not, lest ye be judged, for the judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured back to you.”

I wasn’t expecting a quote from Jesus – Matt. 7.

We do hear Christians share a shortened form, “We’re not to judge.” But… in Matt. 18:15 Jesus says (TAB) “If your brother sins against you - go and show him his fault…” So (TAB) which is it? Judge or not judge?

In John 7:24 Jesus seems to give clarification. He says (TAB) “Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.” John 7:24

And it’s here we see that there is a right way to judge and a wrong way. And this makes more sense... First, let’s look at what (TAB) judging incorrectly is:

It’ here that we pick up with the book of James – we’ve been studying this book verse by verse. (TAB) James 4:11. (Feel free to open your Bible apps.) James 4:11 “Brothers, do not slander one another.

So we see here that (TAB) judging incorrectly is: condemning or speaking against fellow Christians. Notice he addresses his listeners as “Brothers” which means – these are Christians. He says, “Do not slander one another.” Which in the original language is, “don’t speak against one another.” I think we all will agree that Christians don’t look good when we bad-mouthing each other. James says, “Don’t do that.” He goes on in v. 11, “Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him, speaks against the law and judges it.

He’s referencing God’s law in the Old Testament. And what does God’s law say about how to treat others: (TAB) “…love your neighbor as yourself” Lev.19:18. (repeat slower).

?Have you ever seen anyone going around, speaking against themselves? “Can you believe what I did - It’s shameful – because I did that - I’m not going to have anything do with myself anymore. If I see me out - I’m going to act as if I don’t’ know me. Serves me right!” Is that what we do? No! We do something wrong – we get over it pretty quickly… why? because we love ourselves, and we’re to love others the way we love ourselves.

Back to verse 11, “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.”

In other words – to speak against a Christian is to put yourselves above the law - as if - you know better than God.

The word (TAB) “judge ” here - the root word in Gk. is “krino” and it means: “Set oneself over”. When you speak against another Christian – you’re putting yourself over them, in the place that God alone should be. This is why in v. 12 James says. “There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and destroy.”

He’s telling the reader: “There’s one God – and He’s not you.” Putting ourselves in the place of God? The audacity. This is serious stuff…. It’s usurping God’s authority. (pause) ?Isn’t that the sin that got Lucifer’s thrown out of heaven? Or Adam and Eve’s sin that led to the fall of humanity – “you’ll be like God”. James is saying, There’s one God and you aren’t Him! so don’t judge incorrectly.

(TAB) So judging incorrectly is: condemning or speaking against fellow Christians. But it’s more: Judging incorrectly is (TAB) condemning or speaking against non-Christians.

“What? Vern, are you saying how I talk about politics needs to change?” This does have far-reaching implications. Remember: James is all about “FAITH IN ACTION”.

Several years back before the Supreme court re-defined marriage, Disney decided to extend healthcare benefits to employees with same-sex partners. It caused quite the stir… the Southern Baptist Church, Focus on the Family, and others, rose up and declared a boycott of Disney. It was their way of letting Disney know – “You’re wrong.” Now, with that in mind look at 1 Cor. 5. (TAB) “I have written to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people – not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you’d have to leave this world… v. 12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church: Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside.” Vv.9-12(select)