Discernment

Journey through James: 4:11-12

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. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor? — James 4:11-12

As James concludes this section on our interactions with one another he warns us about speaking evil against each other. We live in a country where it has become commonplace to speak badly about people you don’t agree with. Not only are people emboldened to speak this way, but they also have the platform of social media to make their thoughts known. While social media can be used for good to bring unity, too often it just becomes an avenue for people to vent all their frustrations. People feel free to say things they would never say to someone’s face.

James started this section by asking what caused their conflicts and disagreements. The main culprit was their own selfishness. Now he closes by exhorting us not to speak evil against one another. Why do we talk badly about other people? Too often we try and justify speaking evil of other people by saying that we are just speaking the truth. However, there is a difference between speaking the difficult truth and just tearing someone down with your words.

When we speak evil of other people, we are placing ourselves as a judge over them. We are putting ourselves in a place of superiority and acting as if we are better. We can even get to the point where we act as if we are judges over the law. James reminds us that there is only one Lawgiver and one Judge - God. We should not put ourselves in God’s place in someone else’s life. There is never a place for us to be condescending and look down on people we disagree with. 

James is not telling us that we should not discern between right and wrong. These verses are not telling us that we can never judge between good and evil and that we should not speak out against wrong. However, we should never use that as an excuse to speak evil of other people. James warned us about this in chapter 3. We should not use our mouths to praise God and then turn around and curse people who are made in God’s image. 

People will do things that are wrong. People will do things that harm us or those we love. When this happens we will be tempted to gossip or speak evil against these people. We will be tempted to vent or talk behind their back. However, when we are tempted to do this, we need to remember who we are. We are sinners saved by grace. We are guilty of breaking God’s law. We are in no place to put ourselves above someone else. 

We should speak the truth, but we should speak that truth in such a way that it builds up. Do not speak evil of others, and do not seek to take God’s place as lawgiver and judge. 

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. — Ephesians 4:25-32