The Danger of Judging and Slandering One Another

Order of Service

• Call to Worship — 1 Timothy 1:15-17
• Hymn — Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise (#224)
• Prayer of Invocation
• Confession of Faith — Heidelberg Catechism, Lord's Day 39, Q&A 104
• Hymn — Father, Long Before Creation (#242)
• Pastoral Prayer
• Sermon
• Hymn — Christ Is Coming (#390)
• Benediction — Hebrews 13:20-21

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Sermon Title: The Danger of Judging and Slandering One Another

Scripture: James 4:11-12

I. Introduction: The Power of Words in the Community of Believers

A. James throughout his letter is concerned with the fruit of genuine faith, including how believers use their tongues B. In James 3:1-12, James described the powerful danger of the tongue — like a spark igniting a great fire, like a rudder steering a great ship C. In James 3:13–4:10, James addressed the prideful posturing of our hearts toward others and before God D. Now in James 4:11-12, James draws these threads together — the tongue and prideful hearts — showing the personal side of the powerful tongue in relationships E. The core command: Do not slander one another F. Proverbs 12:18 — Rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing G. Matthew Henry: speaking evil against another is speaking anything that may hurt or injure another H. Two dangers arise when we slander a brother or sister:

1. The danger of placing ourselves over the law
2. The danger of placing ourselves in the place of God

II. First Danger: Do Not Slander Because of the Danger of Placing Yourself Over the Law

A. James makes an unexpected move — rather than simply appealing to kindness, he connects sinful speech directly to our relationship with the law B. The specific law James has in mind is the ninth commandment: do not bear false witness against your neighbor

1. Westminster Larger Catechism Q&A 145 extensively works out the applications of the ninth commandment, showing how much our words matter C. More broadly, James has in view the whole second table of the law — how we love one another D. The royal law, referenced earlier in James 2:8, drawn from Leviticus 19 and summarized by Jesus in the Gospels: You shall love your neighbor as yourself E. The portrait of love in 1 Corinthians 13 includes what we ought or ought not to do with our tongues — love does not boast, is not arrogant or rude, rejoices with the truth F. James, as the brother of Jesus, wrote with personal memory of one who never spoke an ill word against anyone — the perfect elder brother and example G. When we break the commandment to love by slandering a brother or sister, we effectively declare the law is not binding on us — we stand in judgment over the law rather than under it
2. Like consciously exceeding a speed limit — declaring that law is not really for me
3. This echoes the sin in the garden, where Adam and Eve placed their own will above God's command H. Calvin: all the deeds and words of men ought to be regulated by God's law, but we are quick to throw off its restraints and regulate ourselves by our own rules I. When we break one commandment, we have broken all — James has already established this J. Not only do we harm our brother or sister — we also slander the very law of God before the eyes of others
4. There is always a corporate consequence to public sin
5. Unaddressed sin spreads — this is part of why church discipline aims at protecting the purity of the church

III. Second Danger: Do Not Slander Because of the Danger of Placing Yourself in the Place of God

A. James 4:12 — There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy B. Isaiah 33:22 — The LORD is our judge; the LORD is our lawgiver; the LORD is our king C. The law and the Lawgiver cannot be separated — the holy law flows from and perfectly reflects the holy God; to stand in judgment over the law is to presume to stand in the place of God D. God's exclusive authority to save and destroy is echoed throughout Scripture:

1. Deuteronomy 32:39 — See now that I am he, and there is no God besides me. I kill and I make alive
2. 1 Samuel 2:6 — Hannah's prayer: The LORD kills and brings to life
3. Matthew 10:28 — Fear him who can destroy both soul and body E. Only God has the right to judge the thoughts, intentions, and actions of men F. Calvin: we are by nature hypocrites, fondly exalting ourselves by defaming others; there is a disease innate in human nature that everyone would have all others live according to his own will or fancy G. The closing rhetorical question of James 4:12 — But who are you to judge your neighbor? — strikes at the heart of presumptuous pride

IV. A Brief Word on Judgment Among Christians

A. Matthew 7:1 — Judge not, that you be not judged — is often misused as a conversation-stopper against any correction B. Jesus was not condemning all judgment, but the kind that leaves us blind to the log in our own eye C. Scripture elsewhere commands Christians to exercise judgment within the church

1. 1 Corinthians 5 — Paul asks, Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?
2. Church discipline requires that some judgment be made among Christians for the good of the church D. The judgment condemned in James 4:11-12 is of a sinful kind — full of presumptuous pride, assuming we know another's motives with sinful intent throughout

V. Gospel Application: Christ the Perfect Brother and Our Hope

A. Jesus warns that on the day of judgment, people will give account for every careless word they speak — both humbling and sobering B. This should drive us to Christ, not despair C. Jesus, the perfect elder brother whom James knew personally, never spoke an evil word against anyone — not his parents, not his siblings, not any person D. On the cross, Jesus took upon himself our slander, our speaking evil, our careless words E. With confidence, let us look to Christ knowing that the sin of our tongues has been placed upon him F. By the help of the Spirit, let us strive to honor the command of James 4:11-12 — taking care of our words, not speaking evil against one another, trusting in the finished work of Christ