James #12

“A Living Faith”
James#12
Pastor Ben Fleming
March15th

Turn in your bible to the book of James. James is writing to the church family. He is writing to you and to me. Last week – we studied humility and the importance of growing in humility as a believer in Christ – today – James goes back to the tongue. He writes about what our relationship with other believers in a church family should be like. The opposite of humility is pride and pride is normally demonstrated by our tongues. We build people up or we tear them down. We are people who speak with grace or we speak with judgment. We are people who speak with kindness or we speak with harshness. It is one thing to speak truth to someone but it is another thing how and when you deliver that truth.

Kathy Plate was visiting her neighbor. While there, five-year-old Andrew pulled out his kindergarten class picture and began describing each classmate: “This is Robert; he hits everyone. This is Stephen; he never listens to the teacher. This is Mark; he chases us and is very noisy.” Then, pointing to his own picture, Andrew commented, “And this is me; I’m just sitting here minding my own business.” We have such a tendency to slander others, don’t we? We smile when a five-year-old boy does it. We, of course, are much more sophisticated in the way in which we slander others. Nevertheless, it is just as destructive and just as sinful.

When medieval monks compiled a list of 7 deadly sins, they included pride – covetousness – lust – envy – gluttony – anger and laziness. Absent from the list was the sin of slander. Why they did not include slander on their list is probably the same reason as today – slander is so widespread that we scarcely seem to notice it – especially when it comes from our own mouths………

Even though we have a casual attitude towards it – slander is a destructive sin. Surprisingly…. our society recognizes the gravity or seriousness of slander and we pass laws that allow those whose name is slandered to sue for defamation of character. The bible speaks volumes about slander and the people of God. For example: The OT says in Leviticus 19:16 “Do not go about spreading slander among your people” ---- God would not allow slander to be among the people of God. Psalm 15: 1 – 3 “Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue…” Entering into and experiencing the presence of God has something to do with what comes out of your mouth. Ephesians 4:30 - 31 “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice……”

A believer grieves the Holy Spirit when they slander. You grieve the Holy Spirit within you when your tongue is caustic. All throughout the Bible we will read of the affects of slander. Slander destroys friendships. Slander inflicts deep wounds. Slander stirs up contention and disunity and slander spreads strife. For some, slander can cause a person to loose all hope and they see no way out but to end their life.

Caution: Many will read these two verses that we are going to study and claim that you can never rebuke or judge another believer. This command against slander does not prohibit another believer from rebuking - warning or judging another believer for unrepentant sin. Public exposure to sin in the life of a believer is commanded in Matthew 18. Everyone of you who are covenant church members know that we teach and aim to practice biblical discipline as a church family and godly biblical discipline requires judging another believer according to the Word of God – however, today’s text does not address biblical discipline. Stand this morning chapter 4 --

What we say of others shows what we think. Do you speak words of blessing and grace or do you speak words of judgment and criticism? I asked someone to give me one positive comment about someone else and they had a hard time doing so ---- it wasn’t because they did not have positive points to say -------- they were just in the habiting of judging that other person. James gives us four points that show us how our speech hurts others – especially in the family of God. He shows us what happens when we are not humble and pride takes over . Consider his four points today with me would you?

1. Our words show us what we think of others. We judge others by our words. (11a) “Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him”

The word that James wrote down here which the NIV translates as slander can also be translated as speak evil of or slander is a put down. To slander means to make false charges in order to damage a person’s reputation. But the word is used in a much broader sense by James. James says you might speak the truth about a person and still be unkind, or you spread gossip that others have no business knowing. Let’s take it further ---- the word he used even means to question someone’s authority or nullifying a person’s good work.. by backbiting…… All of that hurts unity and harmony among believers. It does not demonstrate humility. Most of us in here would say that we have never slandered someone – but have you ever spoke to someone unkindly?? and have you ever questioned someone’s authority? As we use the word slander think of it in the broader context here that James uses it. James is saying --- brothers – do not slander one another --- anyone who speaks against his brother or sister in Christ judges them.

When you and I do not obey God’s Word with our tongues it shows what we think of other believers. Proverbs 10:18 says when we spread slander we are a fool. Ephesians 4:31 says to get rid of all bitterness – rage and anger – brawling and slander. How do you do that? Verse 32 says by being kind and compassionate and forgiving each other. And then verse 30 says “do not grieve the Holy Spirit”. So --- victory over slander in my life and your life has something to do with walking in the power of the Holy Spirit. Un forgiveness and bitterness causes a believer to slander. Bitterness in your heart lets your tongue be used by Satan. It shows you what you think of others and in turn it really shows you what you think of your relationship with God.

The apostle Paul knew how important unity and harmony were in a church family and in Titus 3:1-2 he wrote these words to Pastor Titus --- “Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility to all men.” ……. Obviously God’s people need to be reminded to control their tongues. You need to be reminded – I need to be reminded. Submission and obedience in my life and your life results in a controlled tongue. Rebellious Christians are talkers – complainers and critical people. They are fault finders and full of judgment.

How do you silence slander from your mouth?
* Stay off the telephone with words about someone else. In the past 14 years I have had two men who said to me – “pastor you do not know how many people are calling me and complaining”. Those men were listeners to and encouragers of slander.
* Think and speak about a person with words of gratitude. Would you be ashamed to say what you say about someone if they were standing right behind you listening?
* Examine your attitudes and actions toward others. Do you avoid other believers? Learn to speak to everyone in your church family. 4thly
* Do you build people up or tear them down? You may think you build up others but is that what others would say about you? Make 7 positive encouraging statements to a person before you make one critical one to them. The second point James is making about our speech…………………

2. Our words show us what we think of the law. (11b) “Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge, you are not keeping it but sitting in judgment upon it.” When you and I slander each other in the family of God we do not love each other. When you do not love others you break the law of God. When you and I slander we do not love and therefore we stand and sit in judgment on the law of God. We speak against the royal law. Look on your outline at the words of a Pharisee ( a religious person) in Matthew and see how Jesus responded to him. Matthew 22:36- 40 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law? Jesus replied, Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and all your might. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.”
When I slander others it means I think nothing of the second commandment Jesus gave here. When you slander someone else you make yourself god and you make your own law. The apostle Paul wrote in Romans 13:8 about the second commandment and in verse 10 he said, “Love does no harm to its neighbor. Love is the fulfillment of the law.” When people break a law knowingly, they set themselves above the law. The duty of a person is not to judge the law but to obey the law. When we speak evil of other believers we have appointed ourselves a judge of God’s law and tell ourselves we have a right to break it. To slander a fellow believer is to pass judgment upon them and no human being especially a believer has any right to judge – judgment belongs to God. Slander shows what we think of God’s law and it really shows the depth of our understanding of God’s love and how we love others.

Application: Reach out to a person today that you have not loved in some tangible way. It may be just a word of encouragement such as “it is good to see you today”. The 3rd point James is making

3. Our words show us what we think of God.
(Vs 12a) “There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and destroy.” When you judge others with your words you attempt to place your self above God. Slander in our lives seeks to dethrone God – to remove Him and put ourselves as lawgiver and judge. You have done it and I have done it. This is what Satan did and when we do this we the sinner place ourselves on par with Satan.

Look on your outline at Isaiah 14:13 -14 Notice Satan’s 5 “I will’s. These are the words of Satan recorded by Isaiah the prophet. “I will ascend to heaven, I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” …… If you and I are going to control and mortify the sin of slander in our lives then we are going to have to see how much our careless words about others in the family of God is a sin against God…… we fall into the trap of acting and thinking like Satan when we do not care……….

Now let me address what many of you have heard and some fall into believing. You can take these two verses and say that Christians should never judge. Slander is judging someone – you are right. Slander is judging God and God’s law. Turn to Matthew chapter 7………….. vs.1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way that you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, let me take the speck out of your own eye, when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and they you will see more clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” …………… So what does Jesus tell us here? Does He say do not judge other believers? NO ---- he says that we must judge but we must judge one another godly.

How to Judge Godly ------- 5 application points
* Make sure there is no log in your own eye. Examine your own life seriously before you open your mouth about something to another believer.
* Identify scripture that supports your judgment. If you are going to judge godly you must judge with the truth of God’s Word.
* Spend a season in prayer before you open your mouth ---------- 4thly
* Pray for and arrange the opportune moment for them – not for you. If you are to judge godly it is going to cost you and not them.
* Expect receptivity but be prepared for rejection and defense

Our words show what we think of God – our words show what we think of the law – our words show what we think of other people and #4

4. Our words show us what we think of ourselves. Vs 12b “But you – who are you to judge your neighbor?” When you slander someone else you have an exaggerated view of your own importance. Look what James says ---- who are you to judge your neighbor? Today we would say – who in the world do you think you are to condemn someone else. Paul told the Roman believers in Romans 12:3 “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith that God has given you.” If you are going to gain victory over slander you have got to begin to see yourself rightly.
Every time you judge and slander someone else --- unkind words – caustic words --- gossip and even words that question some ones authority ----- you and I are simply showing that we have an exaggerated view of ourselves and our own importance.

Let me summarize James point: Slander is similar to gossip, which means “to pass on personal facts.” However, slander is not only passing on personal facts about another person, it is passing on personal facts in such way that the other person is put down and demeaned. Slander refers to the practice of talking down another person. It is impugning or attacking someone’s character or reputation by the way you talk about him or her. It is speaking of someone in a way that lowers that person’s reputation in the eyes of others. This practice usually takes place in their absence when they have no opportunity to defend themselves.It doesn’t mean that what is said must be false. What is said might be absolutely true! It is very easy to talk about others behind their backs and not think it is wrong because what you are saying may be true. However, you can slander people by simply sharing true things about them, but with the intention of damaging their character or reputation. If you are going to lower your listener’s estimate of another person, you have to do it very creatively. You might begin your statements with:• “Now stop me if I’m wrong, but. . . .” • Or, “I don’t mean to be critical, but. . . .” • Or, “Perhaps I shouldn’t say this about her, but. . . .” • Or, the notorious, “I have a prayer concern about him.” • Or this devious one, “Let’s just keep this between us.”Now, I don’t mean to imply that there are never occasions when we speak about someone else. However, on such occasions our goal must be to build up and our motive to glorify God. Most of us are unaware when we slander others. We just don’t see that we are talking others down. We are blinded to this as a problem in our lives. Instead we honestly perceive ourselves to be doing nothing more than analyzing or commenting.But it is a common problem we desperately need to recognize! The reason we need to recognize it as a problem is because its consequences are so serious and some cases deadly………

Closing Story: They were a happy little family, living in a small town in North Dakota, even though the young mother had not been entirely well since the birth of her second baby. Every evening as the husband came home – the neighbors saw the wife and mother coming out to gate at the road with her two small children. They heard laughter in the evening and in the summer the father would romp around the yard with his children while mother looked on with smiles. One day, the village gossip started a story, saying that the father was being unfaithful to his wife – a story entirely without foundation. Eventually the story came to the ears of the young wife and it was more than she could bear. Reason left the house and that evening when the husband came home there was no one to meet him at the gate, no laughter in the house, no fragrant smells coming from the kitchen – only a coldness in the house that chilled his heart with fear. Down in the basement he found the three of them hanging from a beam. Sick and in despair – the mother had taken the lives of her children and herself. In the days that followed – the truth of what had happened came out --- a slanders tongue – an untrue story and a terrible tragedy.

Let us pray…………………