Proverbs 11.12-13
“Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent. Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.”
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?”
If you read James chapter 4, you will note that he began the chapter by asking “what causes quarrels and fights among you?” and then answers his own question by describing arrogance and self-centeredness as the source of quarreling. As would be expected as part of their infighting, the self-centered Christians to whom James is writing verbally attacked each other.
James tells them to stop. It is quite possible that he was thinking of Leviticus 19.16, which says: “‘Do not go about spreading slander among your people. Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the Lord.” God’s word — including the OT Law — places an extremely high priority on interpersonal respect, trust, and love. It is for this reason that James appeals to the Law as a reason to stop speaking evil against each other.
His rationale is interesting and very revealing about God’s word. When we speak against a brother and judge him, James says, we speak evil against the Law and judge the Law. This is because God’s Law prohibits slander and gossip, and disobeying that prohibition represents an implicit denial of God’s authority.
Here is another way to say it. Scripture tells us not to slander and not to speak evil of other people. If we ignore what scripture says and engage in slander and gossip, then it is equivalent to declaring that we know better than scripture. It is putting ourselves in a position where we elevate our impulsive actions above the principles of God’s word. And who are we to sit in judgment over God’s word? That would be the ultimate act of arrogance.
Speaking evil of fellow Christians is wrong for another reason. It not only involves judging the Law, it also involves judging our neighbor. When we criticize and condemn others, we are in fact pronouncing our own verdict over their spiritual destiny.
Jesus said this about judging others: “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7.1-5)
If necessary, read that passage again. Note that Jesus is not telling us to never judge. He is telling us to not judge wrongly. The Lord wants us to see clearly, humbly, and with discernment so that we can: 1) See and remove “the log” in our own eye; and then 2) See and help others remove the speck from their eye.
In other words, first see and judge yourself, and then from a position of humility, see and exercise wise judgment toward others.
Honor God. Be humble. Exercise discernment and wise judgment … and don’t gossip.
