Untitled Sermon

The phrase “speak against” here denotes several kinds of harmful speech such as questioning legitimate authority, like Israel speaking against God and Moses in Numbers 21. It also refers to bringing incorrect accusations against a person or slandering them in secret. In the passage that we’re looking at today, I believe the NIV gets it right in translating the word as “slander.” In James 4:11-12, the NIV reads

James 4:11–12 NIV

11 Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?

Now, the Bible has a lot to say about the subject of slander. As a matter of fact, God is so concerned with this sin that He specifically condemns it in the ninth commandment where He says, “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” To bear false witness includes slander because it is spreading damaging lies.

To define slander, we will say that slander is lying about someone with the intent of causing others to view them poorly.

Now, as he seeks to put a stop to slander in our lives, James teaches us three things:

First, Slander is Sinful Rebellion

In verse 11 James says James 4:11

James 4:11 NKJV

11 Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.

The first thing I want us to notice is that James is teaching us that if we indulge in slandering others, we are guilty of violating the law ourselves. As I pointed out earlier, God is so concerned with this sin that it is specifically included in His ten commandments.

One writer said, “Since God is the author of truth, anything that is untrue is opposed to His nature and therefore repulsive to Him.”

Well, since we are image bearers, we are to abstain from such actions ourselves. However, since we are fallen, this is a vice that many participate in. When Paul lists the traits of a depraved mind in Romans 1:28-32, he lists slander as one of those traits.

In Matthew 15:18-19, Jesus famously says,

Matthew 15:18–19 NKJV

18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.

Well, if we are practicing slander, we are outwardly manifesting an inner hatred for our neighbor and the truth. However, since we have been redeemed, we are to be lovers of both our neighbors and the truth. Paul makes this clear in Colossians 3:6-8

Colossians 3:6–8 NKJV

6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. 8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.

To summarize what James is getting at here, to slander your brother or sister, is akin to saying you’re a proud citizen of a country, who thinks criminals should be dealt with, while ignoring all of the laws that you don’t care for. In essence, when you slander, you’re revealing yourself as a hypocrite.

Before we move on, here are a few questions to ask yourself to reveal whether you’re guilty of this in your own life:

When you’re telling a story about a disagreement, do you tell it in a way that hurts the persons reputation?

Do you feel satisfied when people agree with your negative assessment of someone?

Is there a person in your life that, when you hear them being praised, your first instinct is to remember their flaws?

If every conversation you had this past week about other people were replayed publicly, would you be comfortable with what was heard?

I believe if we’re honest, most of us would be able to say that we’re guilty here. Now, one of the reasons that we like to speak this way is because we like to exalt ourselves on the back of those we put down, which takes us to our next point which is:

Slander is Selfish Exaltation

As we continue on, James says that speaking this way about others is to make yourself a judge of the law, not a doer. What James is getting at here is that when we fail to be a doer of the law by slandering others, we are denying it’s authority over us and therefore judging it as unauthoritative.

To do this is to effectively put yourself in the place of God, because if the law is God’s judgment bar, usurping this role is to make yourself at odds with God’s judgment.

This type of behavior is rooted in one of the major sins that James is attacking in his letter, which is pride.

When a sinful man like me enjoys tearing others down, that’s pride. And when a sinful man like me, behaves like I’m not bound by God’s law, that’s pride.

What James is accusing slanderers of is akin to a accuser making a case in court with no evidence. And, instead of humbly acknowledging how bad his motives are, he climbs into the judges chair and declares the party in question as guilty himself.

Now, a slanderer might respond, “But you don’t know how much I can’t stand that person.” or “You don’t know what that person has done to me.” Well, the Christian response to people like that isn’t to slander them, but to humbly model trust in God as the righteous Judge, not yourself. Romans 12:19

Romans 12:19 NKJV

19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

Well, with the idea of God as Judge in mind, James moves on to his last point which is :

Slander is Surely Judged

In James 4:12, we read:

James 4:12 NKJV

12 There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?

Seeing that God is the One true Lawgiver, James puts us in our place by essentially asking, “Who do you think you are?”

Now, not only will this Judge rightfully handle those people who we might have issues with, but He will handle our sin too if we’re not in Christ. If we are in Christ, the command is clear: If you’re guilty of this, knock it off and walk in the grace of Christ as a New Creature. If you’re outside of Christ, Psalm 101:5 makes God’s plan for such sin clear:

Psalm 101:5 NKJV

5 Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, Him I will destroy; The one who has a haughty look and a proud heart, Him I will not endure.

To summarize: In James 4:11-12, James reminds us that God will not allow people to disregard His law and destroys others with no recourse. For those in Christ, such behavior is inconceivable as it is opposed to the God that we claim to serve and love.

Now, what is the solution for slander in our souls? Jesus tells us that it is to love one another. In 1 Cor. 13:4-7, we read:

1 Corinthians 13:4–7 NKJV

4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

If we, being loved by God in Christ, have a heart for others, we will not look to build ourselves up on their broken backs. Instead, if we love them, we will want the best for them.