Read James 4:11-12
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. 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? (James 4:11-12)
We are commanded not to “slander” or “speak against” or “judge” our brother (or sister) who is also our neighbour. This means to “defame” or “denigrate” a person. Unfortunately most of us disobey this commandment many times each day. When we defame a person, whether what we say is true or false, it makes us a step above that person. We are talking down to such a person and so ourselves adopting a superior position. This, of course, is the opposite of “humbling ourselves”.
There are times, such as when selecting a person to fill a vacant position, that we have to make judgments. But this is quite different from denigrating a person. We are simply choosing the applicant whom we find most suitable for the position.
God gives us His Royal Law that we should love our neighbour. When we fail to do this, James explains that we are in fact judging the Law. We are implying that this Law is incorrect. We are not under this Law but under a law of our own which allows us to speak evil against each other. We have thus become not only a judge but also a lawgiver. Therefore James reminds us, “there is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you – who are you to judge your neighbour?” (4:12)
James has repeatedly warned us of the danger of the tongue and speaking against each other. He is re-emphasising the teaching of Jesus Christ: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged.” (Matthew 7:1-2a).
We must take the plank out of our own eye before we can see clearly to remove the speck from our brother’s or sister’s eye!
We would do well to remember the children’s chorus:
“Be careful little lips what you say!”
This meditation is extracted from “Transformation from Belief to Behaviour: 39 Lenten Meditations on the Letter of James” by Peter Young and used with permission by the author. It may be used solely for personal, noncommercial, and informational purposes. Republication or redistribution of this devotional is prohibited.
The Micah Mandate is a Christian-based public interest advocacy ministry that seeks a transformation of our nation through justice, mercy and humility.
