Title: “Get Off His Throne” Part 1

Text: James 4:11-12

FCF: We often struggle with speaking evil against and judging other believers.

Prop: Because we inadvertently take God’s place when do so, we must not speak evil against or judge other believers. .

Scripture Intro:

[Slide 1] Turn in your bible to James chapter 4.

Today James is in the midst of a transition. He is leaving but has not quite left the context of conflict among God’s people and with God Himself. And he is coming to but not quite gotten to the next lack of his readers. His tone shifts, but shockingly the reprimand seems almost more severe than before. It is a perplexing passage with twists and turns that we might not expect.

So, let’s get to it this morning. I am in James 4. I’ll begin reading in verse 11 from the ESV but you can follow along in the pew bible starting on page 1362 or in whatever version you have in front of you.

Transition:

Any counselor, psychologist, therapist, or psychiatrist worth his salt, has in his office or is at least acquainted with 1 book called the DSM. DSM stands for “The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.” The contents of this volume include various identified and organized behavior patterns observed in human beings since the beginning of psychological study. These behavior patterns serve as tools to diagnose certain disorders or abnormal conditions of a person’s life. As Christians this is a helpful tool for us to come to certain conclusions about those whom we counsel, although the labels we might use and the solutions we might recommend would differ – sometimes drastically – from the secular science of psychology. Why am I bringing this up? Well, James, in the span of the next 12 verses, will give 3 separate patterns of behavior. All of which he diagnoses with the same problem. The same lack. James provides his audience a manual to determine if they might have such a lack… and if so… what to do about it. Let’s start in verse 11.

I.) Since we are no longer doers but masters of the law when we do so, we must not speak evil against or judge other Christians. (11)

a. [Slide 2] 11 – Do not speak evil against one another brothers.

i. After 10 commands obviously tied together into one overarching thought, James issues another command.

ii. He again addresses his readers as brothers. Has anything changed? Is it a different group of people now? Weren’t they just adulterers, sinners and double-minded?

iii. Yes. They were. But James’ message doesn’t really change regardless of what they are. He assumes they are brothers because they share a common confession and faith in Christ.

iv. That doesn’t mean that some of them aren’t Christians. That doesn’t mean that all of them are definitely Christians. That doesn’t mean that all the true Christians he writes to are acting like Christians.

v. It does, however, show us that James is changing his tone a bit.

vi. At the end of chapter 2 and into chapter 3 he really started to bring some very difficult things to bear upon them. He showed them two faiths, the danger that the tongue presents, two wisdoms, and the two conflicts they have found themselves in.

vii. Addressing all their lacks, reaching a fever pitch, James points out some rather fundamental things wrong with his audience and in particular these would be teachers who desire the esteem of being a teacher – but lack the qualifications.

viii. But now, after expressing his strong corrections and calling them to repent and submit to God, we see James come back to calling them brothers.

ix. In this we might think that James will move to less serious matters. In fact, we may be tempted to think that he is coming back to talk about a Christian’s speech.

x. Why would we think that? Well…

xi. He commands them to not speak evil against one another. This is obviously a sin of their speech. However, the next lack is only revealed by our speech, but our speech is not the heart of it. In fact, the next lack may be the most egregious yet.

xii. So, let’s start to unpack this.

xiii. “speak evil against” is the translation of one word in the Greek. It is, however, the best translation.

xiv. Other translations render the word “slander” “speak against” “criticize” and “Speak evil of”

xv. The word has the prefix which means beside or against and the root word to speak.

xvi. If we took the beside meaning we might think of a false accusation or talking behind their backs – but more likely the against meaning is intended.

xvii. This means that whether or not the things said are true is not really the focus on James’ prohibition. Instead, it is that it is malicious, evil, and against a brother in Christ.

xviii. This means anything that is said to maliciously attack, demean, harm or otherwise besmirch the good name and reputation of a believer, whether it is true or not is what James is prohibiting.

xix. This would NOT include a cautionary warning of false teachers – since James and many other apostles have done just that.

xx. This would NOT include protective naming of names of those who have abandoned the faith.

xxi. This would NOT include the merciful and purity driven church disciplinary proceedings.

xxii. The crux of it is the “malicious intent” of the speech.

xxiii. Anything said on purpose to destroy, undermine, or smear another brother in Christ – is what James prohibits.

xxiv. And what is the context of this evil speech against a brother? James is in the process of transitioning away from quarreling and fighting with God and one another.

xxv. So, it may be best to view these evil words spoken against a brother as words uttered in the midst of conflict. Words designed to raise an army against another believer by maliciously defaming him.

xxvi. James will now move to explain why such smear tactics are out of bounds…

b. [Slide 3] The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother

i. James hits us with the truth point of this passage, but not before he piles on what could be seen as an expansion of the command of the passage.

ii. [Slide 4] He says that the person who speaks against a brother – which is clearly drawn from his previous statement. Why the ESV did not go ahead and add “evil” in their translation I am not certain. It is the same root word as before although it is in participle form now. Perhaps we should add that evil intent back in.

iii. However, he goes on to add – “or judges his brother”

iv. What does it mean to judge our brother?

v. To judge can mean many things in scripture. The basic meaning of the word is simply to render a decision. It is to form an opinion of someone either positively or negatively. It is to observe, analyze and discern.

vi. However, as we look at the context, we can determine fairly quickly that this is not the nuance James intends.

vii. Instead, James uses this word similarly to how Jesus uses the word in the sermon on the mount.

viii. Jesus said to judge not unless you desired to be judged because you will be judged by the same standard with which you judge.

ix. It is obvious that Jesus, by saying “do not judge” is actually saying “judge carefully and rightly” by doing so with humility and mercy. How do we know that?

1. Because he says that you will be judged by the standard you judge others.

2. He then goes on to say that you should take the log out of your own eye so you can clearly pick out the dust in your brothers. Again – judge, but not until after judging yourself.

3. Later in that same chapter Jesus says to JUDGE false teachers by their fruit.

x. In other words, to judge does not mean to point out wrong doing. It is not to correct sinful behavior or doctrine. If that was the case every apostle would be guilty of judging.

xi. Instead, to judge in this context means… to censor or call to account.

xii. To judge is to impose sentences upon others or to punish others for failing to meet your particular standard. It is to reach and carry out a final punitive decision.

xiii. [Slide 5] Remember a couple weeks ago when I gave the example of my daughters and their Legos?

1. When Moira knocks over and breaks apart Waverly’s Legos…. Waverly desires a good thing. She desires justice.

2. She applies the following standard of justice to this particular case.

a. There is never a good reason to destroy something that you did not make.

b. Her sister acted out of malice and hatred in destroying what she (Waverly) had made.

c. Waverly would never do and has never done something so cruel to her sister.

d. Such a crime is inexcusable and must be brought to trial immediately.

3. And so, having applied this particular standard of judgment upon the crime, she has a brief hearing in her head.

4. In this hearing she is simultaneously the witness, the prosecuting attorney, and the jury.

5. Since Moira did not attend the hearing… in her head