11 Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. And if you judge the law, you are not a practitioner of the law, but a judge of it. 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

REFLECTIONS

Written by Paul Bogg

Today’s passage is a short but sharp one for me. And to think through this passage, I first have to remind myself of what Jesus said about the law, in Matthew 22 verses 37-40:

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Knowing that the whole of the Old Testament law hangs off love – loving God, and loving others – helps to explain the contrast that James is talking about in this today’s passage. Slander, speaking against another brother or sister, or judging them – these are acts that are in opposition to loving them.  And so, James says, by opposing love for your brother or sister, you are really opposing God’s law. In fact, by opposing God’s law, you are considering yourself above the law, as if you were its judge. And if you are judging God’s law, you are putting yourself in the position of God. As James indicates: Only God has the power and authority to save and to destroy. Do you have that power and authority too? That’s an emphatic: “No, you don’t!”

So today’s passage tells me straight: love my brother and sister in Christ. Don’t slander them, don’t speak against them, and don’t judge them – in fact, don’t do anything that would be considered contrary to loving God and loving them.  But here’s the hard truth for me: the people I’m most tempted to slander or speak ill of or even judge are often the people I love the most, the people I’m closest to. I see all of their faults, and in the stress of the day-to-day challenges, sometimes I don’t filter my words and my bad feelings come out.

The word for me today is: “love them, don’t slander them.” When I'm with them – or with anyone – Christ calls me to speak words of encouragement, forgiveness, kindness, not to be harsh.  And if I need to give a word of correction or rebuke to anyone, I first need to stop and examine my heart, to see if I’m motivated only by love, so that I speak in a manner that lines up with God’s law. That’s a challenge we all need God’s help with.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Paul is a member of our Bossley Park morning congregation.