DO NOT SPEAK AGAINST ONE ANOTHER

James 4:11-12

Here in James 4, the “bride of Christ” is in a bitter brawl.

James says in verse 2 of this chapter that they were “fighting and quarreling.”
And apparently this was a pretty bitter fight because he also says they were “committing murder.”
Now, I don’t know that they were actually “physically murdering each other.”
But apparently they were angry enough at each other that they could.

So, here you have the church in this bitter fight…and in verse 11 James mentions the primary weapon used in the fighting. James says: “Do not speak against one another, brethren…”

Isn’t that sad?
Three times in this verse James refers to the relationship that these people have in Christ.
He refers to them as “brethren…and two times he says they are “”
And they are fighting like cats and dogs.

And they aren’t using sticks…or rocks…or boards…or knives…to beat each other with.

They are using something much more destructive and dangerous.
They are using the tongue!

The tongue is so convenient to use.

Every one has one.
And it can be used so discretely.
If you use a rock or a stick…your victim has to be present.
But with the tongue you can generate the attack without the victim even being there.

And what is said is not always easily traced back to the originating source.

And when it is, the same tongue can easily deny what it is accused of.

And as far as effectiveness is concerned, a rock or a stick will cut the skin or break a bone…

But the tongue can destroy a brother’s reputation and character…and leave lasting injury…something a rock or stick can’t do.

In their fighting, these brethren were using the most formidable weapon of all.

And here where James says, “Do not speak against one another,” the word “against” could actually be translated “evil.”
So these people were speaking “evil” of one another.

And “one another” is an “allelone” phrase which means it was going back and forth.

Back and forth they were attacking one another.

And notice, James equates their “speaking against one another with judging one another.”

And judging here is not talking about an honest evaluation.

Christ in Matthew 7: 20 says that we can tell a lot about a person “by the fruit he bears.”

Some times we have to make honest judgments about an individual and his character…based on honest evidence and fruit.

But when James speaks of “judging” here he is talking about forming and expressing opinions and criticisms based on supposition, and prejudices.

These people were spreading rumors about one another!
They are back biting and gossiping…lying…and slandering…
And it may be that some of what they are saying is true…
But the problem is, they weren’t using the truth for good…they were using the truth to injure each other.

And so James tells them to stop! “Do not speak against one another!”

But I want you to notice why James tells them to stop.

James doesn’t tell them to stop because of the hurt they are inflicting on the other party.
He doesn’t say, “You are ruining his reputation….or you are hurting his feelings.”
James tells them to stop speaking against one another because of what their speaking evil is doing to themselves.

And that is the lesson for us.

It is so easy to speak against someone else, because after all, it doesn’t hurt us.
All the harm is done to someone else.
But James says other wise here.
James says that when we speak against someone else…you may do them harm…but they are not the only one you are hurting.

Look what he says you do when you speak against a brother or sister. Look at verse 11 again. He says:

Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother, or judges his brother, speaks against the law, and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge {of it.}

What does he mean here when he says that “you judge the law when you speak evil of a brother?”

Well, look back at chapter 2: 8. James says:

If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law, according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin {and} are convicted by the law as transgressors.

Now, if you will check verse 8 you will find that what James says here comes from Leviticus 19:18.

And to speak evil against a brother is not “loving him.”
So, the law expressly forbids talking against a brother or sister.
And when you do it, in spite of what the law says, you are, by your actions, judging the law as something that is not worth keeping.

When you do this you are saying, “I know what the law is but it’s not that important.”

You see, we demonstrate by our actions what we think about the law.

In Texas, it is illegal to exceed the speed limit.

By our actions, what do most Texans think about that law?

In Texas, it is illegal to cross the double yellow line on the highway.

By their actions, what do a lot of Texans think about that law?

You see, our actions demonstrate what we think about a law.

And when we speak evil against a brother or sister….an act that is forbidden by the law of God…we are judging that law as one that is not worth keeping.

And thus, notice the end of verse 11: “…if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge of it.”

When you speak against a brother…you are not a doer of the law.
Instead you are judging the law as something foolish, crazy or not worthwhile.

So the first thing you do is you judge the law.

But now, notice the second thing you do when you speak against a brother or sister in Christ. Look at verse 12: There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy.”

When you judge the law…you also judge the Lawgiver.

If the law is a crazy law…and not worth keeping…what are you saying about the Lawgiver?
If you say the law is crazy or foolish…or outdated…or insignificant…aren’t you saying the same about God?

Look at this in Matthew 15: 1-14…and notice how God feels about judging Him and His word as unworthy.

1 Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem, saying, 2 “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”

3 And He answered and said to them, “And why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 “For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.’ 5 “But you say, ‘Whoever shall say to {his} father or mother, “Anything of mine you might have been helped by has been given {to God,} 6 he is not to honor his father or his mother.’

Now, notice the end of verse 6: And {thus} you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition.

By their actions they were saying, “the word of God is not right…it is not valid.”

And neither is God.
“God…and what he says…doesn’t matter.”

And because they do, look what God calls them.

7 “You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, 8 ‘This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from me. 9 ‘But in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.'”

And notice verses 10-14: And after He called the multitude to Him, He said to them, “Hear, and understand. 11 “Not what enters into the mouth defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.” 12 Then the disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this statement?”

13 But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father did not plant shall be rooted up. 14 “Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”

Brethren, we must be careful about judging the law…because when we do…we judge the Lawgiver….the One who is able to save and to destroy…with the emphasis on “destroy.”

Now, go back to James 4 and notice the end of verse 12. Notice the third thing we do when we speak evil against a brother. James says: But who are you who judge your neighbor?

You may have heard that old cliché, “Who died and made you boss?”
Well, when you speak evil against a brother that is exactly what you are doing.
You are revealing an exaggerated view of your own importance.

Listen, when it comes to passing judgment on others…that is God’s business…and we better be careful about exalting ourselves up to or above Him.

Let me show you someone who did that. Look at Isaiah 14:12-14 with me.

12 “How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, you who have weakened the nations! 13 “But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, and I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north. 14 ‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’

Who is Isaiah talking about here? Well, look at verse 4.

4 that you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon,

And look at the consequences of exalting yourself above God: Vs. 4 “How the oppressor has ceased, {And how} fury has ceased! 5 “The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of rulers 6 Which used to strike the peoples in fury with unceasing strokes, which subdued the nations in anger with unrestrained persecution. 7 “The whole earth is at rest {and} is quiet; they break forth into shouts of joy. 8 “Even the cypress trees rejoice over you, {and} the cedars of Lebanon, {saying,} ‘Since you were laid low, no {tree} cutter comes up against us.’ 9 “Sheol from beneath is excited over you to meet you when you come; it arouses for you the spirits of the dead, all the leaders of the earth; it raises all the kings of the nations from their thrones. 10 “They will all respond and say to you, ‘Even you have been made weak as we, you have become like us. 11 ‘Your pomp {and} the music of your harps have been brought down to Sheol; Maggots are spread out {as your bed} beneath you, and worms are your covering.’

When we start usurping God….placing ourselves on His level…we are playing dangerously.

And we do that when we “speak against one another.”

So, let me close with this. It is called “Death or Life in Words.”

“A careless word may kindle strife, A cruel word may wreck a life;

A bitter word may hate instill; A brutal word may smite and kill;

A gracious word may smooth the way, A joyous word may light the day;

A timely word may lesson stress, A loving word may heal and bless.”

I think God is basically saying, “If you can’t say something good, don’t say anything at all.”