James Chapter Four, Playing God

 

James 4:11 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. [12] There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?

 

The apostle moves on to a word of caution about evil speaking. Though this topic was already covered more extensively in chapter three verses 1-12, there is a difference. First, the subject in chapter three was the responsibility of sound teaching in accordance with Christ’s commandment. Second, when the apostle spoke of blessing God and cursing men, it was in the language of generalities; in other words, “men” in James 3:9 meant “all humanity” saved or unsaved. Growing even more circumspect, James warns us as Christians not to speak evil of our fellow saints.

Why? The evil speaking here must imply condemnation. “Judge,” is used four times in verse 11. Three times it is translated “krino,” which we have already seen in James’ writing numerous times. Again, it means, “to condemn” but can also mean, “to give an opinion on.” Both definitions fit. These saints are speaking evil by handing down their verdict regarding the conduct of their brother in Christ. The fourth time the word is employed it is, “krites.” This term is defined as: “to judge who is God of all,” or, “it suggests that He who is the Judge of His people is at the same time their God.” Not only does the believer sin by passing judgment on his fellow Christian through slanderous speech, he transgresses by putting himself in the place of God by making such statements and judging what James refers to as, “the law of liberty,” see James 1:25; 2:12. This is not a reference to the Mosaic Law. Rather, it is the law of Christ.

 

John exhorts his readers, “Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning,” 1 John 2:7. In his second epistle when John writes to the “elect lady and her children” he reminds them of the same commandment: “And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another,” 2 John 5. James refers to this as the law of liberty; the cleansing law that, if we are doers of will receive blessing. I believe we can trace the origins of this command to John’s gospel when we read, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another,” John 13:34, 35. When we love, we are fulfilling the law of Christ as He commanded us. 1 Corinthians chapter 13 describes godly love in vivid detail. It is self-effacing, forthright, extroverted, bold, and altogether beautiful. When we obey this command, this liberating law, we are obeying the voice of our Lord. When we choose to speak evil of another saint we have placed ourselves on the judgment seat that belongs only to Jesus and sit as a fraudulent and altogether incompetent judge over others. “Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand,” Romans 14:4.

 

Even when someone is deeply in apostasy you can search the Scriptures in vain trying to find a passage that justifies the cruel treatment of the one caught in a trespass. God is just, and has given us criteria and means for addressing wrongdoing and correcting or removing it from the church. But never once are these dealings to be done outside the sphere of love for the errant one. Yes, even excommunication may occur if the sin is severe, to protect the purity of Christ’s bride (see 1 Corinthians 5:13), but we do not sacrifice love on the altar of purity. It is not a “one or the other” proposition. Even Paul said, “deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus,” 1 Corinthians 5:5. The best that could be done for this man was for him to be called home so he no longer risked contaminating the church. It demonstrated the preservation of moral and doctrinal purity while considering the best outcome for the errant sinner. Such drastic action brought about godly sorrow and repentance. When this man suffered due to his sinful choices and separated himself from them, what was the result? “This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man, so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him,” 2 Corinthians 2:6-8. Love is honest; love and truth are inseparable. To genuinely love is to risk honesty with the object of your love. Why? Because you want what is best for them. Even when they refuse or rebel or attack. Love is patient and kind and longsuffering; love is the nature of God. “Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law,” Romans 13:10, “for God is love,” 1 John 4:8.

 

James reminds us of the self-evident truth that our Lord Jesus is the only lawgiver. He, and He alone, is qualified and capable to save and destroy. He is perfect in wisdom. In fact, we are told that Jesus became our wisdom, “But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God—and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption,” 1 Corinthians 1:30. That is why we read that the wisdom that descends from above is first and foremost pure, James 3:17. Christ our Lord knew no sin, nor was there sin in Him. People that beheld Him on earth had the testimony, “He has done all things well,” Mark 7:37. We know we are in Him, that is faithfully obeying Him in the spirit of love, if we too have this testimony, as Paul would say, a good report of our character and conduct. Ours is not to judge. We have had our judgment taken from us in Christ. Rather, when we see another believer stumbling, prayerfully come beside them and walk with them. Diagnose what is the matter and help them, because “mercy triumphs over judgment,” James 2:13, and “love will cover a multitude of sins,” 1 Peter 4:8. As we each reflect on our conduct toward members of the church we all must ask ourselves that same question James poses: Who are you to judge another? In the modern vernacular we might say, “Who are you to play God?”