But YOU--who are YOU to
Judge Your Neighbor?"
"Brothers, do not slander one another.
Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him 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).
The following was a little conversation that
went on in my mind as I read this text this morning:
"Do not slander one another . . ."
"Do not slander one another . . ."
Huh? A--Are you talking to me? No. You
must have the wrong person! I'm a Christian. I don't slander. I don't
judge others. Never. At least not out loud . . . or not very often!
I wouldn't think of speaking badly of--well--anyone! Of
course, I don't approve of their lifestyle, their language, their
children, and I certainly wouldn't want to attend their church.
It's just--well let's just say they are "different". They believe (or
DON'T believe!) in the gifts of the Spirit. They believe (or
DON'T believe!) in healing and modern miracles! They
might not even worship God on the same day I do! Those poor,
ignorant Christians! I'm not out to criticize them! I'm out to
bring them into all truth! If only someone would enlighten them to the
truth!
Oh. Do you mean to tell me that this
is judging? Surely NOT! Besides. What harm am I really
doing? I am only trying to HELP THEM! Excuse me? What was that?
"Anyone who speaks against his brother or
judges him speaks against the law and judges it . . ."
Bu--But surely you don't mean that if I
say--or think--something against someone or against something that he
believes, that I am speaking against or judging the law! How
could this be? I am trying to teach them to keep the
law. I'm trying to lead them into all truth . . . But
this text does seem to indicate that by judging someone else, I
am judging the law . . . And The Bible also says that it is the Holy
Spirit who is responsible for leading us into all truth (John 16:13) . . .
Then there's also that quote that labels Jesus--a person!--as truth (John
14:6). . .
"When you judge the law, you are not
keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it."
Now I'm really getting concerned. By being
critical, I am speaking against and judging the law, and by judging the
law, I, who am critical of others for not keeping the law, am NOT keeping
it myself! This is starting to sound like I'm picking at speck in my
brothers eye when there is a plank in my own! And we all know what Jesus
said about that: "You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye,
and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's
eye." (Luke 6:42) -- But Lord, all I was trying to do was to point
out where they aren't keeping God's law! I never intended to
judge the law, and I certainly didn't desire to break
the law! How can this be?
"And the second is like it: 'Love your
neighbor as yourself.'" (Matt 22:39-40)
I see. I'm beginning to get the picture.
When I am critical of others, I am not showing them love. Thus I am
breaking the 2nd greatest commandment. But more than this, I am promoting
myself to the level of Judge. I take on the God-given task of the Holy
Spirit, and I, in my ignorance, try to teach them truth, when truth isn't
even about law and doctrine. When I take Judgment in my own
hands, I am stating that I am better than the one who wrote the law. I am
stating that I know more than the Master Judge. But: "There is only
one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy . . ."
Bottom line? This verse tells me that when I
criticize others in any way, a) I am breaking the law (by not
loving my brother); b) I am setting myself up in the place of God, Jesus
and the Holy Spirit; and c) in effect, I am criticizing God. Oh
boy! That's heavy!!!
Lord God, give me the ability to leave
judgment--in ALL it's forms!--COMPLETELY in YOUR hands! Only
You, the Master Lawgiver, the Master Judge, have the right to judge! Lord
God, give me the ability to pray for my fellow mankind, ever loving
them as I would love myself, but ever trusting YOU to instruct them in the
way they should go, to lead them into all TRUTH!
Lyn Chaffart
Moderator, The Nugget, Scriptural Nuggets ( www.sermonillustrator.org/minisermons/ ), Answers2Prayer Ministries, www.Answers2Prayer.org ,