Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgement on it.
[James 4:11 NIV]
It is interesting that James addresses his listeners with warmth and affection as 'brothers [and sisters].' He has used some strong language to condemn their behaviour but he still regards them as brothers. He has called them 'adulterous people' (verse 4), 'sinners' (verse 8) and 'double minded' (verse 8). This requires great spiritual balance on the part of this great apostle to retain a genuine warmth and affection for his scattered flock while at the same time condemning their actions strongly.
He issues another of his commands and tells them to stop speaking evil or slandering each other. The scholars tell me that James is using this word in both a general sense of speaking carelessly and more specifically of slander or libel [Scot McKnight: The Letter of James (New International Commentary on the New Testament)]. James has strongly condemned careless talk in chapter 3 of his letter when he was probably referring to those who were taking a prominent role as teachers among the Jewish Christian community. According to Scot McKnight, they were specifically indulging in character assassination. From some personal experience, it is very hurtful to be the victim of such slander which destroys a person's reputation and character.
Notice too that James brings in another keyword to help us to understand not only what was happening in this first century community but also he is teaching us an important lesson for today. James introduces the word 'judges' which he cleverly links with 'evil speaking' or 'slander.' "Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you come to think about what we are really doing when we engage in slandering someone, it becomes clear that we are acting as judge and jury. It happens something like this. You are in someone's home and there is a good chat going on around the dinner table. In the course of the conversation, someone shares a bit of gossip about another person in the church. Before long, the whole conversation builds up and more and more meat is added to the bones of the gossip. It probably began with a bit of hearsay. "Did you hear about Sadie Soandso?" Those round the table are eagerly waiting for some gossip and they don't have long to wait. The whole story about Sadie's antics are described in detail. No one stops to check the accuracy of the information being provided. By the end of the week, five of the six people around that table have shared this piece of malicious gossip to many other people by phone or by text message or in person around a cup of coffee. What if there is another side to that story? Is it worth checking the accuracy of the story you have heard or does that not really matter. We have already found them guilty without giving them an opportunity to speak up in their defence.
I think we need a bit of honesty as we read this blog and, in my case, as I word-process this. Have I never been guilty of this sort of conduct where I judge a person without checking the facts. From my experience in secondary schools in Ayrshire, those who are bullied are most likely to bully someone else who is a bit weaker than them. You might wonder what is the connection between bullying and being bullied and the idea of slander and gossip. Here is my thinking. I will write from a personal perspective. I have sad memories of the hurt I felt when it became clear that I was the subject of some malicious gossip. Surely, that would make me more sensitive to others' feelings and I would avoid any form of slander or gossip. ……. Sadly, the temptation is always there to spread muck about someone else - even though I have known the hurt that such muck-spreading causes. Maybe if we prayed more, we would gossip less.
There is a caution here. There is the danger of stepping back and not being prepared to judge any wrong conduct. That is not what James is talking about. The lesson which Paul was teaching in his letter to the Galatians is so relevant here. He talks about someone who has 'been caught in a sin.' Paul does not say that we just ignore the sin and assure the person who committed the sin that it is alright and not to worry about it. That would be to condone the sin. But Paul is very clear in his advice or guidance in how to deal with the matter. "You who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently." But he adds a sound piece of advice - "But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted." In other words, we need to look within and judge ourselves. We need to be aware that we could easily be caught in that same sin or maybe an even worse sin. (Galatians 6:1-2)
The next blog will deal with how this slander relates to the Old Testament law. For today, I feel the need to end with a prayer.
Lord,
I am ashamed to admit that I have often listened to someone being slandered and I have shared in this character assassination. I acknowledge that, like many others, I have been upset when someone has said nasty things about me and yet I have not hesitated to condemn other people. I have acted as if I had a right to judge my brothers and sisters in the Lord. As I read this letter, I learn from the ancient apostle that you are the only one who has the right to judge. Sadly, I often turn myself into a judge and help to spread nasty things about other people. Help me to be quick to restore people who have gone off the pathway and make me reluctant to judge harshly those who have sinned. Lord, we need your grace and your wisdom.
Amen
Photo by Patrick Fore on Unsplash
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