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For the past two weeks we have focused on one another passages. All the passages we’ve looked at urged us to take positive action, such as being hospitable, loving each other or spurring each other on to do good things. Today’s passage is different. It warns us to avoid something. Listen to James 4:11, “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.” (NIV)

The word translated “slander” literally means to speak against another. The noun form can be translated as “back biter.” Isn’t that a great mental picture? What do you see when you think of back biting? I see a sneaky little dog with a nasty disposition. He never attacks you head on. The little cur may growl, but his main attack is to sneak behind you and bite your leg.

Some people are like that. If they have a problem with you, they don’t try to work it out face to face. No, when you’re not looking that say bad things about you to someone else. Face them, and they may grumble. But when you’re not present, they lash out viciously.

Don’t be a sneaky little mutt! Don’t slander others. It’s far more serious than you think. As the next verse says, “who are you to judge your neighbor?”

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Bumper music “Landing Place” performed by Mark July, used under license from Shutterstock.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:00 — 3.7MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More

When people get upset with others, they usually say bad things about them. Whether verbal attacks or messages on social media, they attack. Sometimes the words are snide and catty, at other times filled with curses and vitriol. Sometimes they say wicked things to the other person’s face, at other times behind their back. Judgmental anger is almost always accompanied by slander.

This is really a dangerous behavior. Why? Well, not so much because it invites retaliation from the person attacked, but because it  invites God’s judgement. Hear what James 4:11-12 says, “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?” (NIV)

Did you catch the part where slander and judgement is an attempt to take the position of the only Lawgiver and Judge, namely God himself? That’s right, people who slander and judge others think they are above God’s moral laws. They are acting like God. To paraphrase the last sentence in the passage, “Who do you think you are to judge your neighbor?” The next time you’re angry with someone, be sure to address the issue without verbally attacking the person.

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Bumper music “Landing Place” performed by Mark July, used under license from Shutterstock.