This document discusses judging and slander. It begins by defining slander as a malicious statement intended to hurt someone. While Scripture warns against slander, people often engage in it, even within the church. The document urges not taking revenge, as God is the ultimate defender. It notes James says not to condemn others, as only God can judge inner thoughts. The document clarifies this does not mean never making judgments, as believers will one day judge angels and are called to discern within the church through disciplinary processes aimed at restoration, not condemnation. It closes by reminding people to examine themselves first before addressing issues in others.

2. Arewe
supposed
tojudge?
James 4:11-12

3. Still dealing with the tongue…
•When we have been offended by
someone its quite easy to lash out verbally
•Revenge with the tongue tastes sweet at
first, but…
•Today we deal with slander– beyond mere
gossip, a horrible mess
•We’ll look at the definition and deal with
slander in judging one another too

4. “11 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. 12There is only one
Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to
save and to destroy; but who are you who judge
your neighbor?”
James 4:11-12, NASB

5. A. Slice and Dice…
•Slander is defined as “a malicious
utterance designed to hurt or
defame the person about whom it is uttered”
•Scripture warns against it frequently…

6. “You shall not go about as a slanderer among
your people, and you are not to act against
the life of your neighbor; I am the LORD.”
Leviticus 19:16, NASB
“And when he comes to see me, he speaks
falsehood; His heart gathers wickedness to
itself;When he goes outside, he tells it.”
Psalm 41:6, NASB

7. A. Slice and Dice…
•Slander is defined as “a malicious
utterance designed to hurt or
defame the person about whom it is uttered”
•Scripture warns against it frequently…
•Unfortunately, church folks are oft as apt to
this as lost folks– words can lift up and
encourage, or they can hurt and destroy
•1 Peter 2:1 says…

8. “Therefore, putting aside all malice and all
deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all
slander…” 1 Peter 2:1, NASB
•Peter equates slander with malice, deceit,
hypocrisy, and envy! Slanderers are selfish
and foolish…
“He who conceals hatred has lying lips,
And he who spreads slander is a fool..”
Proverbs 10:18, NASB

9. B. But God has our Defense…
•How should we defend ourselves
against slander?
•Find the source and nail him!?!??
•Beat him senseless?? “Eye for an eye, right???”
•NO! 1 Peter 3:16 says…

10. “…and keep a good conscience so that in the
thing in which you are slandered, those who
revile your good behavior in Christ will be put
to shame.” 1 Peter 3:16, NASB
“And when he comes to see me, he speaks
falsehood; His heart gathers wickedness to
itself;When he goes outside, he tells it.”
Psalm 41:6, NASB

11. B. But God has our Defense…
•How should we defend ourselves
against slander?
•Find the source and nail him!?!??
•Beat him senseless?? “Eye for an eye, right???”
•NO! 1 Peter 3:16
•God is our defender!!!

12. “A father of the fatherless and a judge for the
widows, Is God in His holy habitation”
Psalm 68:5, NASB
He promises to defend us!
“It will become a sign and a witness to the
LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will
cry to the LORD because of oppressors, and He
will send them a Savior and a Champion, and
He will deliver them.” Isaiah 19:20, NASB

13. B. But God has our Defense…
•How should we defend ourselves
against slander?
•Find the source and nail him!?!??
•Beat him senseless?? “Eye for an eye, right???”
•NO! 1 Peter 3:16
•God is our defender!!!
•David even understood this concept as he ran
during Absalom’s rebellion…

14. “11Then David said to Abishai and to all his
servants, “Behold, my son who came out
from me seeks my life; how much more
now this Benjamite? Let him alone and let
him curse, for the LORD has told him.
12 Perhaps the LORD will look on my
affliction and return good to me instead of
his cursing this day.”
2 Samuel 16:11-12, NASB

15. C. Judging…
•James 4:11-12,

16. “11 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. 12There is only one
Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to
save and to destroy; but who are you who judge
your neighbor?”
James 4:11-12, NASB

17. C. Judging…
•James 4:11-12, its more about
condemnation than judging
•The Greek word is “krino”– it means “to
condemn, punish or avenge, sentence to…
•Since we cannot know one’s mind, we cannot
“judge” their faith, so NOT being God, we have no
business condemning, or pronouncing sentence
on other folks
•Luke 6:37

18. “Do not judge, and you will not be judged;
and do not condemn, and you will not be
condemned; pardon, and you will be
pardoned.”
Luke 6:37, NASB

19. C. Judging…
•Remember, just because someone is
on trial, it doesn’t mean they are guilty--
Remember Jesus’ trial??
•Don’t fall into that old Jewish traditional trap of
assuming that because someone is going through
terrible things, they must be doing evil (Job)
•Mercy triumphs over judgement
•James 2:12-13

20. “12 So speak and so act as those who are to be
judged by the law of liberty. 13 For judgment
will be merciless to one who has shown no
mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.”
James 2:12-13, NASB

21. D. So, judge nothing at all???
•1 Cor 6:2-5,

22. “2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the
world? If the world is judged by you, are you not
competent to constitute the smallest law courts? 3 Do
you not know that we will judge angels? How much
more matters of this life? 4 So if you have law courts
dealing with matters of this life, do you appoint them
as judges who are of no account in the church? 5 I say
this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not among you
one wise man who will be able to decide between his
brethren, 6 but brother goes to law with brother, and
that before unbelievers?”
1 Cor 6:2-5, NASB

23. D. So, judge nothing at all???
•1 Cor 6:2-5, God forbid!We are carrying
the Holy Spirit who gives us discernment
•This passage tells us that some day,
we will sit in judgement of Angels!We better be
practicing to discern right and wrong now!
•The difference is that now in our flesh, we do not
condemn, only in love, recognize when a brother
or sister is in sin, and we intervene
•Also– we are charged with church discipline…

24. 15 “If your brother sins, go and show him his
fault in private; if he listens to you, you have
won your brother. 16 But if he does not listen
to you, take one or two more with you, so that
BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY
FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED. 17 If he refuses to listen
to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses
to listen even to the church, let him be to you
as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18Truly I say to
you, whatever you bind on earth shall have

25. been bound in heaven; and whatever you
loose on earth shall have been loosed in
heaven.
19 “Again I say to you, that if two of you agree
on earth about anything that they may ask, it
shall be done for them by My Father who is in
heaven. 20 For where two or three have
gathered together in My name, I am there in
their midst.” Mat 18:15-20, NASB

26. Take Home!
•Before we go
head hunting…
•Examine
ourselves, then
address the issue
•Remember, “Log
Eye”…