Dear Brothers and Sisters,

You are invited to come to the Wednesday evening prayer meeting and pray. (8:30 PM EST Wed., Jan. 31, 2001)

Note time change from 7:00 PM LHF time to 8:30 PM EST

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." -- James 1:2-4

Text: James 4:11,12

"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?"

"Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to SPEAK and slow to become angry" (Jas. 1:19)

"SPEAK and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom." (Jas. 2:12)

"If anyone is never at fault in what he SAYS, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check." (Jas. 3:2)

"The TONGUE is also a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person." (Jas. 3:6)

"Brothers, do not SLANDER one another." (Jas 4:11 - today's passage)

Do you suppose that God wants us to know that it's important that we watch what comes out of our mouths? Brothers, do not slander one another. The King James version says, "Speak not evil one of another." The New American Standard says, "Do not speak against one another."

When James talks about speaking against or judging a brother, he is not talking about discerning the difference between good and evil. James has already told us what is good and what is evil and we are certainly supposed to warn a brother who is doing evil. This is not about discerning between good and evil, but rather about judging the motives of people's hearts. You don't know what's in your brother's heart or how severely he is being tried. You brother (or sister) is also a believer who is saved by grace just as you are. Don't judge by outward appearances. "Judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts." (1 Cor. 4:5)

When you speak against a brother or judge him you are speaking against the law and judging the law. That is, you are putting yourself above the law. If you judge the law you are making yourself greater than the law. You are putting yourself in the place of God who is the one Lawgiver and Judge. In judging your brother, you are breaking God's law. God is able to save or destroy. Who are you to judge your brother. (John Wesley says you're "a poor, weak, dying worm." -- John Wesley: "Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament" Note to James 5:12)

Well, we may be poor, weak, dying worms when we compare ourselves to our Creator, but he has something vastly better for us. He is making us like Jesus who is God. If you don't think he is serious about this, remember that Jesus died to save us from our sin. We are cleansed by his blood. "He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all---how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things." (Rom. 8:32)

In all these things, we are being tested and taught to persevere so that we may be 'mature and complete, not lacking anything.' Pray earnestly for all of us to overcome the tendency we have to make ourselves the judge. The Holy Spirit will let you know when you are doing it. Don't ignore him.

Come and let's pray for each other as well as for the whole church. Come and encourage your brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. Love them.

Love in Christ, Dean

PS: If you absolutely can't make it to the prayer meeting, send your prayer requests back to me by e-mail and we'll pray for them.