4:11-12 What does it mean to speak evil of another?
4:11-12 What does it mean to speak evil of another?
To speak evil of another person can mean to speak falsely about them, but it also means unloving criticism or negative statements, which may be true or false (CP Ja 5:9).
A believer who speaks evil of another believer sets aside God's law of love (CP Jn 13:34-35; 1Cor 13:4-7; Tit 1:15).
This is not teaching that a believer cannot confront another believer who is sinning (CP Mt 18:15; 1Cor 4:14; Ga 6:1; Tit 2:11-15).
But believers cannot make careless, derogatory, critical, slanderous accusations against other believers (CP Ex 23:1; Lev 19:16; Psa 50:19-20; 101:5; 140:11; Pr 10:18; 11:9; 16:28; 17:9; 26:20; Eph 4:31; 1Ti 3:11; Tit 2:3; 3:2; Jas 4:11).
When we speak evil of another believer we set ourselves up as their judge and condemn them (CP Ro 14:4; Jas 2:4).
Whoever judges another believer puts themselves above God and is in grave danger of losing their salvation (CP Isa 33:22; Mt 7:1-5).
Only Jesus has the authority to judge and every believer is accountable to Him alone.