I was scanning through Proverbs 15 today and ran across verse 4 that says, "A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit." I then began to think of the awful act of slander in the life of a believer. James 4:11 says, "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."
The exposition of this verse teaches us that to ‘speak evil' means to slander or defame. James does not forbid confronting those in sin, which is elsewhere commanded in Scripture (Matt. 18:15-17; Acts 20:31; 1 Cor. 4:14; Col. 1:28). Rather, he condemns careless, derogatory, critical, slanderous accusations against others. Those who speak evil of other believers set themselves up as judges and condemn them. They set them selves above the law.
Again, this does not mean that believers can’t judge heretical teachings as the Berean’s did and were considered more honorable because they basically checked out what they heard taught. but is is challenging all of us who say we are true believers to watch our mouths.
No one is justified in slander. So if you're in the midst of speaking evil of a brother or sister in Christ right now, STOP, and repent. Let us all put a watch guard over our mouths and live like we are truly His disciples!
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