Test Your Faith (James) No.16- Evil Church Judges

Has someone ever unfairly judged, slandered, or gossiped about you? How did that make you feel? I remember as a member of a church staff being publicly slandered with false accusations. It was devastating for me and my family in ways you can’t even imagine. To this day I still carry baggage from it. Even when someone slanders or gossips about something you actually did wrong, it’s still painful, and makes it even worse. Ok, here’s another question. Have you slandered or passed judgement on a brother or sister in your church? Sadly, I must confess, even though I went through that pain… I have been guilty of doing the same thing. Looking back, I am embarrassed by my hypocrisy. It’s very humbling when this reality hits you isn’t it? If we are all being transparent, we’ve all both given and received slander. Its painful, that moment when you realize you are no better than your accuser, or the one who has accused you. But our willingness to recognize this is an important test of your ropes of faith. So must go there together today. It’s important for us to understand where this all comes from, so that we can be on guard against it. And as we do, it will be easy to think of someone else. Don’t. Focus on yourself…. Ok are we ready? (James 4:11-12) Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver & judge, He who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?