Despite our protestations, James returns to one of his favorite topics (and perhaps one of our least): the tongue. Because he connects the ideas of judging, law and lawgiver with evil speech, it is appropriate to infer that he is talking about slander, although the prohibition certainly includes evil speech of all kind including backbiting, tale bearing and gossip
But why does he return to this subject? One reason is because slander is so easy to commit. It takes work to commit adultery, and it requires a partner, but we can sin with our tongue any time, day or night. Plus, slander is so harmful, wounding our friends, and destroying the church.
Behind such slander is a judgmental spirit – taking the law in our own hands by ignoring God's law – including the clear prohibitions against the sins of the tongue. And to further drive home his point, he concludes with a sarcastic, rhetorical question: "Who are you to judge?", which reminds us that it is the One Lawgiver who is able to save or destroy the lawbreaker.
We conclude our lesson with an admonition to repent of our sins and moving forward to ask ourselves three key questions about our words before we speak: 1) Is it true? 2) Is it kind? 3) Is it necessary?
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Kurt Snow serves as a ruling elder at Covenant Reformed Church of Sacramento (RCUS). He served as a member of the Board of Governors of City Seminary of Sacramento from 2000 to 2020.
