1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:12,720 Speaker 1: Life Audio. Well, hello and good morning, friends and faithful listeners. 2 00:00:12,840 --> 00:00:14,800 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for tuning into the Bible Explain 3 00:00:14,880 --> 00:00:18,360 Speaker 1: podcasts on this lovely, lovely morning. We are in the 4 00:00:18,360 --> 00:00:20,720 Speaker 1: Book of James today, because, as you guys know, on 5 00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:24,239 Speaker 1: Tuesdays and Thursdays I cover the New Testament, and Mondays 6 00:00:24,280 --> 00:00:27,159 Speaker 1: and Wednesdays I cover the Old Testament. So today is 7 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:30,159 Speaker 1: our day in the Book of James. And guess what 8 00:00:30,920 --> 00:00:33,760 Speaker 1: We're only going to be talking about two verses today 9 00:00:35,200 --> 00:00:38,120 Speaker 1: in James. I was really wondering if I would have 10 00:00:38,720 --> 00:00:42,360 Speaker 1: enough content in these two verses to talk about them 11 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:45,559 Speaker 1: the entire episode, and now that I've done my research, 12 00:00:46,240 --> 00:00:49,599 Speaker 1: I definitely think that I'm only scratching the surface actually 13 00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:51,600 Speaker 1: of some of the stuff we can talk about based 14 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:55,040 Speaker 1: upon these two little verses. So I'm excited to delve 15 00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:58,160 Speaker 1: into this. But first, please listen to this quick message 16 00:00:58,160 --> 00:01:02,640 Speaker 1: from a sponsor. Okay, hopefully while that sponsored ad played, 17 00:01:02,680 --> 00:01:05,560 Speaker 1: you had enough time to grab your delicious cup of 18 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:08,000 Speaker 1: coffee or your cup of tea if that's more your style, 19 00:01:08,240 --> 00:01:11,320 Speaker 1: and also your Bible out of whatever version you prefer 20 00:01:11,360 --> 00:01:14,120 Speaker 1: to read from. I'll be reading as usual from the web, 21 00:01:14,440 --> 00:01:19,880 Speaker 1: and we'll be discussing James four eleven and twelve. Don't 22 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:23,120 Speaker 1: speak against one another, brothers. He who speaks against a 23 00:01:23,160 --> 00:01:26,000 Speaker 1: brother and judges his brother speaks against the law and 24 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:29,080 Speaker 1: judges the law. But if you judge the law, you 25 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:32,080 Speaker 1: are not a doer of the law, but a judge. 26 00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:35,199 Speaker 1: Only one is the lawgiver, who is able to save 27 00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:38,400 Speaker 1: and to destroy. But who are you to judge another? 28 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:43,399 Speaker 1: You know what, I've never hated the chapter breakdowns in 29 00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:45,920 Speaker 1: the Bible more than I hate them in the Book 30 00:01:45,959 --> 00:01:49,680 Speaker 1: of James. I also don't like the verse numbers in 31 00:01:49,680 --> 00:01:52,400 Speaker 1: the Book of James, because, you know, even though the 32 00:01:52,760 --> 00:01:55,000 Speaker 1: chapter numbers are there for our benefit so that we 33 00:01:55,040 --> 00:01:58,240 Speaker 1: can find the verse that we're looking for easily, in 34 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:01,360 Speaker 1: the Book of James, it's almost a detriment because this 35 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:05,120 Speaker 1: book is so cohesive. James is bringing up points that 36 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:08,440 Speaker 1: he made all the way back in chapter two. So 37 00:02:08,480 --> 00:02:12,040 Speaker 1: I really don't like the chapter numbers for James specifically, 38 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:14,640 Speaker 1: I can understand their point, I know why they were 39 00:02:14,639 --> 00:02:18,440 Speaker 1: put in there, But for James, it doesn't make any sense. 40 00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:21,720 Speaker 1: Starting in verse eleven of James four, here's what it says, 41 00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:25,720 Speaker 1: don't speak against one another brothers. He who speaks against 42 00:02:25,760 --> 00:02:28,280 Speaker 1: a brother and judges his brother speaks against the law 43 00:02:28,360 --> 00:02:34,200 Speaker 1: and judges the law. James is speaking to the believing Jews. 44 00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:36,880 Speaker 1: He is speaking to Christians. He is not speaking to 45 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:41,160 Speaker 1: non Christians. So he's telling the Christians. Don't judge a 46 00:02:41,200 --> 00:02:43,520 Speaker 1: fellow Christian. It is not for you to do that. 47 00:02:43,600 --> 00:02:46,960 Speaker 1: Don't speak ill of a fellow Christian. And on the surface, 48 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:49,600 Speaker 1: you know, somebody could take this verse and not read 49 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:52,360 Speaker 1: the rest of scripture and say, oh, we can't say 50 00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:56,480 Speaker 1: anything bad about any Christian whatsoever, no matter what they're doing. 51 00:02:56,800 --> 00:02:59,600 Speaker 1: Only God can judge them. But that is one hundred 52 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:02,160 Speaker 1: percent on true, because if you jump up to James 53 00:03:02,200 --> 00:03:06,840 Speaker 1: four verse four, here's what James says you adulterers and adulteresses. 54 00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:11,240 Speaker 1: Kind of sounds like James is casting some judgments on 55 00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:13,520 Speaker 1: the church right there. And then also if you move 56 00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:18,520 Speaker 1: to One Corinthians, chapter five, one through three, here's what 57 00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:22,120 Speaker 1: Paul says about judging. It is actually reported that there 58 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:26,440 Speaker 1: is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as 59 00:03:26,520 --> 00:03:29,639 Speaker 1: is not even named among the gentiles, that one has 60 00:03:29,720 --> 00:03:33,880 Speaker 1: his father's wife. You are arrogant and didn't mourn. Instead 61 00:03:34,160 --> 00:03:36,600 Speaker 1: that he who had done this deed might be removed 62 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:39,640 Speaker 1: from among you, For I, most certainly, as being absent 63 00:03:39,720 --> 00:03:43,240 Speaker 1: in body but present in spirit, have already, as though 64 00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:47,160 Speaker 1: I were present, judged him who has done this thing. 65 00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:49,880 Speaker 1: And then in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells 66 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:53,560 Speaker 1: us that we are to discern. We are to discern 67 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:57,120 Speaker 1: between the person who is a false teacher and a 68 00:03:57,160 --> 00:04:00,640 Speaker 1: true teacher. You aren't supposed to just take every single 69 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:03,400 Speaker 1: Christian at their word. You're also not supposed to let 70 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:05,600 Speaker 1: just any Christian do whatever they want to do and 71 00:04:05,680 --> 00:04:08,560 Speaker 1: get away with anything that they want to get away with. 72 00:04:08,880 --> 00:04:12,320 Speaker 1: And a lot of times unhealthy pastors and church leaders 73 00:04:12,360 --> 00:04:15,240 Speaker 1: will take verses like this one from James chapter four 74 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:19,400 Speaker 1: and say, well, you can't judge us, you can't do this. 75 00:04:19,520 --> 00:04:21,320 Speaker 1: It is not for you to judge. You are an 76 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:25,920 Speaker 1: accuser of the brethren, or you are sitting in bitterness. 77 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:28,880 Speaker 1: That's the kind of stuff they'll say if you notice 78 00:04:29,360 --> 00:04:32,440 Speaker 1: any kind of glaring sin that they have in their life, 79 00:04:32,480 --> 00:04:35,520 Speaker 1: or if you notice people leaving the church because they're 80 00:04:35,520 --> 00:04:40,159 Speaker 1: getting hurt. Unfortunately, verses like this get twisted all the time. 81 00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:43,120 Speaker 1: In fact, this just happened to me recently. Somebody commented 82 00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:46,320 Speaker 1: on the YouTube video I did with my sister and 83 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:49,279 Speaker 1: brother in law where they talk about the extreme manipulation 84 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:52,440 Speaker 1: they experienced in the IFB church and some of the 85 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:57,080 Speaker 1: absolutely damaging and terrible things that the pastor did spiritually 86 00:04:57,120 --> 00:04:59,719 Speaker 1: to them and to other people around them. And my 87 00:04:59,760 --> 00:05:02,239 Speaker 1: brother in lawn's sister. We're exposing some of these things. 88 00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:06,839 Speaker 1: But somebody commented recently saying this is wrong, this is 89 00:05:06,880 --> 00:05:09,800 Speaker 1: a sin for you to speak against a brother this way, 90 00:05:09,960 --> 00:05:13,680 Speaker 1: And yeah, I did comment on that comment, and I said, 91 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:15,640 Speaker 1: you don't know the definition of sin if you believe 92 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:19,080 Speaker 1: that it's wrong to call out other people's sin, because 93 00:05:19,120 --> 00:05:21,839 Speaker 1: Scripture is very clear that you are supposed to do that. 94 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:26,160 Speaker 1: So clearly in James Chapter four, James is not speaking 95 00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:30,839 Speaker 1: about calling out sin. He's talking about something else. Because 96 00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:33,400 Speaker 1: if you go back to the Greek word for speak 97 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:39,000 Speaker 1: evil against somebody, it translates to kataitalia. Okay, And this 98 00:05:39,040 --> 00:05:44,599 Speaker 1: is a definition from Barclay. William Barclay quote, Katatalia is 99 00:05:44,640 --> 00:05:48,119 Speaker 1: the sin of those who meet in corners and gather 100 00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:52,719 Speaker 1: in little groups and pass on confidential information which to 101 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:55,679 Speaker 1: destroy the good name of those who are not there 102 00:05:56,080 --> 00:06:02,640 Speaker 1: to defend themselves. Man, I know so many people who 103 00:06:02,640 --> 00:06:06,280 Speaker 1: have had that exact thing happen to them, where they 104 00:06:06,320 --> 00:06:10,240 Speaker 1: hear about little gossipings happening behind their back, where maybe 105 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:13,359 Speaker 1: you know, they're starting to present questions to the pastor, 106 00:06:13,920 --> 00:06:17,400 Speaker 1: and the pastor in order to silence those questions, brings 107 00:06:17,440 --> 00:06:20,960 Speaker 1: his elders into a little elder's meeting without that person 108 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:24,760 Speaker 1: there to talk about some of these little problems that 109 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:29,679 Speaker 1: are being stirred up. And they're doing exactly this thing Catitalia, 110 00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:34,080 Speaker 1: where they're gathering in little groups to pass on confidential 111 00:06:34,080 --> 00:06:37,560 Speaker 1: information to destroy the good name of those who are 112 00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:40,599 Speaker 1: not there to defend themselves. This happened to my sister 113 00:06:40,640 --> 00:06:44,160 Speaker 1: and brother in law. This has happened to my husband 114 00:06:44,240 --> 00:06:48,560 Speaker 1: and I. This happened to my mom and my dad. 115 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:51,839 Speaker 1: And these were four separate churches that happened to my 116 00:06:51,839 --> 00:06:56,040 Speaker 1: mom and dad twice, four separate churches that my family 117 00:06:56,040 --> 00:06:58,839 Speaker 1: has been a part of in the forty five years 118 00:06:58,839 --> 00:07:02,960 Speaker 1: that my parents have been married. Churches do this all 119 00:07:03,279 --> 00:07:05,520 Speaker 1: the time, and if it's happened to my family as 120 00:07:05,520 --> 00:07:08,960 Speaker 1: often as it has, I know it has happened to 121 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:12,280 Speaker 1: you faithful listeners as well. I know that many of 122 00:07:12,320 --> 00:07:15,560 Speaker 1: you have had that experience at your church as well, 123 00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:19,040 Speaker 1: and I feel sorry about that. But just know that 124 00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:22,880 Speaker 1: James is calling this a sin. He says in verse eleven, 125 00:07:23,120 --> 00:07:25,960 Speaker 1: he who speaks against a brother and judges his brother 126 00:07:26,600 --> 00:07:30,760 Speaker 1: speaks against the law and judges the law. So what 127 00:07:30,840 --> 00:07:33,800 Speaker 1: is this law that James is speaking of. He's actually 128 00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:38,160 Speaker 1: talking about the law mentioned in James two, a couple 129 00:07:38,280 --> 00:07:42,640 Speaker 1: chapters ago. Verse eight. However, if you fulfill the Royal 130 00:07:42,760 --> 00:07:45,840 Speaker 1: law according to the scripture, you shall love your neighbor 131 00:07:45,840 --> 00:07:49,040 Speaker 1: as yourself. You do well, And then, jumping to verse 132 00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:52,120 Speaker 1: twelve of James two, so speak and so do as 133 00:07:52,200 --> 00:07:55,040 Speaker 1: men who are to be judged by the law of freedom. 134 00:07:55,480 --> 00:07:57,720 Speaker 1: This is the law that James is talking about in 135 00:07:57,920 --> 00:08:01,720 Speaker 1: James four. He's talking about about the law of love 136 00:08:02,040 --> 00:08:05,520 Speaker 1: and freedom. The Royal law is what it's called, the 137 00:08:05,640 --> 00:08:08,800 Speaker 1: law to rule every other law. In fact, Jesus himself 138 00:08:08,800 --> 00:08:11,280 Speaker 1: said that the entire Old Testament law can be broken 139 00:08:11,320 --> 00:08:14,760 Speaker 1: down to two things, loving God first, and then loving 140 00:08:14,920 --> 00:08:19,640 Speaker 1: your neighbor as yourself. The entirety of the law hinges 141 00:08:19,760 --> 00:08:23,920 Speaker 1: on those two things, love of God and love of others. 142 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:28,880 Speaker 1: So anybody who is speaking against their brother to manipulate 143 00:08:28,960 --> 00:08:33,000 Speaker 1: a situation to try to destroy that person's reputation, even 144 00:08:33,040 --> 00:08:36,320 Speaker 1: if it's not necessarily slander, but just telling information in 145 00:08:36,400 --> 00:08:41,400 Speaker 1: such a way to misrepresent that person while the person 146 00:08:41,480 --> 00:08:45,200 Speaker 1: is not in the room. These people are speaking against 147 00:08:45,240 --> 00:08:48,680 Speaker 1: the law of love, and they are judging the law 148 00:08:48,720 --> 00:08:51,520 Speaker 1: of love, is what James says. They are saying that 149 00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:54,760 Speaker 1: law of love doesn't apply to us, that law of 150 00:08:54,840 --> 00:08:58,200 Speaker 1: love is not necessary. They are judging it. But if 151 00:08:58,240 --> 00:09:00,839 Speaker 1: you judge the law, he says, not a doer of 152 00:09:00,880 --> 00:09:03,520 Speaker 1: the law, but just a judge. And we went into 153 00:09:03,520 --> 00:09:05,480 Speaker 1: that in James two about the person who is not 154 00:09:05,600 --> 00:09:08,880 Speaker 1: fulfilling the law of love. And also in James Chapter three, 155 00:09:09,320 --> 00:09:12,200 Speaker 1: James was talking about the tongue and how the tongue 156 00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:15,800 Speaker 1: verse five James three is a little member that boasts 157 00:09:15,840 --> 00:09:18,920 Speaker 1: great things. See how a small fire can spread to 158 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:21,800 Speaker 1: a large forest. And the tongue is a fire. The 159 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:25,240 Speaker 1: world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which 160 00:09:25,240 --> 00:09:27,920 Speaker 1: defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course 161 00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:31,600 Speaker 1: of nature, and is set on fire by Gehennah verse nine. 162 00:09:31,760 --> 00:09:34,160 Speaker 1: With it we bless our God and Father, and with 163 00:09:34,200 --> 00:09:37,000 Speaker 1: it we curse men who are made in the image 164 00:09:37,040 --> 00:09:39,440 Speaker 1: of God. Out of the same mouth comes blessing and 165 00:09:39,480 --> 00:09:42,880 Speaker 1: cursing my brothers. These things ought not to be so. 166 00:09:42,880 --> 00:09:45,880 Speaker 1: So James has already addressed the law of love and 167 00:09:45,960 --> 00:09:49,200 Speaker 1: what it takes to actually be following the law of love. 168 00:09:49,880 --> 00:09:52,520 Speaker 1: And it starts by controlling your tongue. And if you 169 00:09:52,559 --> 00:09:54,520 Speaker 1: don't control your tongue, what does it say right here? 170 00:09:54,520 --> 00:09:57,160 Speaker 1: It defiles your whole body, and it is set on 171 00:09:57,240 --> 00:10:02,160 Speaker 1: fire by Gehennah. That means that sometimes our speech is 172 00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:06,079 Speaker 1: coming straight from the manipulation of Satan himself. In fact, 173 00:10:06,120 --> 00:10:10,040 Speaker 1: throughout the entire Book of James, he keeps mentioning that 174 00:10:10,040 --> 00:10:13,120 Speaker 1: that there is a spiritual kind of wisdom that the 175 00:10:13,200 --> 00:10:15,680 Speaker 1: church should be walking in, and there's also a demonic 176 00:10:16,040 --> 00:10:20,760 Speaker 1: kind of wisdom. And this demonic wisdom is obviously behind 177 00:10:20,760 --> 00:10:24,680 Speaker 1: the scenes trying to destroy the church by encouraging people 178 00:10:24,800 --> 00:10:29,840 Speaker 1: to gossip and slander and manipulate stories and destroy the 179 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:34,480 Speaker 1: reputation of others, not to mention encouraging partiality in the church, 180 00:10:34,880 --> 00:10:41,680 Speaker 1: encouraging divisions, encouraging selfish ambition and bitter jealousy. The entire 181 00:10:41,720 --> 00:10:45,440 Speaker 1: Book of James is a warning to the church, and 182 00:10:45,480 --> 00:10:49,360 Speaker 1: the church is not listening. That's why James says in 183 00:10:49,480 --> 00:10:53,480 Speaker 1: chapter four, verse seven, be subject therefore to God. Resist 184 00:10:53,679 --> 00:10:56,400 Speaker 1: the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near 185 00:10:56,400 --> 00:10:58,800 Speaker 1: to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse 186 00:10:58,840 --> 00:11:02,280 Speaker 1: your hands, you sinners, Purify your hearts, you double minded, 187 00:11:02,480 --> 00:11:05,080 Speaker 1: and verse ten says, humble yourselves in the sight of 188 00:11:05,120 --> 00:11:08,120 Speaker 1: the Lord, and he will exalt you. God is offering 189 00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:12,240 Speaker 1: the church grace, and the Church is consistently rejecting it. 190 00:11:13,280 --> 00:11:15,520 Speaker 1: Because all of these things that we have talked about 191 00:11:15,520 --> 00:11:19,320 Speaker 1: in the Book of James, I have personally experienced and 192 00:11:19,400 --> 00:11:23,520 Speaker 1: continue to personally experience. And it is not just me. 193 00:11:24,040 --> 00:11:27,040 Speaker 1: This is the tale as old as time, and you, 194 00:11:27,160 --> 00:11:31,000 Speaker 1: faithful listeners, I am sure, have experienced these same things 195 00:11:31,040 --> 00:11:33,120 Speaker 1: as well, if you've been going to a church for 196 00:11:33,200 --> 00:11:36,640 Speaker 1: any length of time. So what are we supposed to 197 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:40,559 Speaker 1: do here? Are we supposed to just abandon church, stop going? No, 198 00:11:41,080 --> 00:11:45,160 Speaker 1: because Hebrews ten twenty five says, let us not forsake 199 00:11:45,200 --> 00:11:48,400 Speaker 1: the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, 200 00:11:48,840 --> 00:11:51,800 Speaker 1: but let us exhort one another, especially as you see 201 00:11:51,840 --> 00:11:55,560 Speaker 1: the day approaching. We are not supposed to abandon the church. 202 00:11:55,600 --> 00:12:01,440 Speaker 1: We are not supposed to abandon the gathering together of believers. Instead, 203 00:12:01,440 --> 00:12:04,480 Speaker 1: what we're supposed to do is just follow these things 204 00:12:04,520 --> 00:12:09,000 Speaker 1: personally and do our best to not be like the 205 00:12:09,080 --> 00:12:12,520 Speaker 1: people James is warning about. We are supposed to be 206 00:12:12,600 --> 00:12:16,240 Speaker 1: people who don't slander our brothers and sisters in Christ, 207 00:12:16,640 --> 00:12:19,280 Speaker 1: who don't speak ill of them behind their back. And also, 208 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:22,280 Speaker 1: if you happen to be where somebody is telling you 209 00:12:22,320 --> 00:12:25,000 Speaker 1: gossip be things about somebody, it is not wrong for 210 00:12:25,040 --> 00:12:26,559 Speaker 1: you to say, hey, you know, I don't want to 211 00:12:26,600 --> 00:12:29,240 Speaker 1: engage in gossip. Or another thing you could do is 212 00:12:29,280 --> 00:12:33,120 Speaker 1: go to that person personally and ask them, hey, you 213 00:12:33,160 --> 00:12:35,400 Speaker 1: know I heard this and I really need to know 214 00:12:35,960 --> 00:12:39,600 Speaker 1: is this the truth? Are you okay? Do you need help? 215 00:12:39,720 --> 00:12:43,640 Speaker 1: In any particular way? That is called exhorting somebody, That 216 00:12:43,760 --> 00:12:47,400 Speaker 1: is called encouraging them and not engaging in gossip, but 217 00:12:47,520 --> 00:12:51,480 Speaker 1: truly talking to people as human beings, as our fellow 218 00:12:51,559 --> 00:12:54,720 Speaker 1: brothers and sisters in Christ. And guess what, it doesn't 219 00:12:54,760 --> 00:12:57,400 Speaker 1: matter the source of where this gossip is coming from. 220 00:12:57,800 --> 00:13:00,560 Speaker 1: It could be the pastor of your church coming up 221 00:13:00,600 --> 00:13:02,199 Speaker 1: to you and being like, oh, I don't know if 222 00:13:02,200 --> 00:13:04,960 Speaker 1: you heard that so and so has you know issues 223 00:13:05,040 --> 00:13:08,040 Speaker 1: here and there or they're really going through something right now, 224 00:13:08,080 --> 00:13:10,240 Speaker 1: and I just want to tell you that, you know, 225 00:13:10,320 --> 00:13:12,880 Speaker 1: I love this person very much, but they're going down 226 00:13:12,920 --> 00:13:17,040 Speaker 1: the wrong path. Even in that case, if there is 227 00:13:17,080 --> 00:13:21,480 Speaker 1: some sort of gossip coming to you, Scripture tells us 228 00:13:21,600 --> 00:13:24,520 Speaker 1: to discern every spirit. It doesn't say, oh, discern the 229 00:13:24,520 --> 00:13:27,880 Speaker 1: spirits of everybody except the pastor No, it says to 230 00:13:27,960 --> 00:13:32,440 Speaker 1: discern every spirit. So it's not wise or discerning to 231 00:13:32,600 --> 00:13:35,679 Speaker 1: take the word even of your pastor if you don't 232 00:13:35,760 --> 00:13:39,480 Speaker 1: understand or really know what the situation actually is. We 233 00:13:39,520 --> 00:13:43,360 Speaker 1: are to treat each other as if we are brothers 234 00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:45,720 Speaker 1: and sisters, and we don't want to do that to 235 00:13:45,800 --> 00:13:48,800 Speaker 1: our physical brothers and sisters. You know, we love our siblings. 236 00:13:49,160 --> 00:13:51,080 Speaker 1: If we have a good relationship with them, we want 237 00:13:51,120 --> 00:13:53,319 Speaker 1: to talk with them and you know, be friends with 238 00:13:53,360 --> 00:13:56,200 Speaker 1: them and get to the bottom of the story. We 239 00:13:56,240 --> 00:13:58,880 Speaker 1: don't want to hear other people gossiping about them and 240 00:13:58,920 --> 00:14:02,079 Speaker 1: saying nasty things. We don't want to hear these things 241 00:14:02,080 --> 00:14:05,560 Speaker 1: because we love our brothers and sisters in Christ. And 242 00:14:05,600 --> 00:14:09,320 Speaker 1: that's what it comes down to love. When we love 243 00:14:09,360 --> 00:14:12,000 Speaker 1: our brothers and sisters in Christ, we're not going to 244 00:14:12,000 --> 00:14:15,760 Speaker 1: be engaging in gossip about them. We won't be speaking 245 00:14:15,800 --> 00:14:18,280 Speaker 1: ill of them, especially if we don't know the situation 246 00:14:18,440 --> 00:14:21,840 Speaker 1: or the story. We won't be judging them without them 247 00:14:22,200 --> 00:14:25,920 Speaker 1: presenting their side of the story. Instead, we will be 248 00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:28,760 Speaker 1: following the law of love. And here's what James says 249 00:14:28,760 --> 00:14:32,480 Speaker 1: in verse twelve. Only one is the lawgiver, who is 250 00:14:32,560 --> 00:14:35,280 Speaker 1: able to save and to destroy. But who are you 251 00:14:35,480 --> 00:14:39,480 Speaker 1: to judge another? Basically, God truly is the judge. And 252 00:14:39,520 --> 00:14:42,880 Speaker 1: when we start judging our brothers and sisters in Christ 253 00:14:43,840 --> 00:14:46,440 Speaker 1: in the way that James is talking about here unfairly, 254 00:14:47,600 --> 00:14:51,240 Speaker 1: then we make ourselves out to be like God. And 255 00:14:51,320 --> 00:14:54,360 Speaker 1: who are we to do that? That's what James says, 256 00:14:54,400 --> 00:14:57,760 Speaker 1: Who are you to judge another? When there is only 257 00:14:57,960 --> 00:15:01,840 Speaker 1: one law maker? When there is only one judge. All 258 00:15:01,880 --> 00:15:05,720 Speaker 1: of this connects perfectly with Romans fourteen. Starting in verse one, 259 00:15:05,760 --> 00:15:08,320 Speaker 1: it says, now accept the one who is weak in 260 00:15:08,360 --> 00:15:12,160 Speaker 1: the faith, but not for disputes over opinions. One man 261 00:15:12,200 --> 00:15:14,360 Speaker 1: has faith to eat all things, but he who is 262 00:15:14,400 --> 00:15:18,120 Speaker 1: weak only eats vegetables. Don't let him who eats despise 263 00:15:18,200 --> 00:15:20,840 Speaker 1: him who doesn't eat. Don't let him who doesn't eat 264 00:15:21,080 --> 00:15:24,440 Speaker 1: judge him who eats. For God has accepted him. Who 265 00:15:24,480 --> 00:15:28,520 Speaker 1: are you who judge another man's servant to his own lord? 266 00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:31,800 Speaker 1: He stands or falls, yes, he will be made to stand, 267 00:15:32,040 --> 00:15:34,960 Speaker 1: for God has power to make him stand and then 268 00:15:35,080 --> 00:15:38,400 Speaker 1: jumping down. In the same chapter to verse ten, But you, 269 00:15:38,720 --> 00:15:41,400 Speaker 1: why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why 270 00:15:41,400 --> 00:15:44,440 Speaker 1: do you despise your brother? For we will all stand 271 00:15:44,480 --> 00:15:47,080 Speaker 1: before the judgment. See to Christ. For as it is written, 272 00:15:47,280 --> 00:15:49,560 Speaker 1: as I live, says the Lord to me, every knee 273 00:15:49,600 --> 00:15:52,800 Speaker 1: will bow, every tongue will confess to God. So then 274 00:15:52,840 --> 00:15:55,320 Speaker 1: each one of us will give an account of himself 275 00:15:55,600 --> 00:15:58,960 Speaker 1: to God. Therefore, let's not judge one another anymore, but 276 00:15:59,080 --> 00:16:02,160 Speaker 1: judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block 277 00:16:02,240 --> 00:16:07,240 Speaker 1: in his brother's way or an occasion for falling. That 278 00:16:07,360 --> 00:16:09,520 Speaker 1: is like the perfect summary of what we just read 279 00:16:09,520 --> 00:16:13,200 Speaker 1: in James four In Romans fourteen, Paul says there are 280 00:16:13,240 --> 00:16:17,040 Speaker 1: certain Christians who do certain things that aren't necessarily a sin. 281 00:16:18,160 --> 00:16:20,840 Speaker 1: Even though we don't do those things. We should not 282 00:16:20,920 --> 00:16:24,360 Speaker 1: be judging those Christians because they choose to live a 283 00:16:24,360 --> 00:16:27,680 Speaker 1: different life, because they choose to do things differently in 284 00:16:27,760 --> 00:16:31,240 Speaker 1: their walk with Christ. For example, one Christian decides it 285 00:16:31,280 --> 00:16:34,600 Speaker 1: is not right to eat meat on Fridays, I will 286 00:16:34,600 --> 00:16:38,000 Speaker 1: eat fish, But another Christian thinks it is totally fine 287 00:16:38,080 --> 00:16:40,000 Speaker 1: to eat meat any day of the week, and they 288 00:16:40,040 --> 00:16:43,160 Speaker 1: are going to eat meat. That Christian should not be 289 00:16:43,240 --> 00:16:46,120 Speaker 1: judging the Christian who doesn't eat meat on Fridays, and 290 00:16:46,160 --> 00:16:48,640 Speaker 1: the Christian who doesn't eat meat on Fridays shouldn't be 291 00:16:48,680 --> 00:16:51,600 Speaker 1: judging the other Christian who decides to eat meat every 292 00:16:51,600 --> 00:16:54,080 Speaker 1: single day of the week, because they both have their 293 00:16:54,080 --> 00:16:58,280 Speaker 1: own personal convictions. As long as there is no blaring sin, 294 00:16:58,960 --> 00:17:02,680 Speaker 1: we don't ostracize other Christians because they don't do life 295 00:17:02,880 --> 00:17:06,439 Speaker 1: exactly the same way that we do. Instead, here's what 296 00:17:06,480 --> 00:17:10,919 Speaker 1: we are supposed to judge Verse thirteen of Romans fourteen. Therefore, 297 00:17:11,040 --> 00:17:14,960 Speaker 1: let's not judge one another anymore, but judge this rather, 298 00:17:15,760 --> 00:17:19,280 Speaker 1: that no man put a stumbling block in his brother's 299 00:17:19,320 --> 00:17:25,119 Speaker 1: way or an occasion for falling. That is the key. 300 00:17:25,480 --> 00:17:28,399 Speaker 1: That is what we are allowed to judge and what 301 00:17:28,440 --> 00:17:32,560 Speaker 1: we should be judging. Just like in First Corinthians five, 302 00:17:33,240 --> 00:17:36,640 Speaker 1: where Paul was judging the man who was a member 303 00:17:36,680 --> 00:17:38,879 Speaker 1: of the church sleeping with his stepmother, in fact, in 304 00:17:38,920 --> 00:17:42,720 Speaker 1: a relationship with his stepmother. Paul was judging that because 305 00:17:42,760 --> 00:17:45,160 Speaker 1: that was a sin, that was an occasion for stumbling, 306 00:17:45,560 --> 00:17:48,639 Speaker 1: that was an occasion for falling. That's the kind of 307 00:17:48,640 --> 00:17:50,920 Speaker 1: stuff that we judge. That's the kind of stuff we 308 00:17:50,960 --> 00:17:55,480 Speaker 1: are required to judge in scripture, not silly and unnecessary things, 309 00:17:55,680 --> 00:17:59,800 Speaker 1: but true problems and even occasions for stumbling, something that 310 00:17:59,840 --> 00:18:03,080 Speaker 1: might might not necessarily even be a sin, but could 311 00:18:03,080 --> 00:18:06,960 Speaker 1: be an occasion for sin. So that is what James 312 00:18:07,080 --> 00:18:10,840 Speaker 1: chapter four, eleven through twelve is talking about, the wrong 313 00:18:10,960 --> 00:18:15,000 Speaker 1: kind of judging, the nitpicky, critical kind of judgment that 314 00:18:15,080 --> 00:18:21,199 Speaker 1: the church is so incredibly guilty of. As usual, you 315 00:18:21,240 --> 00:18:23,480 Speaker 1: guys know that I try to end the episodes, a 316 00:18:23,480 --> 00:18:26,040 Speaker 1: lot of them with a call to action, and that 317 00:18:26,119 --> 00:18:28,199 Speaker 1: is exactly what I'm going to do. Right after this 318 00:18:28,280 --> 00:18:32,840 Speaker 1: quick message from one of my sponsors. To finish out 319 00:18:32,960 --> 00:18:36,600 Speaker 1: this episode, I'd like to move back to James three 320 00:18:36,680 --> 00:18:39,040 Speaker 1: and talk about the tongue. It says in verse five 321 00:18:39,080 --> 00:18:42,320 Speaker 1: that the tongue is a little member that boasts great things. 322 00:18:42,960 --> 00:18:46,040 Speaker 1: See how a small fire can spread to a large forest, 323 00:18:46,359 --> 00:18:49,359 Speaker 1: and the tongue is a fire. The world of iniquity 324 00:18:49,400 --> 00:18:52,280 Speaker 1: among our members is the tongue, which defiles the whole 325 00:18:52,320 --> 00:18:54,679 Speaker 1: body and sets on fire the course of nature and 326 00:18:54,800 --> 00:18:58,400 Speaker 1: is set on fire by Gehenna. Unfortunately, many of us, 327 00:18:58,480 --> 00:19:02,640 Speaker 1: myself included, have a very hard time with the tongue. 328 00:19:03,480 --> 00:19:06,439 Speaker 1: We like to gossip, we like to hear gossip. We 329 00:19:06,600 --> 00:19:09,440 Speaker 1: like to hold secrets and think that you know, people 330 00:19:09,520 --> 00:19:13,600 Speaker 1: are coming to us because you know, we're great secret keepers. 331 00:19:14,160 --> 00:19:17,000 Speaker 1: But something that has been interesting for me is there 332 00:19:17,000 --> 00:19:22,200 Speaker 1: are probably more proverbs about controlling the tongue than any 333 00:19:22,240 --> 00:19:27,359 Speaker 1: other topic in the Book of Proverbs other than potentially money. 334 00:19:28,240 --> 00:19:31,600 Speaker 1: There's a verse that I read recently that gossip is 335 00:19:31,640 --> 00:19:34,680 Speaker 1: like a dainty little mor soul that sinks deep into 336 00:19:34,760 --> 00:19:39,679 Speaker 1: your soul. That really connected with me, because have you 337 00:19:39,720 --> 00:19:41,679 Speaker 1: ever had somebody come up and tell you something like 338 00:19:41,760 --> 00:19:44,920 Speaker 1: really juicy and you're just like grabbing your popcorn and 339 00:19:45,080 --> 00:19:47,160 Speaker 1: rubbing your hands together, and you're like, yeah, tell me more. 340 00:19:47,200 --> 00:19:48,959 Speaker 1: I want to hear about this person. What did they do? 341 00:19:49,040 --> 00:19:51,600 Speaker 1: Spill the tea? You know, you get really excited about 342 00:19:51,640 --> 00:19:56,359 Speaker 1: this gossip that somebody is saying. It sinks deep into 343 00:19:56,400 --> 00:19:59,560 Speaker 1: our souls and what ends up happening after that We're 344 00:19:59,560 --> 00:20:03,040 Speaker 1: never really happy because the person we hear the story about, 345 00:20:03,640 --> 00:20:08,360 Speaker 1: our minds are changed about them, even if the story 346 00:20:08,440 --> 00:20:12,160 Speaker 1: isn't necessarily true, and that's typically what happens with gossip, 347 00:20:12,600 --> 00:20:16,000 Speaker 1: and the person that's being gossiped about doesn't have any 348 00:20:16,000 --> 00:20:19,520 Speaker 1: defense because they probably don't even know that the gossip 349 00:20:19,640 --> 00:20:23,359 Speaker 1: is taking place. And ninety nine times out of one hundred, 350 00:20:23,720 --> 00:20:27,480 Speaker 1: people don't go to the person being gossiped about. They 351 00:20:27,600 --> 00:20:30,920 Speaker 1: just agree with whatever gossip that they heard and never 352 00:20:31,119 --> 00:20:35,159 Speaker 1: mention it ever. Again, it's a dainty morsel that sunk 353 00:20:35,240 --> 00:20:38,439 Speaker 1: deep into their soul instead of going to the person 354 00:20:38,520 --> 00:20:41,280 Speaker 1: and talking it through with them. So that is my 355 00:20:41,400 --> 00:20:43,879 Speaker 1: call to action for all of you. If you've heard 356 00:20:43,880 --> 00:20:47,480 Speaker 1: gossip about somebody recently, even if you think it might 357 00:20:47,480 --> 00:20:50,479 Speaker 1: be true, maybe go try to talk to that person 358 00:20:50,840 --> 00:20:52,760 Speaker 1: and just see what's on their mind. Try to strike 359 00:20:52,840 --> 00:20:56,120 Speaker 1: up a friendship with them, if that's possible, or take 360 00:20:56,160 --> 00:20:58,879 Speaker 1: them out to coffee and just say like, hey, I 361 00:20:59,240 --> 00:21:02,040 Speaker 1: heard you might be struggling recently, and I just want 362 00:21:02,040 --> 00:21:04,840 Speaker 1: to offer a listening ear if you want to do that. 363 00:21:04,920 --> 00:21:07,879 Speaker 1: If not, we can talk about something completely different. Or 364 00:21:07,920 --> 00:21:11,000 Speaker 1: if something is really bothering you about what you heard, 365 00:21:11,320 --> 00:21:13,520 Speaker 1: you can go to them and say, yeah, you know 366 00:21:13,600 --> 00:21:16,240 Speaker 1: I heard this or that, and I do have questions 367 00:21:16,320 --> 00:21:18,159 Speaker 1: about what I've heard, and I want to talk to 368 00:21:18,200 --> 00:21:21,879 Speaker 1: you about it. It is so important to get both 369 00:21:21,960 --> 00:21:25,360 Speaker 1: sides of the story. There's that old saying, there's your 370 00:21:25,400 --> 00:21:27,159 Speaker 1: side of the story, there's my side of the story, 371 00:21:27,359 --> 00:21:31,119 Speaker 1: and there's the truth. There's only one truth. There's no 372 00:21:31,160 --> 00:21:34,200 Speaker 1: such thing as multiple truths. People don't have their truth. 373 00:21:34,600 --> 00:21:38,600 Speaker 1: There is one truth, and it's important as Christians to 374 00:21:38,720 --> 00:21:43,200 Speaker 1: find out what the truth actually is, especially if nasty 375 00:21:43,280 --> 00:21:47,000 Speaker 1: things are being said about our fellow brothers and sisters 376 00:21:47,240 --> 00:21:50,800 Speaker 1: in Christ. So that's my encouragement for you. Don't engage 377 00:21:50,800 --> 00:21:53,199 Speaker 1: in gossip. But if you do hear gossip and you 378 00:21:53,240 --> 00:21:56,760 Speaker 1: hear little murmurings about somebody, go and talk to that 379 00:21:56,840 --> 00:22:01,920 Speaker 1: person personally. Faith I hope you all have a fantastic 380 00:22:02,040 --> 00:22:04,680 Speaker 1: and wonderful rest of your day. I will see you 381 00:22:04,680 --> 00:22:07,439 Speaker 1: guys hopefully tomorrow. On the member side of stuff, if 382 00:22:07,440 --> 00:22:09,800 Speaker 1: you would like to upgrade from being a Faithful listener 383 00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:12,439 Speaker 1: to a Faithful member and gain access to the Friday 384 00:22:12,480 --> 00:22:16,160 Speaker 1: podcast and also this podcast completely add free, then go 385 00:22:16,200 --> 00:22:18,199 Speaker 1: to my coffee page which is linked in the description 386 00:22:18,240 --> 00:22:21,240 Speaker 1: of this episode, Click on the one that says Coffee Tier, 387 00:22:21,480 --> 00:22:24,120 Speaker 1: and you will gain access to the Friday podcast. That's 388 00:22:24,119 --> 00:22:26,159 Speaker 1: if you become a Coffee Tier member. Now, if you 389 00:22:26,240 --> 00:22:28,919 Speaker 1: become a Tee Tier member, you only gain access to 390 00:22:29,000 --> 00:22:33,720 Speaker 1: this podcast, The Bible Explained, completely ad free, so check 391 00:22:33,760 --> 00:22:36,080 Speaker 1: out those two membership tears. I will see you guys 392 00:22:36,080 --> 00:22:38,880 Speaker 1: tomorrow on the Bible Explained on Fridays, or I will 393 00:22:38,880 --> 00:22:41,880 Speaker 1: see you guys on Monday for the normal scheduled episode. 394 00:22:42,359 --> 00:22:45,600 Speaker 1: Faithful listeners, have a wonderful rest of your day, happy listening, 395 00:22:45,920 --> 00:22:53,280 Speaker 1: and God bless you all. I just want to take 396 00:22:53,320 --> 00:22:55,199 Speaker 1: a second to thank the team at Life Audio for 397 00:22:55,240 --> 00:22:58,400 Speaker 1: their partnership with me on the Bible Explain podcast. In fact, 398 00:22:58,440 --> 00:23:00,520 Speaker 1: if you go to life audio dot com you'll find 399 00:23:00,600 --> 00:23:03,600 Speaker 1: dozens of other faith centered podcasts in their network. They've 400 00:23:03,600 --> 00:23:06,960 Speaker 1: got shows about prayer, Bible study, parenting, and more.