James 4:11-12

Is it shocking that when James gives the imperative command to ”not slander” it is primarily directed to “brothers” against “one another?”  Slander of all kinds and against any person is wrong.  But why does James direct his command to the kind of slander that occurs from one Christ-follower to another Christ-follower? 

 

How can we slander even when our words are true?

 

What motivates us to slander?  What is going on in our hearts? 

 

James earlier told us that we often find a secure place in our hearts for bitter envy and selfish ambition (see 3:14-16).  How might these things in our hearts flow out in slander from our mouths?

 

The “royal law” James gives is “love your neighbor as yourself” (James 2:8).  If that is “the law” that James refers to in 4:11-12, how does that help us understand what he is saying here?

 

We need to think about what this passage condemns (slander).  But think about how we can proactively do the right thing?  In other words, how do the Scriptures guide us to speak the truth about people in an appropriate way?  What if we see a brother do something wrong – how can we talk about that person without slipping into slander?