James 4:11

2/14/1995

Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of 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 one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another? (Jas. 4:11-13 NKJV).

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.] There is [only] one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor? (Jas. 4:11-12 NASB).

Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor? (Jas. 4:11-12 NIV).

Hi brother, good to hear from you : )

Just a short response to your question—James seems to forbid “judging” and Paul commands it within the church... The issue in 1Cor. 5 is entirely different than in James. James is dealing with people that like to slander, rather than solve problems. The recipients of his letter are judging people according to externals (James 2:1ff, etc.) and separating themselves from one another based on judgements and slander (Jas. 3:9-10; 4:1-7; 4:11; 5:9—PLEASE read each of these). James, by the Spirit, accuses them (“judges” them? : )) of dividing from one another rather than solving problems by the Teachings and Life and Word of God (Jas. 1:21-25). THIS is “JUDGING” in the negative sense, and is to be avoided entirely.

“Problem SOLVING” based on the Word of God is to be, by contrast, highly praised (not referred to as “judging”). As James ended his letter (not contradicting himself, of course):

Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. (JAMES! 5:19-20 NKJV)

OBVIOUSLY!!! James was not suggesting that we all “mind our own business” and “let the Spirit do the work of helping someone to see the ‘error of his way’”!!! The man who said, “Don’t judge” could NOT have meant, “Don’t get involved in turning someone back from the error of his way.” Whoever would suggest that “does not know the Scriptures or the Power of God.” This is in complete agreement with all of the Teachings of Jesus, as well as Paul’s instruction in 1Cor. 5 to “judge those inside of the church.” We are NOT to slander one another, or to divide and show preferential treatment to some over others. This is the forbidden type of “judgement.” If it divides and plants seeds that separate us from one another with “opinions”—rather than DEALING with and solving the problems and bringing healing and union with one another, it is the wrong kind of “judgement.”

Not everyone WANTS to deal with sin in their lives. Jesus said that the true test (Jn. 3:19-21) is whether folks will WANT to deal with open issues, rather than run from them and accuse. THESE are the ones that want to hide behind a misinterpretation of our brother James. We are commanded to (and greatly rewarded for!) getting involved to solve problems in folks lives that are wounding Jesus and leavening “the batch” (as Paul said about this very subject).

“Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.”

I hope this helps a bit in clarifying this for you? Feel free to ask further as you like...

In Him,