Seat Swapping.
On a week off I enjoy a good read. I’m a fan of the legal thriller, particularly John Grisham. Last week I finished off his “Time for Mercy” which culminated in a high stakes courtroom scene. Over the years I’ve read many of his novels, most of which involve the twists and turns that can happen in the courtroom. However there’s a courtroom twist written into the book of James that I’ve never encountered with Grisham. It’s where the judge is taken off the bench, and a member of the public takes his place. The member of the public then decides on the guilt of the defendant in the dock, and duly passes sentence. Let me bring us to the passage.
James 4:11-12 NIV [11] Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. [12] There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you---who are you to judge your neighbour?
James tells us that when someone slanders another person, (be that another member of the church, or the neighbour up the road), then they have literally taken the law into their own hands made themselves judges of it. Effectively they have walked up to the bench and changed places with God. God is the only one qualified to judge another person’s character. And He doesn’t engage in slander - that’s the devil’s practice. …James is telling us that when we slander one another, when we speak against a brother or sister, when we judge a neighbour - we are unqualified in that role, so don’t do it.
How often does this happen? How many times have we taken the law into our own hands? Could we count the number of times we’ve taken God’s place in this way? I doubt we could!
Do you, (like me), need to repent for holding to negative opinions of another person. Do you, (like me), need to remind yourself of your place when tempted to engage in criticism of a brother or sister, a neighbour. …Folks this passage puts us in our place - “But you---who are you to judge your neighbour?” We’re not the Judge, therefore we shouldn’t judge. As James reminds us - “There is only one Lawgiver and Judge.” …We’ll pray.
Heavenly Father forgive me for taking the law into my own hands. I’ve done it far too often. Help me to remember my place when tempted to pass judgement on another person. I thank you for Jesus who delighted in mercy when thinking of me. My sins surely deserved your judgement, but you chose to be merciful. May I follow that path. Amen.