I just finished a book which sought to contend for the faith. But as I’m reading in James this morning, I’m wondering if it also didn’t transgress the law.

That the church is not of one mind as to exactly how we are to stand for truth and yet still bear witness to the gospel of grace seems to be evident. Evident to all as the church has taken stage in a virtual public square with the world looking on from the balcony of social media. And yet, isn’t much of our power in being the “pillar and buttress of the truth” (1Tim. 3:15) founded in our diligence toward maintaining “the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3)? I’m thinkin’ . . .

Thus, a holy tension. Contend for a truth in which we mostly agree, but do not entirely agree. Be on mission to reach the lost, a mission to which we are commonly committed yet with differing strategies. And do it in a way that still declares we are Jesus’ disciples by how we love one another (James 3:15). It’s to that tension which I think James may be speaking (at least to this guy) this morning.

Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.

(James 4:11 ESV)

Do not speak evil against one another . . . BROTHERS (AND SISTERS).

Sounds like a command to obey to me.

Don’t speak badly of another believer. Don’t talk in a way that is targeted at damaging their reputation. Don’t malign or slander.

Sure, you may not agree with how they see things, how they prioritize things. You may have a vastly different approach to how to contend for the truth while still proclaiming the gospel. But, if I’m applying James right, in that difference do not speak evil against one another.

The culture of the world around us has become very good at speaking evil against one another. Debating issues with innuendo. Articulating positions with aspersions. And as is prone to happen, the world, I fear, has leavened some parts of the church. So that, our fighting for the truth has too often taken on a flavor of fighting against one another. Our decrying of sin has resulted in defaming one another. So that, I fear, we run the danger that our proclamation of the gospel of grace is being outshouted by our lack of grace towards one another.

Do not speak evil against one another . . .

That’s gonna take some wisdom as we rightly feel the need to be salt and light in a decaying and dark world and yet have different views on how to apply the salt and shed the light. A wisdom from above, not the world’s wisdom. A wisdom requiring the mind and heart of Christ so that we are not drawn into a culture which promotes contention.

Remember the adage, “In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity”? That’s the wisdom I think I’m talking about.

Believer bashing. Shouldn’t be a thing.

By His grace. For His glory.