“Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges 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?” James says that the way we play God is by judging other people. Anytime I judge you, anytime you judge me, we're playing God. It's only God's responsibility to judge other people.

I. WHY DO WE LIKE TO JUDGE OTHERS?

* To Excuse Our Own Faults

“So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them, and yet do the same thing, do you think you will escape God's judgment?” Romans 2:3

* It Appeals To Our Pride

“Gossip is so tasty. How we love to swallow it.” Prov.26:22 (GN)

The Bible says, we tend to judge others first to excuse our own errors and then also we have the natural ability to eat it up because it appeals to our pride, it makes us feel good, it gives us an ego boast.

II. WHY SHOULD I NOT JUDGE OTHERS

* It is Unchristian

“Brothers, do not slander one another... anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law.”

* It is Unloving

“…Anyone who…judges speaks against the Law…”

* It is Unjustified

“There is only one Lawgiver and Judge…who are you to judge your neighbor?”

III. WHEN IS IT WRONG TO JUDGE OTHERS?

1. When I'm Practicing The Same Sin

(Rom. 2:1-3)

2. When It Blinds Me To My Own Faults

(Matt. 7:3-5)

3. When You Draw Conclusions Based On Outward Appearance

(John 7:24)

4. When You Condemn Somebody Before You Hear The Facts

(John 7:51)

5. When You Judge People On The Basis Of External Observances

(Colossians 2:16)

6. When It Causes You To Speak Evil About Another Christian

(James 4:11)

7. When We Judge Other People's Motives And Question Why They Do What They Do

(1 Cor. 4:5)

IV. HOW TO BREAK THE HABIT OF JUDGING OTHERS

* Remember That I'll Be Judged By The Same Standards That I Use To Judge Other People

(Matthew 7:1-2)

* Remember That Each Of Us Is Accountable To God

(Romans 14:12-13)

* Remember How Much God Has Been Merciful To Me

(James 2:13)

Parable of Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:21-35)