Speaking Evil of One Another.

James 4:11-12 (ESV)
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. [12] There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?
“Don’t speak evil against one another, brothers.” I don’t know, but I think this probably happens a bit too much. And I think this is the pet sin of the “conservative” the “confessional” crowds. I admit guilt. I’ve done it. Today it is too easy to do. The problem of internet porn pales in comparison to the problem of internet slander. It’s too easy. And rather than approaching our brothers in private to correct them gently so they might actually hear. Somehow we think berating them in public is the better route to go. It isn’t. It is much better to reprove in private, yes even for public sins. There may come a time, there are times to reprove a brother publicly. But if our goal is repentance, it is probably better to approach them privately as a brother, rather than publicly as a judge.