A Critical Spirit

Have you ever spent much time around someone who is critical? They criticize situations. They criticize people. They criticize those in authority. Many even criticize the church and their brothers and sisters. 

In my observation, those who continually critcize are, generally speaking, unhappy and miserable people. Nothing is ever right. They find fault with nearly everything and everyone around them. Frankly, they are not pleasant people to be around. 

The Bible has some things to say about this. Let’s go right to the Source. 

James 4:11-12 CSB

[11] Don't criticize one another, brothers and sisters. Anyone who defames or judges a fellow believer defames and judges the law. If you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. [12] There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

James 5:9 CSB

Brothers and sisters, do not complain about one another, so that you will not be judged. Look, the judge stands at the door! 

 It has been said that there are three questions we should ask ourselves before indulging in criticism of others: 

1. . What good does it do your brother or sister you are criticizing? 
2. What good does it do yourself? 
3. What glory for God is in it?

According to the Believer’s Bible Commentary on this these two verses, “The royal law of love says that we should love our neighbor as ourselves. To speak evil against a brother, therefore, or to judge his motives, is the same as speaking against this law and condemning it as worthless. To break a law deliberately is to treat it with disrespect and contempt. It is the same as saying that the law is not good, and not worthy of obedience. ‘He who refuses obedience virtually says it ought not to be law.’ Now this puts the one who speaks evil of a brother in the strange position of being a judge rather than one who is to be judged. He sets himself up as being superior to the law rather than subject to it. But only God is superior to the law; He is the One who gave it and the One who judges by it. Who then has the audacity to usurp the place of God and judge another?”

It is easy to point a finger at others. It is easy to be critical. Unfortunately many professing Christians have far too much experience in this. 

Instead of a critical spirit let’s show a compassionate spirit toward others. Let’s lend a hand. Let’s pray for them. Let’s be there for them to lean on and to sound off to. Let’s allow God to use us to make a change in someone’s life. 

Until next time...enjoy the journey!

Ray

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