Critical
I must confess that there are times when I’ve had a “critical spirit” about me. The people who know me well, know that it’s not real often. I must catch myself when I’m in a funk and I’m negative about almost everything and everyone. Usually when I find myself in this spot, I’m truly miserable because of something unrelated or unidentified.
As a Christ follower, I must really be careful about having a critical spirit as it can destroy my relationships with fellow believers and friends. Paul addresses this with his letter to the church at Rome. Check this out…
1Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. 2 For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. 3 Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. (Romans 14:1-4 NLT)
I have met people who “know it all”. If I have any doubts, I just ask them a question and they start “spewing” all their knowledge on the subject. There are people who have an opinion on EVERYTHING and don’t mind sharing it. I can figure out how to deal with “know it all’s”, but those who have a “critical spirit” are a big challenge. There have been times when I simply call it out of another person. It is awkward and uncomfortable, but I simply can’t be around a person with a negative or critical spirit for very long. They suck the very life out of me.
I believe criticism is negative.
I believe criticism can destroy relationships.
I believe criticism is self-centered.
I believe criticism is very harmful and destructive in the community of believers.
I must be careful with everything I say and how I say it. I may not have the same convictions as another. I can find something negative to say about everyone and everything. The opposite of that is true – I can find something good to say about everyone and everything. I must choose to be positive instead of critical/negative.
The Lord doesn’t need me to jump into the role of judge and law enforcement for Him. He needs me to love deeply and encourage others no matter where they are in their journey of faith. A critical spirit in me doesn’t help anyone – including me.
Pressing On!
Dwayne