Criticism: the expression of disapproval of someone or something based on perceived faults or mistakes.
Biblical criticism is helpful, loving, and based on truth. Correction is to be gentle. It comes from love, not from a sour personality. Galatians 5:22-23 says the Spirit wants to produce in us love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. If criticism cannot be expressed in keeping with the fruit of the Spirit, it’s better left unsaid.
Since God loves people and wants the best for them, He points out faults, shortcomings, and sins. The Bible gives several examples of criticism:
- "You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did" (Acts 7:51).
-"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. . .. So, because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth" (Revelation 3:15-16).
-Our speech should be edifying. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, "Therefore encourage one another and build up one another."
- Hebrews 10:24 says, "Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds."
- Galatians 6:1 gives the primary motivation for criticizing—with a warning: "Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted."
The Bible gives even more specifics on how to ensure our criticism is edifying:
- Ephesians 4:15 (“speaking the truth in love”) should be our primary guide in criticism. Godly criticism is true and loving. It comes from a humble, caring heart that wishes the best for the other person. It is not bitter, condescending, insulting, or cold-hearted.
- 2 Timothy 2:24-25 says, "The Lord’s bondservant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition.
Make sure criticism is based on truth.
- Criticism based on hearsay is not helpful; it is gossip. Uninformed criticism will usually wind up embarrassing the critic when the truth is revealed (see Proverbs 18:13). The self-righteous Pharisees criticized Jesus based on their own faulty standards; truth was not on their side. We can properly be critical of what the Bible is critical of.
- 2 Timothy 3:16 says that Scripture is profitable for reproof and correction. In other words, God’s inspired Word leads us to critically analyze everyday situations.
Beware of a critical spirit.
- There is a significant difference between helping someone improve and having a critical spirit. A critical spirit is never pleased. A critical spirit expects and finds disappointment wherever it looks. It is the opposite of 1 Corinthians 13: a critical spirit arrogantly judges, is easily provoked, accounts for every wrong, and never carries any hope of being pleased. Such an attitude damages the critiqued as well as the critic.
-Do not criticize and do not listen to someone else criticize. It creates division and it does something to you.
Prayer: Father, God, I thank you that you don’t criticize, help me to be like you Jesus! Help me to always look past one’s fault and forgive like you forgive. In Jesus name, Amen.
Exercise
Ask yourself: Has having a critical attitude cost me anything in the past?
Scripture Reference
Proverbs 15:31-33 If you listen to constructive criticism, you will be at home among the wise. If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding. Fear of the LORD teaches wisdom; humility precedes honor.
Romans 14:1 Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters.
James 3:6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.