Critical Spirit?
Have you ever been scrolling social media or watching someone and thought things like: “That’s some kind of hair! Where did they find that outfit? That’s just plain ugly! Oh my! Horrendous! Boy are they fat. Idiot. Stupid.” I could go on, but I hope you get my drift.
I’m guilty. These thoughts are not pretty, and I don’t always keep them to myself. Yes, I speak what I am thinking. This thinking and speech are wrong because they reveal a critical spirit. It reveals sins. It reveals my sin.
So, I wonder: Why is my thinking so critical and why would I share those critical thoughts? Well, What I have realized is I’ve not been minding my thoughts. I dropped my guard. I didn’t stop the thought before it finished. Not only did I not acknowledge it was critical but worse, I didn’t acknowledge it as a sin.
As a Christ follower, I am to examine my thoughts and behaviors against what God says in His word about my thoughts and behaviors. There is no place for critical thoughts and words because they tear down, put down, demean, and could even demoralize. Why would I want to do this? I am to build up and encourage others.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m all about speaking and living the truth of God’s Word but it is to be done in love. Through the filter of God’s Word, I might think someone’s behavior to be foolish or discern they lack wisdom. Their behavior may be contrary to God’s Word so I might find them offensive, outrageous, their attire immodest, to be untruthful, and thus unattractive from a spiritual standpoint. But this does not give me license to think down on or talk down to or about anyone. If truth is to be spoken it is to be done because I love the person. After all, God loves them. Oh my, He’s been so gracious to me, so forgiving, so patient, and overlooks so many of my faults, I have no right to be critical of others. He sent Jesus to die in my place. I, His enemy, a sinner, and helpless to do anything about my enemy, sinner, helpless state. Mind your mind, Sally!
Sure, there is much we can be critical of and once I allowed those critical thoughts to become a daily way of life, I started becoming critical of silly things. Eyebrows come to mind. How silly of me. What a waste of thought. There is no love in criticism.
I’m working on my thoughts by recognizing when they are critical and asking the Lord to forgive me. To think about it and then say it is even worse so I’m asking the Lord to put a guard over my mind and my mouth. As soon as a critical thought enters my mind, I’m going to try to remember to just pray for the person instead.
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
2 Corinthians 10:5-6
We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.
Colossians 4:6
Your speech must always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.
Matthew 5:21-22
“You have heard that [a]the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT MURDER,’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be answerable to the court.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be answerable to the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be answerable to the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.
