Beware of Criticizing Others

A weekend spent with inmates at Angola can’t help but raise many issues. One, of course, is the issue of judging others. For most, the hardest part in bringing one to a life committed to Christ is to achieve recognition that we are all sinners. Most folks think they are “pretty good” relatively speaking. We need to learn that God doesn’t grade on the curve. For the inmate at a high security prison, sentenced often to life without benefit of probation or parole, their sinful state and guilt is not an issue, in fact, it is a mattr of public record. 

What they need to to learn of Jesus’ forgiveness and His commitment to love them unconditionally. That’s the message we try to bring. We go, listen and love them without condition or judgment;

Jesus’ instructions with regard to judging others is very simply put; He says, “Don’t.” The average Christian is the most piercingly critical individual known. One of the great inhibitors to church growth is the “judgmental attitude” of Christians. 

Criticism is one of the ordinary activities of people, but in the spiritual realm nothing is accomplished by it. The effect of criticism is the dividing up of the strengths of the one being criticized. The Holy Spirit is the only one in the proper position to criticize, and He alone is able to show what is wrong without hurting and wounding. It is impossible to enter into fellowship with God when you are in a critical mood. Criticism serves to make you harsh, vindictive, and cruel, and leaves you with the soothing and flattering idea that you are somehow superior to others. Jesus says that as His disciple you should cultivate a temperament that is never critical. This will not happen quickly but must be developed over a span of time. You must constantly beware of anything that causes you to think of yourself as a superior person. Sometimes just a good, hard, honest look at ourselves is all it takes.

There is no escaping the penetrating search of my life by Jesus. If I see the little speck in your eye, it means that I have a plank of timber in my own (see Matthew 7:3-5 ). Every wrong thing that I see in you, God finds in me. Every time I judge, I condemn myself (see Romans 2:17-24 ). Stop having a measuring stick for other people. There is always at least one more fact, which we know nothing about, in every person’s situation. 

For these inmates, there has been a conviction of a violation of the law; but that’s never the whole story. There are always facts which the public never learns. These facts seldom excuse the crime; but would make one aware how close we are to being as guilty. We all need a cleansing.

The first thing God does is to give us a thorough spiritual cleaning. After that, there is no possibility of pride remaining in us. I have never met a person I could despair of, or lose all hope for, after discerning what lies in me apart from the grace of God.

When the spirit of criticism shows up; take a deep long look in the mirror; and be humble and, ultimately, blessed that God would love me.

Nick