Stop criticizing one another

Romans 14:13 (God’s Word Translation)

So let’s stop criticizing each other. Instead, you should decide never to do anything that would make other Christians have doubts or lose their faith. 

Criticism—what an ugly word.  Criticism is the opposite of encouragement.  Encouraging others is taught clearly in the Bible, but criticizing others  is to be avoided.  Yet, might you agree that the average person is much more inclined to criticize than to encourage others?  Criticism is putting others down, finding fault, expressing disapproval.  Indeed, in this passage, the word translated as “criticizing” is the same word used for judging or condemning others.  A bad word, not to be practiced in the Christian life.

Yet, Christians criticize as much or more than anyone else.  Ask any pastor and he will agree with this.  It’s so easy to find fault, to judge others, to put others down, this has been true throughout the history of mankind.  We are criticized by parents, siblings, friends, neighbors, teachers, coaches, bosses, and, yes, even other Christian brothers and sisters. 

Remember what Jesus taught about criticizing others?  In Matthew 7:1-5, He asked why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye and not see the log that is in your own eye? (A great example of the humor of our Lord).  Why is it that the natural tendency of humans is to think of themselves superior to others, without fault while others are at fault, and not to treat others as you yourself wish to be treated? 

Constructive criticism can be a kind of encouragement, more like exhortation that the apostle Paul was excellent at doing (e.g. read almost any of his chapters, but some good ones examples--Romans 6, I Corinthians 5, and Ephesians 4-6).  Good parents, teachers, coaches, pastors, leaders and mentors are good because they can appropriately criticize constructively that in the long run is an encouragement to others.  Constructive criticism is not judging on the basis of no respect, no caring, and no love, but the opposite; it is helping on the basis of respect, caring, and love.  I’ll never forget the courage of a young woman, years ago, who confronted me over what she thought was my unfair judgment of someone else.  It initially hurt me to hear her words of constructive criticism, but she was right and I was wrong.  She helped me, through her criticism in a loving way, to avoid doing that again. 

Criticism of another believer will cause him/her to have doubts or to lose faith.  You are to exhort and encourage others, not be so critical that they withdraw and lose faith.  How many people have been victimized by zealous, unloving Christian critics?    

While you can do your part to stop criticizing others, you likely will never avoid hearing criticism from others.  The best you can do is to be wise and not over-react to what you hear. Wise people can turn something negative into something positive.  Wise people are able to learn something from criticism.  Someone wisely noted that if you even are able to thank the critic for his remarks, you might win him over because it shows humility on your part.

Reflect on your life right now and determine if you being the kind of person that this passage tells you not to be.  Pray about this and if you know that you have offended someone through your unloving criticism, contact him/her and ask for forgiveness.  Your heart and soul will feel so good because of your humble admission of sin.