QUESTION #9.Do we criticize unlovingly, harshly, severely? Are we always finding fault and looking for the flaws in others?
Let me say two words to you; Carrie Underwood. What comes to mind? Perhaps the Sound of Music Live from this past week? If so, let me comment here that immediately my social media feeds were filled with very critical remarks as people viewed her performance. Now I saw her acting in the movie Soul Surfer a few years ago, so I knew it wasn’t her top strength. Even if I hadn’t seen her act before, it would have been unfair to compare her to Julie Andrews. I tuned in via my laptop on a fuzzy streamed webcast as I enjoyed the show and was captivated until the end. It was theater and a LIVE performance for 2 &1/2 hours in front of 18+million people! Whew! My hats goes off to her and the whole cast!
I share this example because particularly in the United States, our culture is so quick to criticize and find the faults in someone. Who cares if Carrie’s acting wasn’t absolutely perfect, she’s a ridiculously gifted singer and might I add a multiple award winner. As a believer, I was grateful for such a wholesome family show being aired on NBC and prayers mentioning God, the Son, and Holy Ghost spoken over the airwaves. Carrie later responded to critics on her Twitter by saying, “Plain and simple: Mean people need Jesus. They will be in my prayers tonight. 1 Peter 2:1-25” I applaud her response. Do we respond like this in midst of our critics?
A critical spirit is ultimately based in fear or jealousy. This certainly needs to be eliminated to make room for Jesus in our hearts. When Jesus was faced with situations where he could have criticized another like in John chapter 8 with the woman caught in adultery, he extended grace and forgiveness. His words brought about positive change in people’s lives that empowered them to live in freedom not in bondage to their sin. Being a person who is harsh in our words doesn’t bring life to others or to ourselves.
To conclude today’s blog, I’m going to skip over to the application aspect to ask ourselves some questions;
APPLICATION:
1. Am I allowing my heart to be influenced by media? Do I gravitate towards critical news columns, blogs, and do I laugh at people’s harsh statements?
2. Am I trying to compensate for my own insecurities by exploiting someone else’s weakness?
3. Am I delighted in other’s successes or am I intimidated by them?
4. Am I secure in my strengths and maximizing those potentials as opposed to focusing on areas people are critical of? Am I content to be who God made me to be?
SCRIPTURES:
Proverbs 18:13 Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish.
Romans 12:3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
Hebrews 10:24 Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds.