Critical Alert!!!

Criticism (def) - the expression of disapproval of someone or something based on perceived faults or mistakes. We do like to be right, don't we? And when we are right, it comes from a perceived vantage point of power. But not in our faith walk!! Paul wrote to the church in Rome in Romans 14: 1 Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. ² For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. ³ Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. ⁴ Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall. And with the Lord’s help, they will stand and receive his approval. I really have to work on this one and realize that just because I am right or I think I am right, criticizing others doesn't deepen the point, but actually muddies the point with a wrong attitude.

Psychologists say that this attitude comes from a self-perception of being "less" and trying to make ourselves seem in a better position by criticizing others. Jesus was pretty "world opposite" about how we perceive ourselves and others, and in Matthew 23 He hammered the pure truth of how we should be. Matthew 23:¹¹ The greatest among you must be a servant. ¹² But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. You may say, "But I want to make my point and win," to which Jesus says, "Your humble attitude will be 'your point,' and let your Godly life speak more than words from a wrong attitude. That really speaks to my heart, and thank you, God, for your grace and mercy, so I can change completely.

When I became "Facebook active" just to make my point, I actually put myself in a position of compromise in my faith. Matthew 20:¹⁶ “So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.” Claning cymbals are those of us who criticize without love and judge without God's blessing to do so. Jesus is saying, "Warning, warning," and we must stop to grow in our faith walk. I am saying "me first," so here we go. This is a "critical alert!"

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David Warren