The Harmful Roots of Criticism
A brother wronged is more unyielding than a fortified city; disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel. Proverbs 18:19 NIV
While I was flipping through my study Bible recently, my eyes landed on a passage about criticism. As I began to read, I only got a few sentences into the article when I felt a heavy conviction flood over me. God immediately brought to my attention a conversation I previously had with my husband. But the flood of memories didn’t stop there. That conversation immediately flowed into a conversation I had with my son a couple of months back. But the flood didn’t stop there either. Next, were conversations that I had with my daughter, a friend, a coworker, and even a stranger.
Do you want to know the common theme that was found in the flood of memories of conversations that God sent my way?
Criticism - in the form of my bold and brassy not-so-nice opinion forced on the individuals that I hold dear in my life and those I didn’t even know.
Truth be told, this revelation from God revealed some of my most shameful moments.
Criticism is one of the most dangerous and damaging tools that the enemy uses through us. True story! When we are critical of others, we allow ourselves to be a tool that the enemy can use to tear others down and damage their spirits. To criticize means, “to express disapproval, disparage, assess, censure, pass judgment, complain, condemn, blast, lash out, nitpick, and pick holes.” When we criticize our spouse or our children, we are condemning and belittling them.
The harmful roots of criticism wrap themselves around a person and eventually break their spirit causing lasting destruction that sometimes is carried to their grave. When these evil roots are left in a relationship, they bring discontentment and eventually separation which is just what the enemy desires.
And when a person constantly nitpicks and criticizes another person, it opens up the door for demonic attacks to be inflicted upon all those involved. God looks upon a critical person just like he looked on Miriam in Numbers 12. Miriam and Aaron spoke out against Moses in a very critical manner. God was very angry with them both and struck Miriam with leprosy. Leprosy is a skin-and-nerve disease and was a very serious thing back in Bible times. If someone had leprosy, no one would associate with them at all or even be in the same vicinity with them. They were considered unclean and outcasts of society.
Proverbs 18:19 states, “A brother wronged is more unyielding than a fortified city; disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.
Dear friend, we may not be walking around with the physical disease of leprosy but sometimes I wonder how many people might be struggling with spiritual leprosy. See, the problem with spiritual leprosy is that on the outside everything looks fine, but the inside is diseased and honestly, the inside of our heart is what God sees and cares about.
When we have a heart that is pumping out criticism rather than kindness and the offended person is never redeemed or restored, it can cause a root of bitterness to take root, not to mention low self-esteem with years and years of issue after issue.
But how do we combat falling into the trap of the enemy of being the one who dishes out criticism?
The two main components to battling the temptation of a critical spirit are:
Stay closely connected to God’s Word and allow the Holy Spirit to change us from the inside out.
When we find ourselves being critical of others, be quick to apologize, ask for forgiveness, and seek reconciliation.
Sweet friend, there is freedom in reconciliation. God delights in a heart that’s humble enough to recognize when we have wronged others and take the necessary steps to ask for forgiveness and make it right.
Dear God,
Thank you for showing me in your Word when I have acted in a way that didn’t bring you glory. You are always so faithful to reveal to me your best for my life. Thank you for your convicting power that teaches me where I step out of line and how you lovingly help me see how to make it right. I want to conduct myself in a way that brings you the most glory. Forgive me when I don’t. I love you, In Jesus name, Amen.
Dig Deeper:
Finally[a] brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things. 9 Do what you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:8-9 CSB
Reflection:
How do you struggle with criticism? Who in your life are you the most critical of? Who has God placed on your heart that you need to ask for their forgiveness? What is one step you can take today be less critical?