A Critical Mind and a Prideful Heart

Discovering

After coming to know the Lord, I became ravenous for the Word. I sought to know this God who had lavished love on my wretched soul. Over the years, this increasing knowledge helped me to discern truth from error in my own thinking about God and desire for holiness. It also helped me to see where much of the Christianity that was lived out around me, the church government I witnessed and the sermons I heard, didn't actually square with with God's Word.

Recovering

This is a good and right thing to process the information we receive, determine it's validity and seek to correct error (John 7:24). Not only is it your duty, but it is helpful to the Church (if done biblically). I would have you consider something though... Can this good thing become bad? I would argue that in this area of life, we are most often prone to fall into subtle forms of pride. We often speak of others short comings with no regard for our own weaknesses. We talk of the inadequacies or imperfections of other ministries without acknowledging the imperfections in our own (or worse, offering critique from the sidelines).

Jesus rebuked the religious leaders of the day not only for saddling people with man-made rules but also for not lifting a finger to help them (Matthew 23:4). They had created an environment in which they elevated themselves above others (at the very least in their own minds) by judging others imperfections with no regard to their own (Luke 18:11).

Furthermore, Jesus taught that His people should be careful not exercise this kind of uncharitable, prideful judgement in John 7...

7 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.

So we must be cautious or we all can end up falling into this sin.

Examination

After much consideration and seeking recovery for my own prideful heart (I have been guilty of many of the aforementioned), I offer some questions for self diagnosis and a treatment for a sin sick heart.

Do you seldom find something good in your object of critique?

Or, do you primarily see the faults in others?

Do your critiques of others primarily take place behind their back?

Could you find anything good in that sermon, that church or the way the situation was handled?

Think about the conversations you have had this week... How many of them have included discussions that were critical of others?

How often has your criticism lead you to pray for this person or ministry?

Have you sought influence with your object of critique so that you might be able to speak into their lives?

When you seek to correct, do you ever do it through encouragement? Or, is it always through rebuke?

The Treatment

So how do we become humble in situations when we see error? Ultimately we must see ourselves in light of the Gospel. Meditate on the mercy of God to you in Christ Jesus... Did God to point out your own error and just leave you there? Or, just tell others about your error? No! He comes near to sinners in the incarnation. During His time on earth, He never compromised truth and yet rendered it in fellowship and love.

Furthermore, we must realize that all the things that we do get right in ministry and life are from Him, to Him and through Him. You don't get anything right, outside of the work of the Holy Spirit. Praise your God for His goodness to you!

So where we see other's failures and missteps, draw near to them. Seek to correct and clarify the issue, while showing that you are unabashedly for them. You may just build up the Church in truth, love and unity.