Understanding The Critical Spirit

In the Bible, Jesus sounded a note of warning to believers that they shouldn’t be judgemental. Let’s see the book of Matthew.

Matt 7:1-5 (NKJV)

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Judge not, that you be not Judge, for with what judgment you judge, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Apart from the fact that Jesus warned His followers not to be judgemental in the above scripture. He also let us know that the same standard we use in judging others is the same standard by which we shall be judged. Jesus also said further that those who delighted in judging others should first remove the plank in their eyes, so that they can see clearly to be able to remove the speck (a tiny spot) from their brothers or sisters eyes.

In my journey in the christian faith, I realized that those who delighted in judging or criticizing others ended up doing what they criticized others for or something even worse than that.

Gal.6:1 (NKJV)

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Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

Apostle Paul, through his divine wisdom, was enjoining the Galatians that if any of them commits any sin, those who are spiritual among them, should restore such person back to faith in a spirit of gentleness so that they too will not fall into temptation. Now, what is the meaning of the word critical? Critical is judging severely and finding fault. Another name for critical spirit is fault finding spirit. Critical spirit is not a respecter of anybody. If you yield yourself to it, you will be under its whims and caprices. In my next post I will share with you how to know if you have a critical spirit. To be continued…