"A CRITICAL SPIRIT"

[Jerry Bridges with CJ Mahaney]

"Most of us can slip into the sin of judgmentalism from time to time. But there are those among us who practice it continually. These people have what I call a critical spirit. They look for and find fault with everyone and everything. Regardless of the topic of conversation--whether it's a person, a church, an event, or anything--they end up speaking in a disparaging manner. I'm not writing about theoretical people. I've been with some of them, and they are not pleasant to be around. .....

Sometimes a spouse, either the husband or wife, can be a continual fault finder toward the other or toward one or more of the children. The object of such continual criticism begins to think he or she can't do anything right.

...there is plenty of evidence all around us of this sin's sinfulness. It is often said that it takes seven compliments to undo the effects of one criticism. So let's examine ourselves; or better yet, let's subject ourselves to the examination of others. Do we have a critical spirit? Do we continually find fault with others, especially members of our own family or members of our own church?

..."Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind" (Romans 14:5). Such a statement makes many of us uncomfortable. We don't like ambiguity in issues of Christian practice. It's difficult for us to accept that one person's opinion can be different from ours and both of us be accepted by God. But that is what Paul says in Roamns 14. And if we will take Paul seriously and hold our convictions with humility, it will help us avoid the sin of judgmentalism." -Jerry Bridges

I went through a period of having a critical spirit. I would write to my local Christian radio station, WRBS, and I had a lot to say about how the station was way out of God's will.

Finally the program manager sent me an e-mail:

"Don,
I’ve never done this before. I’ve never sent a listener an e-mail that was not in response to one sent earlier. But, I am curious. In fact, all three of us are.

We’re aware of your comments on the Listener Advisory Panel and our TMD blog. Whether you mean to or not, you come across (and I get that e-mail, blog posts, and comments to our surveys is a terrible way to communicate the nuance of emotions) as someone who really doesn’t like what we’re doing in the morning. Yet, you obviously listen and read the blog, etc…

Here’s the reason I’m writing. I’m finding a critical spirit developing in me when I see one of your comments. That’s not right…my reaction, that is. What I’d like to do, if you’d be so gracious, is to get a better understanding of your heart. You appear to be someone who is passionate about the Truth. Amen! We are too. ..."

He said some other things as well, which were in the same frame of kindness and wanting to know what was going on in my heart.

We had an e-mail exchange. And then I shared this with my friend/pastor, Dave Shive. And I was convicted that I had a critical spirit.

I apologized to the radio station people, and we were reconciled. I still communicate with the radio station, in fact they still send me their "Listener Advisory Panel" each month to fill out, however, I try very hard to be less critical. Though I must say, some of the songs they play on the radio are insipid. And I simply let them know that that's my opinion, for what it's worth.

I appreciate Dr. Bridges words here, and I am taking them to heart. For I do not want to be overly judgmental, nor cause discord, which hinders the Gospel really, and so brings no glory to God's holy name.