A CRITICAL SPIRIT

What is a critical spirit? A “critical spirit” is an obsessive attitude of criticism and faultfinding, which seeks to tear down others. The only criticism that is ever constructive is that which is expressed in love to “build up” and not to tear down. It is always expressed face to face and never behind someone’s back. The person with a critical spirit usually dwells on the negative, seeks for flaws rather than good. They are complainers, usually upset, and generally have a problem or a complaint about something. They often have little control over their tongue and temper.

There is something very damaging about a critical spirit. Over time, when left un-checked, it prevents one from seeing and appreciating all that is truly good in the world and all that God is actively doing. A critical spirit is like putting on sunglasses at night. Everything in life begins to take on a dark, drab color. Critical people not only hurt themselves but they are also affecting others as well. Those who have a positive attitude will avoid those who have a critical, negative attitude. People that are critical usually lack self-esteem. They criticize other people because that makes them feel better about themselves.

Having a critical spirit and a reckless judgmental attitude is setting up ourselves as God. A critical spirit discourages others. Rather than looking to others with a critical spirit and judging them, we should rather look to ourselves and judge ourselves. Only by evaluating ourselves will we be able to resist the temptation to evaluate others. God is the ultimate judge of all things. We usually don’t have all the facts and we certainly don’t have the ability to look into someone’s heart. Therefore, as believers we should never engage in the kind of absolute criticism and condemnation that so many people do.

Negative and critical people come with warning signs. They live in a state of perpetual doom and gloom. They begin every sentence with negative statements. They make snide and disrespectful remarks to and about others. They are obnoxious and spread negativity like poison and they are ultimately the people who cause us the most negative stress in our lives. This kind of attitude has no place in the life of a Christian. A critical attitude can hinder our walk with God and suck the joy and energy from our lives. I have learned when I encounter a negative person to never listen to their nonsense.

Discovering and removing the negative influences in our life will help us more than we realize. Studies show that our own thoughts, attitudes and behaviors are a reflection of the people we spend the most time with. Those who are negative and critical often make mountains out of mole hills. Each day, we are faced with a decision and need to say to ourselves, “I can either allow these people to ruin my day and my actions for that day, or I can choose to rise above them, completely remove them from my life, or speak motivating words to them and move on.”

WHAT IS WRONG WITH GOSSIP

What is gossip? Though the word “gossip” does not appear in the Bible, the concept does. Funk and Wagnall’s Dictionary defines gossip as “idle talk or malicious talk about others.” Gossip is second or third hand information that someone dumps on you without your prior consent and without the consent of the person being gossiped about. Gossip is not just a bad habit. Unfortunately, some Christians do not usually consider gossip and its related activity as sin. However, gossip is a seething disease of corruption from the mouth. Gossips use their mouth as a weapon…a weapon that is always aimed at people to fulfill Satan’s desire to “steal, kill and destroy.” (John 10:10) NIV

What is a busybody? A “busybody” is a close relative to gossip…a person who meddles in the affairs of others The Bible places a busybody in the same company as murderers, thieves, and evildoers. “But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evil doer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.” (1 Peter 4:15) KJV Gossip is an enemy to God and everything holy-----a cancer that spreads a deadly infection to the body of Christ. Gossip always distorts and exaggerates and is never a reliable source of truth.

Slander is a word that has an interesting origin. It comes from the word “devil.” According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, slander means: “malicious talk, to spread damaging information, to defame, and to speak evil of others.” Slander is the work of Satan and those who slander are on his team. The Bible says that Satan is called the “accuser of the brethren.” (Revelation 12:10) KJV The Bible defines slander as accusatory speech that is injurious to a person’s “name” and “reputation”…the act of smearing someone. Gossip and slander color people’s perceptions of an individual unfairly and unjustly without their knowledge or consent.

Gossip is the most deadly poison on earth.  Like bullets fired from a gun, words cannot be taken back. Gossip and slander can ruin reputations, families, break up marriages, separate friends, destroy communities and even divide churches. One of the hallmark qualities of a true friend is someone who refuses to gossip about you behind your back. Talebearers usually avoid speaking directly to the one they are demeaning. Have you ever noticed the speech that “tears down others” travels like a brush fire, but news of repentance and restoration seems to move along at a “snail’s pace?” As believers, we should avoid all association with persons who gossips. Apostle Paul wrote, “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” (Ephesians 5:11) NIV

We need to think before we speak. Is it true, is it helpful, is it inspiring, is it necessary, and is it kind? If what we are about to say does not pass these tests, we should keep silent. “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” (Ephesians 4:29) KJV The root of both gossip and slander is simply this: saying something about someone that ought not to be said.

CULTIVATING SELF-CONTROL

Today’s society is a society characterized by excesses and addictions. We need to realize that we are capable of indulging in these un-healthy behaviors if we do not exercise self-control. A person who has self-control avoids extreme behavior and exercises self-restraint in both actions and speech. Restraint and self-control aren’t always easy because we have our own free will and we must choose to be of good behavior and temperate in our conduct. Our motivation and goal should be to have every area of our lives under control so we can accomplish God’s purposes in our lives.

We all experience times when we simply do not know what to do. We want to do the right thing, but we are stuck in a gray area of not knowing what that might be. The Bible not only has special instructions about what we should or should not do, but it gives us principles about our behavior too. Henry Ward Beecher said, “The Bible is God’s chart for you to steer by, to keep you from the bottom of the sea, and to show you where the harbor is, and how to reach it without running aground on rocks.”

Self-control is one of the greatest abilities we can have. Self-control and self-discipline work together. Sometimes we may entertain improper feelings that urge us to do something that is mentally, physically, or spiritually harmful. Temptation feeds on these feelings and this is where we either win or lose the battle against sinful behaviors that will spiral our lives out of control if they are put into action. It is very important that we exercise self-control of our thoughts, emotions and speech. Our mind is a fertile ground where sinful thoughts begin. Sinful thoughts are like a deadly disease. If we don’t deal with these thoughts in the very beginning they will become actions in the real world and will wreak devastation in our lives. The more we prevent the spread of sinful thoughts, the less we will have to wrestle with them. We can’t let garbage build up in our minds. Too often we know what to do, but we do not do it. Instead, we allow our emotions to over rule our judgment.

The question we must ask ourselves is: “Who or what controls our lives?” We need to constantly discipline our bodies by avoiding any activities that would be harmful to them. We must discipline our thinking by being cautious about what we read, watch or think. We must determine to feed our minds truth and purity. Our spiritual life must be disciplined by developing habits of Bible study and prayer. Without self-control we can easily be led into sin that will hinder us in our spiritual walk. Our goal should be to master those things that will destroy us. Sound judgment is critical to the exercise of self-control. Sound judgment enables us to determine the boundaries of moderation in our appetites, desires, and habits. It helps us regulate our thoughts and keep our emotions under control. Paul gave us some great advice, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.”(Philippians 4:8) NIV This is the key to help us keep our thoughts pure.