Do you have a judgmental or critical attitude? Do you constantly see faults in others? Do you find yourself continually criticizing your boss, your parents, your ministers—and even your God?
Certainly, righteous judgment is our Christian responsibility. We are to live by God’s righteous judgments— to honor them and apply them in our lives (Psalm 119:106).
But how often do we go too far, presuming to judge what is not our responsibility to judge? How can we discern the difference between judging righteous judgment, and maintaining a carnal mindset of criticism?
Human nature is filled with vanity, pride, the tendency to judge others and the arrogance of thinking we are “always” right. Yet the Apostle James wrote, “Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge” (James 4:11).
Sometimes, we forget that God is the Judge of all (Hebrews 12:23). If there is injustice somewhere, God will eventually deal with it. One of the principal characteristics of true conversion is to overcome a critical spirit (a satanic attitude), and to submit to God’s Holy Spirit—a Spirit of love, harmony and peace. Life is a challenge of making choices. Overcoming a judgmental attitude is a matter of choice.
We all have responsibilities in life. In a family, the father, the mother and the children all have different duties. At work, the employer and the employees have different tasks. But sometimes our perspectives clash. We tend to think that our way of doing things is better than others’. Remember one obvious truth: No human being is perfect. No human being is righteous (Romans 3:10–18). We all have human nature. We all make mistakes and fall short. Mindful of this, we must take great care in exercising our judgment of one another (cf. Romans 2:1–3; Matthew 7:1–5).
Parents have a duty to correct their children. Supervisors have a responsibility to correct their employees. Christians are commended for searching the Scriptures to ensure that they are receiving correct teaching (Acts 17:10–11). But when we go beyond our God-given responsibilities, we are no longer faithful stewards; we are carnal critics. We must guard against this tendency in our lives!
Gossip
Often, a judgmental or critical attitude is accompanied by gossip. God detests gossip and the spreading of rumors. He commanded: “You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people; nor shall you take a stand against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord. You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord” (Leviticus 19:16–18).
Generally speaking, those who are not engaged in productive work—those whose minds are not occupied—are more likely to gossip and spread rumors. When you are busy accomplishing, you do not have time to tear others down. But if you are not working hard, you may find it easier to criticize someone else’s work than to improve your own. The Apostle Paul plainly warned against this attitude (1 Timothy 5:11–13). His warning applies to all those who are idle and who tend to spread rumors about others.
Where It Began
Critical attitudes are widespread in our world. Satan the devil influences a spirit of criticism in human beings (Ephesians 2:2). Lucifer, who became Satan the devil, was jealous— envious—of God’s authority. He wanted to overthrow and replace God. He was critical of God and murmured against Him, infecting one-third of the angels with a bad attitude (Isaiah 14:12–15; Ezekiel 28:11–16; Revelation 12:3–4). Today, he continues to infect susceptible humans with this same spiritual disease.
Through the ages, God’s Church has suffered attacks from those who have pretended to be more righteous than others, holding their own opinions above others’. But God has called us to His Church to humble ourselves before Him and to learn to respect one another, to love and to esteem each other better than ourselves. “Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:1–5).
God Is the Judge
We may lament those, in the world, who have turned away from God—but we should take comfort in knowing that in His time, God will intervene and bring about the necessary change (1 Corinthians 4:5; 5:13; Revelation 11:1–2). It may not be your place to solve their problems now. The principle is the following: Change what is in your domain to change—and, provided that it is not against God’s commandments, trust God to intervene in those matters you cannot change.
Sometimes we do not understand God’s ways, and do not understand why He allows certain events to occur. I remember an accident in France some years ago in which 50 people—including children—lost their lives. People asked themselves, “Where was God? Why did He allow this?” In a way, people were judging God. They did not understand that God is always good and fair, and that He loves everyone (Matthew 5:45). Certainly, accidents sometimes occur when we are imprudent, negligent and irresponsible. I would even go so far as to say that we must wait for the fulfillment of end-time events—wait for the fulfillment of God’s plan on this earth— before we will be able to understand the full picture and the reason behind many things we see today. Our present situation is like starting to watch a movie after it is halfway over. Much of the storyline will be very hard to understand.
Consider Job’s example. He was a blameless and upright man (Job 1:1). God had blessed him, but when adversities befell him, Job had all sorts of questions. He was bewildered and wondered: why, why, why? He did not understand the reasons behind his trial. God did. But Job was ignorant, and his three friends could not answer his questions either. Job did not see the purpose for his sufferings. God did not answer Job’s questions directly. God only showed him His infinite power and wisdom. At that point, Job finally understood. “Then Job answered the Lord and said: ‘I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. You asked, “Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?” Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. Listen, please, and let me speak; You said, “I will question you, and you shall answer Me.” I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes’” (Job 42:1–6). Unless you and I arrive at this same conclusion, we are not really converted.
God’s plan and His will are perfect. The Apostle Paul described God’s plan as the work of a Master Potter: “What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! For He says to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.’ So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, ‘For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.’ Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. You will say to me then, ‘Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?’ But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why have you made me like this?’ Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?” (Romans 9:14–21).
As Christians, we should search God’s will and guidance in the right way, even if it means that sometimes we will need to be corrected to learn lessons. In the correction that God gives us, He shows us His love and goodness. King David preferred God’s chastisement over chastisement by humans. “And David said to Gad, ‘I am in great distress. Please let us fall into the hand of the Lord, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man’” (2 Samuel 24:14).
Righteous Judgment
The Apostle Peter wrote: “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now ‘If the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?’ Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator” (1 Peter 4:17–19).
One day, under Christ’s guidance, we will judge the world. But to qualify for this future responsibility, we must fulfill our present responsibilities—not other people’s. If we see a fault in someone else, is it our responsibility to help that person improve? If so, we should extend our helping hand. But where it is not our responsibility to help, we need to cease from criticizing others and from spreading rumors. We must learn to discern the difference between a carnal, critical attitude of judgment, and an approach of righteous judgment. Especially if we are not directly involved, we may not know all the facts of the matter—and even if we are involved, we must use wisdom and caution in our approach. The judges of Israel were instructed to: “let the fear of the Lord be upon you; take care and do it, for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God, no partiality, nor taking of bribes” (2 Chronicles 19:7). God sets us the perfect example of righteous judgment, “For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe. He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing” (Deuteronomy 10:17–18). God is training righteous judges, not carnal critics. If we follow His teachings and persevere until the end, we will receive a reward according to our works (Luke 19:12–26; Revelation 19:2, 7–9).