Don’t Criticize One Another
Romans 14:1-12, 19; James 4:11-12
One of the most difficult challenges I have faced as a Ph.D. student is to learn to be critical in my reading and study and yet to fight against having a critical spirit in relation to others. An overly critical spirit serves as evidence that the grace of God is not actively making you more into the image of Christ. Though being a Christian does not mean that you should not, or cannot, find fault in others, it does mean that you should first seek out the good in your brothers and sisters in Christ before finding and pointing out their faults.
The problem with criticism: In James 4:11, we read that we should not speak evil of our brothers. It is important to understand this distinction – some translations translate this word as “criticize,” but the criticism spoken of by James is one that is akin to slander. James is not saying here that we are not to hold our fellow Christians accountable, but he is saying that our attitude toward them should be one that honors Christ. Slander is not acceptable for a believer. In their book, “Why Churches Die,” Mac Brunson and Ergun Caner go so far as to say that “God sees slander as a dangerous threat to hearts and lives, equal to murder.” When we wrongly accuse our brothers and sisters in Christ through gossip and slander, we cause serious destruction to their lives.
The need for acceptance: Rather than living as judges in God’s church, Paul encourages us to behave more like a welcoming committee. In Romans 14, he encourages the believers in Rome to welcome weaker believers, “but not to quarrel over opinions.” He goes even further and exhorts the church to not judge the one whom God has received. There may be members in your church who listen to different kinds of music than you do or who only watch PG movies. As brothers and sisters in Christ accepted into God’s family on the basis of Christ’s sacrifice, accept them as they are.
The goal of edification: Why should we seek to get along with one another within the church? Because though we may differ on some issues of conviction, we all ultimately have the same goal: honoring God. In Romans 14:19, Paul encourages us to “pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.” Paul recognizes that Christians will not always agree with one another on every single issue, but rather than focus on our differences, Paul encourages us to look for the things upon which we can agree and to use those points of agreement for edification and the strengthening of the church.
Thompson– Lessons by Craig Thompson, pastor of Malvern Hill Church, Camden. Thompson earned his B.A from Presbyterian College and is pursuing a Ph.D. from Southern Seminary, where he also earned his M.Div.