If you have a critical spirit (which is distinct from having a Spirit-filled, discerning spirit; 1 Thess. 5:21; Acts 17:11) you are in danger. Not getting hit-by-a-truck-kind-of-danger, but a serious kind none the less—and that is spiritual danger. A critical spirit is from the dark side. It is meant to hurt and destroy its object. It works against the purposes of God as set forth in Ephesians 4.
A critical spirit is a negative attitude of the heart that condemns, tears down, and destroys with words, actions, and attitudes. In stark contrast, constructive criticism involves choice words/actions that are meant to genuinely build up; (the Bible sometimes calls this "edification"). Pastors for example are commanded to "reprove, rebuke, and exhort" when feeding God's flock through biblical exposition (2 Tim. 4:1-5). A critical spirit creates blind spots in a person’s own heart and mind causing them to believe they are being constructive. Chronic murmuring and a critical spirit are characteristics of the ungodly
Different Types of Critical Spirits
1. SLANDERER
A slanderer is a person who makes false statements (often in the form of half truths) in order to damage a person’s reputation. He/she does not care about the truth or correcting an error. A slanderer creates error in order to inflict harm.
The Bible’s Perspective
Proverbs 10:18—“He who conceals hatred has lying lips, and he who spreads slander is a fool.”
Proverbs 16:28—“A perverse man spreads strife, and a slanderer separates intimate friends.”
1 Peter 2:1—“Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.”
A slanderer is a person who makes false statements (often in the form of half truths) in order to damage a person’s reputation. He/she does not care about the truth or correcting an error. A slanderer creates error in order to inflict harm.
The Bible’s Perspective
Proverbs 10:18—“He who conceals hatred has lying lips, and he who spreads slander is a fool.”
Proverbs 16:28—“A perverse man spreads strife, and a slanderer separates intimate friends.”
1 Peter 2:1—“Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.”
2. SINFUL JUDGMENTALISM
A judgmental person has an excessively critical point of view, characterized by a tendency to judge harshly. Judgmental people have the reputation of being negative/critical. He/she lacks empathy for others’ viewpoint/circumstances because he/she believes her point of view is the right one (whether it is biblically and factually substantiated or not). He/she believes she has the ability to know others’ motives. He/she has the amazing skill to point out others’ mistakes/weaknesses, while minimizing his/her own. He/she rarely ever encourages those they work, minister, or serve with. Sinfully judgmental souls believe they have a special gift for pointing out the (perceived) flaws and weaknesses of others and are more concerned about someone else's sanctification then they are their own pursuit of Christ-likeness.
The Bible’s Perspective
Matthew 7:1-5—“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.
James 2:13—“For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.”
A judgmental person has an excessively critical point of view, characterized by a tendency to judge harshly. Judgmental people have the reputation of being negative/critical. He/she lacks empathy for others’ viewpoint/circumstances because he/she believes her point of view is the right one (whether it is biblically and factually substantiated or not). He/she believes she has the ability to know others’ motives. He/she has the amazing skill to point out others’ mistakes/weaknesses, while minimizing his/her own. He/she rarely ever encourages those they work, minister, or serve with. Sinfully judgmental souls believe they have a special gift for pointing out the (perceived) flaws and weaknesses of others and are more concerned about someone else's sanctification then they are their own pursuit of Christ-likeness.
The Bible’s Perspective
Matthew 7:1-5—“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.
James 2:13—“For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.”
3. The CHRONIC COMPLAINER
A complainer is a person who is habitually negative about others and circumstances of life. They are characterized by discontentment and ingratitude. God severely judged the Israelites for habitual ingratitude (see Exodus/Numbers). Moses became so depressed over the complaining spirit of the people he led in the wilderness that he asked God to end his life.
The Bible’s Perspective
James 5:9—“Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door.”
Philippians 2:14—“Do all things without grumbling or disputing.”
The Heart Behind a Critical Spirit
A critical spirit comes from within the heart of a person. Mark 7 tells us that sins such as evil thoughts, coveting, deceit, envy, and slander proceed from within a person. There are several factors that contribute to the development of a critical spirit.
A critical spirit comes from within the heart of a person. Mark 7 tells us that sins such as evil thoughts, coveting, deceit, envy, and slander proceed from within a person. There are several factors that contribute to the development of a critical spirit.
1. SELF-FACTOR
This includes jealousy or envy, vengeance, anger, hatred, and holding grudges for the purpose of personal gain by destroying the other person.
2. FEAR-FACTOR
This involves feeling threatened by someone or feeling anxiety toward someone which produces a critical spirit as a way of self-protection and/or self-preservation.
3. CONTROL-FACTOR
This is feeling out of control and using manipulation and shaming someone in order to gain control.
The Effects of a Critical Spirit
The effects of a critical spirit are damaging. In Matthew 22:37 and 39, God commands us to love Him with all of our hearts, with all our minds, and with all our souls and to love our neighbor as we already love ourselves. Harboring a critical disposition closes off our hearts, minds and souls to loving God in anyway. Our fellowship with the Lord is hindered. We will stop spending time with Him in reading the Bible and praying. We will avoid seeking wisdom from the Lord. As a result, our spiritual life will be put on the shelf.
A critical spirit displeases God and causes Him to judge that sin. Luke 6:37 says, “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.” God warns us in Matthew 7:2 that we will be judge the same way we judge others.
A critical spirit in action is the opposite of loving your neighbor as yourself. Relationships are broken when there’s slander, sinful judgments, habitual complaining, and/or unrepentant slander. When we are critical toward others, we put ourselves in an authoritative position over them. This isolates a critical person from fellowship with others. Critical spirits often band together with those who share the same sin struggles. "Birds of a feather flock together."
This is feeling out of control and using manipulation and shaming someone in order to gain control.
The Effects of a Critical Spirit
The effects of a critical spirit are damaging. In Matthew 22:37 and 39, God commands us to love Him with all of our hearts, with all our minds, and with all our souls and to love our neighbor as we already love ourselves. Harboring a critical disposition closes off our hearts, minds and souls to loving God in anyway. Our fellowship with the Lord is hindered. We will stop spending time with Him in reading the Bible and praying. We will avoid seeking wisdom from the Lord. As a result, our spiritual life will be put on the shelf.
A critical spirit displeases God and causes Him to judge that sin. Luke 6:37 says, “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.” God warns us in Matthew 7:2 that we will be judge the same way we judge others.
Overcoming a Critical Spirit
Overcoming a critical spirit can be difficult because it develops into a life-dominating sin. It becomes a way of life. The way to rid ourselves of a critical heart is to put on biblical love instead of hate, to build up instead of tearing down and to give grace instead of grief.
LOVE INSTEAD OF HATE
As stated before, God commands us to love Him and to love others. The simplest way to view this is to stop feeding the flesh and start feeding the spirit. The Bible is chalked full of all things we are to put off and all things we are to put on. 1 Peter 2 tells us to put off malice, envy and slander and to pursue the pure milk of the word. We are to stop returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but to give a blessing instead (1 Peter 3:9).
As stated before, God commands us to love Him and to love others. The simplest way to view this is to stop feeding the flesh and start feeding the spirit. The Bible is chalked full of all things we are to put off and all things we are to put on. 1 Peter 2 tells us to put off malice, envy and slander and to pursue the pure milk of the word. We are to stop returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but to give a blessing instead (1 Peter 3:9).
BUILDING UP INSTEAD OF TEARING DOWN
A critical spirit naturally tears down, but as believers, we are called to build one another up. In Romans, the apostle Paul instructs us on how to build up others. We are to focus on pleasing our neighbor (15:2) and pursuing things which make for peace (14:19). A person with a critical spirit must be renewed in the spirit of her mind as she seeks to do all things for edification (1 Corinthians 14:26). Sometimes helping someone grow spiritually will involve loving confrontation. That is a subject for another time (please note Matthew 7; Galatians 6; 1 Thess. 5:14).
A critical spirit naturally tears down, but as believers, we are called to build one another up. In Romans, the apostle Paul instructs us on how to build up others. We are to focus on pleasing our neighbor (15:2) and pursuing things which make for peace (14:19). A person with a critical spirit must be renewed in the spirit of her mind as she seeks to do all things for edification (1 Corinthians 14:26). Sometimes helping someone grow spiritually will involve loving confrontation. That is a subject for another time (please note Matthew 7; Galatians 6; 1 Thess. 5:14).
GIVING GRACE INSTEAD OF GIVING GRIEF
As believers, our words and our lives are to reflect God’s grace. We are to give grace to others instead of the grief that comes from a critical spirit. Ephesians 4:29 says, “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.”
Our words are to be encouraging, uplifting and instructive even when it is corrective. We are to be “kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32).
As believers, our words and our lives are to reflect God’s grace. We are to give grace to others instead of the grief that comes from a critical spirit. Ephesians 4:29 says, “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.”
Our words are to be encouraging, uplifting and instructive even when it is corrective. We are to be “kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32).
A Spirit-filled, discerning heart is a blessing/virtue but Christians have no business possessing a critical spirit. We know we have overcome a critical spirit when we are characterized by a forgiving and loving spirit because we have been forgiven and loved by God Himself.
This is an edited copy of a related ministry article that I was given many years ago.
