Overcoming a Critical Spirit and Chronic Complaining

Do you find yourself with a negative disposition, always finding fault with something or criticizing someone? Is it difficult for you to see the positive in a person or a situation because the negative is always so glaring in your eye? Are you compelled to give your critical point of view for the good of all mankind?

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.”

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.”

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.

Maintaining Doctrinal Standards and Revising Church Constitutions

On maintaining core Doctrinal Distinctives  and the careful process of revising the Constitution and Statement of Faith without splitting the church.

By the grace of God we are a Word-driven, Christ-exalting, doctrinally-minded local church (per 1 Tim. 3:15; Jude 3; Col. 1:28-29). In all things we seek to be biblically balanced and to be a body committed to grace and truth. Loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength is of course the Greatest Commandment of them all (Matt. 22:36-40; Rev. 2:1-7).  We are sinners saved by grace who long to please the Lord in all of our ways.

Though all biblical truth is important we embrace a theological triage approach to Christian ministry. In other words, some theological matters are of “first rate” importance. This is the inspired language the Apostle Paul uses in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4.

“The word triage comes from the French word trier, which means ‘to sort.’ Thus, the triage officer in the medical context is the front-line agent for deciding which patients need the most urgent treatment. Without such a process, the scraped knee would receive the same urgency of consideration as a gunshot wound to the chest. The same discipline that brings order to the hectic arena of the Emergency Room can also offer great assistance to Christians defending truth in the present age.”

Fundamental doctrines would include things like penal substitution, justification by grace through faith in Christ alone, the virgin birth, the bodily resurrection of Christ, the Deity of Christ, the humanity of Christ, the Trinity of Persons within the One true God, etc. To deny any of these gospel truths is to be outside orthodox Christianity (see 1-3 John, 2 Peter).

“The set of second-order doctrines is distinguished from the first-order set by the fact that believing Christians may disagree on the second-order issues, though this disagreement will create certain boundaries between believers. When Christians organize themselves into congregations and denominational forms, these boundaries become evident.”

The Bible does not establish an definitive list of second and third order doctrines, therefore, each congregation will establish their own theological identity. Some embrace a “big tent” approach to local church ministry, while others, (like FBC) are more precise in their philosophy of ministry and in their theological distinctives.