We’re all critics….

Most of us have a favorite TV show, and quickly voice our opinions [like wanting to scream at America for putting Casey in the bottom 3 (last week), or “Trump got it wrong,” or “That QB is terrible!”]. 

Musicians are taught from day 1 to be critical.  We justify it by calling it a “critical ear.”  If you go to a music college it gets ten times worse - you become a professional critic (I’ll show you my certificate if you ever come to my house).  Because of those 4 years, I’ll spend the rest of my life recovering from a critical mindset.  Don’t get me wrong, my worship degree from LU was second to none, and now I can see beauty and symmetry through analysis.  However, every time that I hear a new song, artist, see a new sanctuary for the first time….the critical meter kicks into overdrive.

Our critical nature goes deeper than music.  We judge others with our critical eye even with limited subject knowledge.  We may say something like “I hate that restaurant/song/artist/” but on the other side someone is pursuing their life’s dream.  Would you want people deeply criticizing the new song that you wrote?  Or over-analyzing the dinner you just spent the whole day cooking? 

Most of us would answer “no,” but that doesn’t slow down our criticism.  Trust me, I’m the Chief of Critics, but the closer I get to Jesus the more aware of areas in my life that deserve true criticism…yet He responds with Grace and Mercy! 

Shouldn’t we try to be more like Christ by showing grace and mercy?  Shouldn’t we consider the other person before we criticize?  Release our bitterness, prejudice or preference?  Give forgiveness to those who don’t deserve it?  We SHOULD use our critical awareness to recognize anything in us that doesn’t look like Jesus, and repent from it and ask Him to forgive us.

Who am I to judge/condemn you about bitterness, bad habits, or the way that you treat people?  No one.  Then why bring all of it up?  I’m a recovering critic.

Search me, O God, and know my heart!  Try me and know my thoughts!  And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!  (Ps. 139:23-24)

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