“It takes one to know one. Judgmental criticism of others is a well-known way of escaping detection in your own crimes and misdemeanors.” ~Apostle Paul

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Criticism, Jesus, Judgement, Romans 2

I don’t want to be condemned. No way, no how.

I want to live in freedom. I don’t want that guilt in my life.

And so, God says over and over in His message of good news to me. I am free from all the things I have done that miss His goal for me.

I need to reflect Jesus love and freedom to others and eliminate criticism and judgement from my ways. I am not to judge, period. Jesus is clear on that.

God is God. God is in charge. God will judge me. I must take advantage of his mercy every day. No way around that.

Those people are on a dark spiral downward. But if you think that leaves you on the high ground where you can point your finger at others, think again. Every time you criticize someone, you condemn yourself. It takes one to know one. Judgmental criticism of others is a well-known way of escaping detection in your own crimes and misdemeanors. But God isn’t so easily diverted. He sees right through all such smoke screens and holds you to what you’ve done. Romans 2:1-2

May I live free from judgmental criticism.

“Be easy on people; you’ll find life a lot easier.” ~Jesus

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Condemn, Criticism, Easy, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Judging, Luke 6

Jesus is clear. Judging and focusing on what people are doing I don’t care for will bring the same thing back to me. Jesus leads me to see the good things someone is doing not what they aren’t doing.

So, do I want an easier life? Of course I do.

Then I should be easier on my family, friends and co-workers. Not always easy to do but His Spirit gives me power to do what I can’t do naturally.

Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don’t condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you’ll find life a lot easier. ” Luke 6:37 (MSG)

“My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love.” ~Apostle John

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1 John 3, Apostle John Sayings, Criticism, Jesus, Love, Reality

Self Criticism

Self criticism, even when it is deserved, leaves me crippled. I hobble around on crutches pretending no one sees.

They see I can’t get out of myself. They see my selfishness.

Practicing love, getting outside of myself, shuts self criticism right down. God knows me and He knows what I need.

Jesus knows me better than I know myself. He doesn’t condemn me but shows His steadfast love day after day. He puts it into practice.

Jesus challenges me to practice real love. That is God’s goal for me today. Loving others takes me out of my self and focuses on others.

My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love. This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality. It’s also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves. 1 John 3:18-20

 

May we love like God loves. May we put it into practice.

Living in a culture of criticism. “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” ~Jesus

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Criticism, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Judging, Matthew 7

Judge

We pay people to be critics. They make a living doing it. They sometimes even get fancy titles like consultants and commentators.

It seems to me we live in a culture of criticism. And it is taking hold more and more. I get sucked in some days. It is so easy to join in and judge.

It is too easy to see what God is not doing in someone’s life and not what He is doing.

Now none of us appreciate it when the tables are turned and the criticism is directed at us. It hurts. It feels unfair. It is cruel we think.

Jesus is clear on all of this. He is very direct. “Do not judge”. That is it. Don’t do it.

Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. ‘Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in someone else’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? Matthew 7:1-4 TNIV Bible

 

May His grace deliver us from the culture of criticism. May we love the way He loves. May we see what He is doing.

 

What is the strange thing about wanting to control what is going on with others walk with Jesus?

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Control, Criticism, Faith, Jesus, Judge

 

Judge

There is a strange thing about wanting to control what is going on with others. I become very critical. Suspiciously so.

That is not the way in God’s new plan for my life. I am not in charge of how others live out their faith in our Master Jesus. I am not their Judge.

I am to be partners with my brothers and sisters. I am to work along side them. I should be joyful, expecting the next good thing in their life.

They stand on their own faith in Jesus, our Master. Certainly not by my faith or yours. And I can’t control them. Jesus is in charge. Jesus is their Master and mine. Jesus doesn’t use me to judge them.

“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment.” ~Jesus

Tags

Criticism, Culture, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Judge, Judgement, Matthew 7

Oh my goodness. We live in a world where a critical spirit is par for the course 24/7. It is in our culture and it is non stop.

Jesus wouldn’t put up with this. His challenge to us is clear. No picking on people, no jumping on their failures, no criticizing their faults. No judging of others unless we want to be judged by God. This is serious stuff. Jesus is not kidding. God’s goal for us is for us to focus on loving others. God is the judge, not us.

I need to live my part in what our Father wants me to do. That has nothing to do with anyone else. It has everything to do with my relationship with God.

Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor. Matthew 7:1 -5

“There is only one way to avoid criticism: do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing.” –Aristotle

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Aristotle, Criticism

Criticism

Is the goal to avoid being criticized? The way to make that happen is not very fun.

Take a stand. Say what you believe. Act on what you say. Reinforce your heart.

“There is only one way to avoid criticism: do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing.” –Aristotle

“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize faults-unless, of course, you want the same treatment.” ~Jesus

Tags

Criticism, Golden Rule, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Judgement, Matthew 7, Respect, Understanding

“The Golden Rule” mosaic (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

How do I want to be treated? With respect. With understanding. I like to be given the benefit of the doubt.

How do you want to be treated? The same way I’m sure.

 “Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize faults-unless, of course, you want the same treatment.” ~Jesus (Matthew 7:1)

I don’t want to be treated by others with a critical attittude. I should never be critical of others. God’s goal is for to love and not be judgmental.

Hard to do but through the power of His Spirit I can.

"You’re never as good as everyone tells you when you win, and you’re never as bad as they say when you lose." ~~Lou Holtz

Tags

Criticism, Lou Holtz, Praise

Where do we get our validation? Is it from God or others?

You’re never as good as everyone tells you when you win, and you’re never as bad as they say when you lose. ~~Lou Holtz

“Judge not, that you be not judged.” ~~Jesus

Tags

Criticism, Evaluate, Faults, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Judge, Matthew 7

Jesus can be very straightforward and direct.

His suggestion on criticizing is to not do it. Period. End of story. No other advice. In other places He elaborates why but the reason here is pretty compelling.

I must admit, this is a tough one.  It is way too easy to be critical. At work, as managers, we are required to do it. At home, as parents, we feel an obligation to do it. But Jesus is clear. It is a “critical spirit” that is the problem. God’s goal for us that we leave the judging up to Him. It is simply not our job to do that.

Do I want to be judged? Do I want to be criticized? If I don’t judge, I won’t be judged.

Judge not, that you be not judged. ~~Jesus Matthew 7:1

Here is how it goes in The Message version of the Bible.

Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.

 

Judge not, lest you are judged.