“… whatever things are true … meditate on these things …” (Phil. 4:8, NKJV)
In this teaching we are considering the twelve specific fruits through which you can discern the root of pride.
The fifth fruit of pride is a critical attitude. The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines it as follows: “an act of criticizing; to judge as a critic; to find fault; to blame or condemn”. Rom. 14:10-13 is a central text in the New Testament that concerns this attitude of the heart: “Why do you criticize and pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you look down upon or despise your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God. And so each of us shall give an account of himself – give an answer in reference to judgment – to God. Then let us no more criticize and blame and pass judgment on one another, but rather decide and endeavor never to put a stumbling block or an obstacle or a hindrance in the way of a brother.” (Amplified). Unfortunately this tendency toward criticism stretcher further than mere criticism toward other people in the Body – it is often symptomatic of appointing yourself judge over everyone and everything, and to find everything lacking when measured to your ideals. One could also just plainly call this a tendency to find fault with everything.
A person with a critical spirit is always looking for a reason to say something negative about someone or something – they often are completely focused on negative elements and cannot see the good in a situation. They are in general people who easily complain, are quick to sulk, and feel the world owes them something. Added to this is the fact that they often have very little power over their tongue and temperament. Their worldview is often drenched in negativity.
A critical perspective easily becomes the general attitude with which one approaches life, one where the critical person will describe him/herself as either cynical or discerning. If there truly is very little fault to be found in a situation, the person will mention one good thing and then make a negative remark alongside it. For instance – if a speaker’s content was good, she did not have irritating mannerisms, did not speak too long or too short, was dressed beautifully, stayed with the topic, wrote a talk that was balanced in its perspectives, yet was original and witty, handled the audience correctly, doesn’t seem as if she thinks too much of herself, the critical person will say: Look at her clothing! I can’t imagine what she spends on her wardrobe.
A critical person cannot accept it when other people do something right, or well. They do not meditate on “whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report” (Phil. 4:8).
- Selah: Is this fruit perhaps present in your life?
- Read: 24-25; 1 John 4.
- Memorise: 1 John 4:18.
- For a more in-depth understanding: Read James MacDonald’s Lord, Change My Attitude (Before It’s Too Late).
