The Spirit of Criticism - A. B. Simpson

Days of Heaven on Earth
Sunday, November 25, 2012

Nothing will more effectually arrest the working of the Spirit in the heart than the spirit of criticism. At the end of a meeting, a young minister came forward and told me of the great blessing he had received that afternoon and of the baptism of the Holy Spirit that had come into his heart and being, setting him free from the bondage of years. And then he added, "it all came through your answer to that question, 'Will a criticizing spirit hinder the Holy Spirit from filling the heart?'"

As the question was asked and answered, he said, "I was sitting in the church criticizing much of what was going on, objecting to this thing and to that thing, finding fault with the expressions of praise and testimony and feeling thoroughly unhappy. The Lord brought the answer home to my heart and convicted me of my sin. There and then I laid it down and began to see the good instead of the evil. Blessing fell upon me, and my soul was filled with joy and praise. I saw where my error lay-that for years I had been trying to see the truth with my head instead of my heart."

Scripture
Judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come—1 Corinthians 4:5

hi, thank you abideinhim for posting this post... this is one of the most important lessons for us to learn. it is hard to be humble and critical or loving and critical or forgiving and critical at the same time...in other words it is hard to be like Jesus and critical.jimp

Thank you Jimp for your comments!

I remember being in services where I was being critical of just about everything pertaining to the service. It seemed as if I was the only one that was not being blessed, not realizing that the spirit of criticism was blocking the flow of the Holy Spirit from reaching me.

This can happen to us anytime, and it can even be over something legitimate that we are criticizing. But with what spirit are we doing this in? The Holy Spirit will be grieved when there is something that is not according to the truth, but if we are condemning a brother and sister in the Lord even over a perceived fault or error then we are not operating in the Spirit of God, but moving in the wrong spirit.

Mike

How do we know if we're being unduly critical, or if we're exercising true discernment?

hi, if you are critical of dangerous things that pertain to you than that is the greek word diakreano which is ok and even wise. if you are critical of a preacher and how he comes over to you than that is krino which is not okay. do a word study on krino(judge)jimp

"How do we know if we're being unduly critical, or if we're exercising true discernment?"

This is a very good question, and one that we all struggle with.

"But the anointing which you have received of him stays in you, and you need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teaches you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it has taught you, you shall abide in him." (1 John 2:27). The Spirit of truth gives us discerment so that we will be able to discern between truth and error.

A critical spirit is not discernment, but it is the operation of the accuser of the brethren to bring division and strife within the Body of Christ.

The Word of God says that we should speak the truth in love. Pride and the critical spirit go together because usually the one that is accusing others is not allowing the Holy Spirit to bring correction to himself, and oftentimes the very things that are faults in the accuser's life are that which he will accuse others of.

If we know that a true pastor or teacher is caught up in some error then we should pray for him, and if the Lord leads, then go to him about the matter in a spirit of meekness. The worse thing that we can do is to spread it among other church members and give the devil an opportunity to bring division and strife into that Church.

A false prophet or teacher should be exposed. We know that in the last days that there will be many false prophets and teachers that will come forth spreading destructive heresies. We should not give any place to these false teachers and prophets for even one minute.

Mike

How do we know if we're being unduly critical, or if we're exercising true discernment?

I believe that, as jimp suggested, an in depth study on the word 'judge/judgment' would be helpful in answering this question. You have already identified that judgment can fall under two types, criticism, and discernment. So, as you study the Bible use the context of each passage to try to identify which of the two types is being used. Here's a few verses to get you started;

1Cor 2:15
Mat 7:1
1Thess 5:21
Luke 12:57
Hosea 4:6
2Cor 10:7
John 7:24
Prov 19:2
1Cor 4:5
James 1:5
Luke 11:9
Mat 16:3
Isa 11:2-3
John 8:15-16,26
John 12:48
Heb 4:12
Mat 19:28
Luke 22:30
1Cor 5:12-6:6
1Cor 5:3,12
1Cor 6:2-3
1Cor 14:24-25
Mat 16:16-17
Mat 7:15-16,22-23
1John 4:1
1Cor 14:29
Acts 17:11
Mat 7:1-2
Mat 7:3-5
James 4:8,11-12
Rom 2:1-3
1Cor 11:31
Rom 14:1,4-5,10,12-13
Col 2:16-17
1Cor 4:5-6
1Sam 16:7
Phil 1:9-10
Phil 1:9
1Ki 3:9
1Cor 12:10
Heb 5:14
Prov 15:14
1Cor 4:6
John 7:24
1Cor 2:10
1Cor 2:14-16
1Cor 10:15

In Christ,

Ron

hi, the wisdom of your post shows why you are the moderater.jimp