Jesus teaches in the Sermon on the Mount not to judge, warning against a faultfinding spirit that manifests as criticism. Criticism permeates society, evident in various fields like movies, music, and sports, where it is often seen as a way of life. This habit extends into personal relationships and church settings, where individuals criticize others for not meeting expectations or for perceived shortcomings in leadership. The reasons for criticism often stem from feelings of inferiority, pride, envy, or jealousy. It can make one feel superior by highlighting others' failures, or it may arise from desiring attention or a position someone else holds. Such criticism is deemed sinful, opposing love by emphasizing personal righteousness at another's expense. It is marked by impatience, unkindness, arrogance, and rudeness, distorting perspectives and fostering division. Historically, criticism originated with satan, as seen in the deception in the Garden of Eden, leading to distorted views of God and subsequent sin. Another instance in Numbers 12 shows Miriam and Aaron criticizing Moses, driven by envy of his leadership, resulting in division and divine retribution that affected the entire community. This illustrates how criticism within a congregation can hinder spiritual growth, create discord, and potentially cause others to stumble. Instead of focusing on others' faults, self-examination is encouraged. Acknowledging personal flaws and seeking God's guidance to correct one's own heart and thoughts is a better path than criticizing others.

Criticism pervades society, with many using demeaning remarks to belittle others, whether in politics, media, or personal interactions. Critical individuals often make rude comments, judge decisions, and focus on faults while rarely offering anything positive. This critical mood seems to influence everything, and negative comments are inevitable, no matter how hard one tries to avoid them. It is a challenge to control the tongue, and it is even tougher to manage the words of others. Negative remarks may come from unexpected sources, yet it is wiser to overlook offenses than to seek revenge. Justice often comes to those who condemn others, as their self-righteous attitude undermines the validity of their criticism. Such critics often disapprove of faults in others that differ from their own, rendering their negative comments less significant. Wisdom suggests not letting these remarks affect us or becoming irritated by crabby statements or sneaky suspicions. God hears all words spoken about us and by us, and He sees every situation. In trials, He may test our patience and forbearance, requiring us to endure criticism with compassion rather than vengeance. Accepting criticism without retaliation may lead to God compensating our anguish with a blessing. Forgiveness is crucial when wronged by criticism. Compassion and forgiveness toward others are necessary if we seek God's forgiveness for our own harsh words. Wisdom advises not to take every critical word to heart, recognizing that we, too, have spoken ill of others at times.

Criticism is an integral part of society, permeating various aspects of life with movie critics, music critics, art critics, and more. It is often seen as a way of life, where people attempt to remake others by pointing out their flaws. However, this critical spirit seeps into the church, leading to accusations, judgments, and fault-finding among members and toward leaders who do not meet personal expectations. Jesus warns against emphasizing the faults of others, recognizing the human tendency to engage in this behavior, possibly due to inferiority, pride, envy, or jealousy. Such criticism often stems from impure motives, seeking to elevate oneself at the expense of another's reputation, which is the opposite of love. Criticism distorts perspective, much like satan, the master of accusation, distorts views by accusing and criticizing, as seen in the Garden of Eden when he accused God of lying to Eve, leading to sin. Similarly, in the Old Testament, Miriam's criticism of Moses distorted Aaron's perspective, resulting in sin and delaying the journey to the Promised Land. This shows how criticism within the church can stunt spiritual growth. Furthermore, judging and criticizing others is hypocritical, as it often involves holding others to rigid standards while being more tolerant of one's own faults. Jesus illustrates this with the imagery of removing a speck from another's eye while having a beam in one's own, highlighting the irony and seriousness of such double standards. The solution lies in prayer and self-examination rather than judgment of others. Instead of succumbing to the critical spirit influenced by the prince of the power of the air, one should seek guidance from God's Holy Spirit, fostering a relationship with the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Engaging in honest self-criticism and prayer helps to neutralize the urge to criticize others, aligning one's actions with love and understanding.