A Critical Spirit
Luke 13:10-17
Definition of Critical - Inclined to
find fault, or to judge with severity
Quote: It is impossible to help anybody after they have
developed a critical spirit.
I. The Causes of a Critical Spirit
A.
An Unhealthy Assessment of Self – vs. 14 the ruler of the synagogue
- Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
A critic is one that considers themselves an
authority or a master of a subject which qualifies them to point out the good
and the bad. Their own knowledge and
expertise is their authority; not a defined standard.
Webster’s 1828
Dictionary: A person
skilled in judging of the merit of literary works; one who is able to discern
and distinguish the beauties and faults of writing. In a more general sense, a
person skilled in judging with propriety of any combination of objects, or of
any work of art; and particularly of what are denominated the Fine Arts. A
critic is one who, from experience,
knowledge, habit or taste, can perceive the difference between propriety
and impropriety, in objects or works presented to his view; between the
natural and unnatural; the high and the low, or lofty and mean; the congruous
and incongruous; the correct and incorrect, according to the established rules
of the art.
B.
An Unbiblical Adherence to a System – vs. 14
Where did this rule come from? Where did he come up
with this?? You can only be healed on certain days?
- Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Truth is, he made this rule up. Since he had never had a person healed in his
synagogue on a sabbath, surely God cannot be in it!
A critical spirit will come when you are always
thinking you know what OUGHT to be done when the truth is, you don’t have a
clue!
Here he was telling people when they OUGHT to come
get healed, and he had never healed anybody!
In essence, He was limiting God – trying to cram God in his own little
test tube!!
He was an expert in a system that didn’t even exist
except in his own mind.
C.
An Unreasonable Attitude toward the Sovereignty of God – vs. 14
NOTE: He was upset
with what God did, so he took it out on the people.
God can do what He wants to, when He wants to,
however He wants to. Deal with it!
He mistook GOD working for MAN working. (there are six days in which men ought to
work) It wasn’t man working – it was
GOD.
You say – “I just don’t understand it.” If you understood everything, you’d be God.
Keep your mind open to this possibility: God might
work in a way you never thought possible or have never seen before. God might use somebody you didn’t think He
could, He might save somebody you never thought could be saved. He might manifest Himself in a manner that
you’ve never seen before. He might be
trying to teach you something! Quit
criticizing and learn!!!
II. The Curses of a Critical Spirit
A.
It will Ignore the Positive – vs. 14 (because that Jesus had healed…)
Positive things such as:
- Jesus is in the midst – vs. 10 (theirs wasn’t the only synagogue;
they were honored)
- Jesus was teaching them things – vs. 10 (many people never learn
anything or grow)
- There were people in the place that were there in spite of their
infirmities – praise God!
- Jesus was still calling hurting people to himself – vs. 12 that’s a
blessing!
- Jesus was still laying his hands on people and touching people –
vs. 13
- People were still getting straightened out after years of being
wrong – vs. 13
- New converts were praising and glorifying God – vs. 13
Did any of this matter? NO!!
The man with the critical spirit saw NONE of the positive things
- A critical person NEVER writes a thank you note.
- A critical person NEVER never compliments or brags on people.
- A critical person NEVER never spreads good news or positive reports.
B.
It will Incite the People – vs. 14 …and
he said unto the people…
For 18 years, she had been in a mess, and he never
helped her.
Now she’s right with God and he gets upset!
People with critical spirits have no problem
confronting people when things don’t go their way.
He enjoys getting a crowd together and “teaching”
them about what they are doing wrong.
He loves getting an audience and making his point.
He loves getting people off track and thinking in a
completely different direction than where God is leading
C.
It will Interfere with the Praising – vs. 13, 14 they glorified; he
answered with indignation
A critical spirit will quench the spirit and
squelch the rejoicing of others.
- A critical spirit will cause you to pout when others are praising.
- A critical spirit will make you mad when others are magnifying.
- A critical spirit will make you tense when others are testifying.
- A critical spirit will cause you to hinder people when God is
trying to help people.
- A critical spirit will cause people to ask “What’s wrong with him or her?”
Do excited Christians get on your nerves?
Do people that brag on the Lord and the church and
their pastor irritate you? You’re
critical!
Do you rejoice when people are saved?
Do you get thrilled when the altars are full of
people making commitments?
D.
It will Instigate the Poison – in vs. 10, Jesus is teaching; where is
the ruler then?
He let EVERYBODY know where he stood on the
subject. Notice that nobody asked him.
Watch out for this line – “Well, if you ask
me…” Nobody will.
They don’t care as much about what you think as you
do!
Critical spirits are not happy until they’ve
poisoned everybody they meet with their criticism.
Question: Do the excited,
testifying, praising Christians stay excited, keep testifying and are they
still praising after you’re done with them?
Do you find yourself more comfortable around those
that are uncomfortable?
Do you gravitate to other disgruntled and miserable
people?
Do you find yourself always being approached by
other critics and people with complaints and problems?
- Ever noticed that the people that are most critical are the one’s
that’s not doing anything?
- Ever heard a soul winner complain about too many visitors?
- Ever heard a bus worker complain about the mess that bus kids make?
- Ever heard a grass cutter complain about how the grass was cut?
- Ever heard a friendly hand shaker complain about not getting their
hand shaken?
- Ever heard a shouter and testifier complain about a service being
too lively?
- Ever heard a servant criticize another servant’s way of doing
something?
- Ever noticed that the one’s that never bring anybody to church can
tell you how it’s done?
III. The Cures for a Critical Spirit
A.
Admit your Hypocrisy – vs. 15 “Thou hypocrite!”
Most of the critics in the church are guilty of having
a double-standard.
They are experts at criticizing, but if you
criticize them, they can’t take it.
Most of the things that people criticize in others are
things they are guilty of themselves.
- Illustration: The beam and the mote in the eye.
- Start judging people by the same standard you judge yourself! You’ll be more longsuffering.
- In my experience, it’s those that don’t tithe, don’t go soul-winning,
never volunteer for anything, do not have a servant’s heart that has the
most critical things to say about those that do.
Even if you had ALL YOUR DUCKS in a row and all
your own personal issues resolved, you still wouldn’t have the right to have a
critical spirit, but your own shortcomings and faults and failures make your
critical spirit even that much more hypocritical!
B.
Be Ashamed that your Heart is not 100% right with God – vs. 16, 17 his
adversaries were ashamed
God’s will was not their will. Their will always will contradict what God
wants to do.
God’s will was all about this woman’s problem
getting healed.
The critic’s will was all about his position being
honored.
God calls those that had the critical spirit “his
adversaries”.
C.
Acknowledge all the glorious things that are being done by Him – vs. 17
Stop looking for the negative and the problems and
start seeing what God is doing.
There’s many faults and failures in the lives of
everybody you come in contact with.
- Philippians
2:3 Let
nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let
each esteem other better than themselves.
- I Cor. 13 Charity
thinketh no evil…
Spend your time planting grass instead of pulling
weeds.
You don’t have to elaborate on everything that you
see wrong. Why not elaborate on what you
see RIGHT and what God is doing?
