Criticism is crippling.
Criticism, of the harmful kind, is debilitating. It brings thinking to a low level, often alienates friends, creates enemies, causes discord and strife in families, and contributes to an unhappy mental environment. It would stop the flow of genuine caring and sharing that contributes to working out problems among people for the common good. It can stop progress, halt health, and depress outlook.
“Love your neighbor as yourself,” is the better way to go! It does not mean overlooking evil and pretending it doesn’t exist. It honors the good and expels the evil, but in a wise, discerning way that inspires people to follow and want to improve. Everyone benefits from merited and constructive criticism. But the vengeful kind is not a welcome guest.
Don’t let malicious criticism, from within or from others, cripple your perspective with onerous burden. Stay in the love of God and remain free.
Very helpful, thank you!
My Boss of 25 years in working for him taught me a great lesson. His name was Sy Israel, and his logic was thus: Ackknowledge your employees when they do some thing good, praise them, make them feel good about themselves, but most important, show them in a RESPECTFUL way when they make mistakes, so that when they look for other jobs, they won’t make the same errors. What a wonderful piece of advise.
Thank you Evan!
Thanks for this Evan. I have heard it said that criticism is one’s public announcement of their own inability to see the Christ. That is not an announcment I would ever care to make.
Very good advice. Another thing I heard some years ago: Criticism doesn’t tell you too much about the one being criticized. But it tells you a voumes about the “criticizer”.