Critics- they are everywhere. Even in the church. It is amazing how some Christians will review the relationships that other Christians have with God as though they were were evaluating a movie or a piece of music. In my almost 47 years in the church, I don't know how many times I have heard Christians comment on and evaluate the godliness of another. Certainly as Christians, we are to encourage and admonish one another. More mature believers should help those who are just starting in their faith. But usually the barbs of religious criticism aren't offered with helpful intent. And often those barbs seem to come from those who are watching rather than doing.
Take for example Mark 2. In Mark's narrative, Jesus has just begun His ministry. Already, though, the criticisms are coming. Four times in this chapter the religious leaders question Jesus and His disciples about their behavior. First, they criticize Jesus for forgiving sin. Second, they don't like the company He keeps. Third, they don't like His fasting schedule. And finally, these religious leaders find Jesus' disciples' Sabbath observance less than stellar. In this chapter, Jesus has healed a paralytic and He has successfully evangelized a group that wanted nothing to do with God. Before that, He healed dozens of people in miraculous ways in Mark 1. What have the religious leaders accomplished in ministry during this time? They have filled the complaint box with criticisms of Jesus while contributing nothing positive to God's work on earth.
How is your walk with God? It is characterized by active ministry and participation in the work of God in calling people to Himself? Or is it plagued by carping and criticism toward those who are doing the real work of the church? Godliness isn't found in maintaining a list of rules that God Himself didn't endorse. Godliness is found in ministering to people and in letting God's mercy toward human need rule the day. Mingle with the sinners. Stop shouting snide remarks with the sideline saints.
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