A Fasting on Criticalness

by Catherine Marshall

The Lord continues to deal with me about my critical spirit, convicting me that I have been wrong to judge any person or situation: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Matt. 7:1-2; NIV)

One morning last week He gave me an assignment: for one day I was to go on a “fast” from criticism. I was not to criticize anybody about anything.

Into my mind crowded all the usual objections. “But then what happens to value judgments? You Yourself, Lord, spoke of ‘righteous judgment.’ How could society operate without standards and limits?”

All such resistance was brushed aside. “Just obey Me without questioning: an absolute fast on any critical statements for this day.”

As I pondered this assignment, I realized there was an even humorous side to this kind of fast. What did the Lord want to show me?

The Experiment

For the first half of the day, I simply felt a void, almost as if I had been wiped out as a person. This was especially true at lunch with my husband, Len, my mother, son Jeff, and my secretary Jeanne Sevigny, present. Several topics came up (school prayer, abortion, the ERA amendment) about which I had definite opinions. I listened to the others and kept silent. Barbed comments on the tip of my tongue about certain world leaders were suppressed. In our talkative family no one seemed to notice.

Bemused, I noticed that my comments were not missed. The federal government, the judicial system, and the institutional church could apparently get along fine without my penetrating observations. But still I didn’t see what this fast on criticism was accomplishing—until mid-afternoon.

For several years I had been praying for one talented young man whose life had gotten sidetracked. Perhaps my prayers for him had been too negative. That afternoon, a specific, positive vision for this life was dropped into my mind with God’s unmistakable hallmark on it—joy.

Ideas began to flow in a way I had not experienced in years. Now it was apparent what the Lord wanted me to see. My critical nature had not corrected a single one of the multitudinous things I found fault with. What it had done was to stifle my own creativity—in prayer, in relationships, perhaps even in writing—ideas that He wanted to give me.

Last Sunday night in a Bible study group, I told of my Day’s Fast experiment. The response was startling. Many admitted that criticalness was the chief problem in their offices, or in their marriages, or with their teenage children.

The Result

My own character flaw here is not going to be corrected overnight. But in thinking this problem through the past few days, I find the most solid Scriptural basis possible for dealing with it. (The Greek word translated “judge” in King James, becomes “criticize” in Moffat.) All through the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus sets Himself squarely against our seeing other people and life situations through this negative lens. What He is showing me so far can be summed up as follows:

1. A critical spirit focuses us on ourselves and makes us unhappy. We lose perspective and humor.
2. A critical spirit blocks the positive creative thoughts God longs to give us.
3. A critical spirit can prevent good relationships between individuals and often produces retaliatory criticalness.
4. Criticalness blocks the work of the Spirit of God: love, good will, mercy.
5. Whenever we see something genuinely wrong in another person’s behavior, rather than criticize him or her directly, or – far worse – gripe about him behind his back, we should ask the Spirit of God to do the correction needed.

Convicted of the true destructiveness of a critical mind-set, on my knees I am repeating this prayer: “Lord, I repent of this sin of judgment. I am deeply sorry for having committed so gross an offense against You and against myself so continually. I claim Your promise of forgiveness and seek a new beginning.”

My Thoughts

I read this yesterday and I felt just slammed by the Holy Spirit.  This is me.  I’m so critical of everything and everyone.  I figured I’d share this article because quite honestly I’ve never thought of a “critical” nature being so sinful AND so harmful to my relationships.  It makes sense.

So yesterday was church.  The first day of my walking in repentance to a critical spirit.  Anyone who knows me knows that this is not the best day to stop being critical.  I mean I want everything to go SOOOO perfect at church- which is more about my pride then trying to be excellent before God.  I know this because anytime anything doesn’t go the way I saw it going BOTHERS me greatly.  So of course, right off the bat stuff is going wrong- my volunteers and I miss communicate and mics are muted and the slides on powerpoint mess up.

After reading this article my response was different though.  It doesn’t help to get on to everyone and make them feel bad when honestly they were trying there best.  Rather as Catherine stated- trying to creatively encourage the people around me with positivity.  I never knew I was so negative, but I praise God for showing me this.  I too humble strive to work on this asking the Holy Spirit to rid me of this attitude.

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Highland Lakes PR and media team filmed live each night. Very cool. We asked Joel Engle to come out on the last night and lead with us. It was such a powerful night. Wish you could have been there. But if you want to peak into the night you can see it here. You can see more at Highlandlakescamp.org

God has a plan.  He always did and he always does.  Jesus even warned the disciples about what was going to happen.  He would be seized and killed and on the third day rise!  It’s easy for us to see that now.  But they didn’t get it.  They kept thinking- no- He’s our Messiah King who will overthrow the Romans and set up His Kingdom.  Even James and John’s mother asked Jesus if they could be “cabinet members” in His kingdom.

Here’s the point.  We all have in our minds “this is how this should go”.   We expect life is suppose to be easy and troubles and trials aren’t suppose to come because God is good to us.  This is only partially true.  God is good to us. YES.  In His goodness He tests and tries us and he allows us to experience heartache and trouble as he continues to make us holy.  He wants absolute Kingship in my life.  Over and over in the BIBLE it is actually SUFFERING that is the life of the great men!  Crazy.  Jn 16:33 “in this world you WILL have many trials and tribulations, but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world.”

When the trials set in the DISCIPLES did what?  Forsook him and fled.  Is that what I do? Is that what I’m going to do on the first hint of problems.  When things go bad is that going to be my response?  I know it must have been extremely disappointing to watch their Messiah be taken and killed!!!  (understatement I know).  But to trust him.  He’s coming again.  He lives.  He makes things new.  He didn’t come as KING the first time rather humble, suffering, servant.  BUT THE SECOND COMING WILL BE MUCH DIFFERENT.  I want to be with Him.  I want my commitment to be in faith not circumstance.  God help me!  I see myself way too much in the disciples

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