As I was reading my bible today Matthew 12: 1-13, I felt the Holy Spirit quicken me. For the first time, I came to realize and understand that criticism (the negative or destructive kind ) is a satanic tool or Satan.
In verse 2, the Pharisees criticized Jesus disciples. They criticized them for breaking the heads off the grains to eat them when they were hungry. They called it “harvesting on the sabbath day” a technicality.
How many times have our hearts condemned us for an act we did in good faith. An example could be if we have set money aside maybe for offering in the church and we have had to use it for a different purpose. While I am certainly not advocating for us not to pay tithes and offerings, because we should with a joyful heart. There are sometimes challenging times that may arise when one is pressed financially and the only funds available are such funds. While it is okay to fulfil your giving obligation to the body of Christ joyfully, there might be times when we might not be able to. A friend may need the funds more urgently or a financial emergency may occur.
If and when we go ahead to use these funds, is there criticism and condemnation within us from our hearts?
If such a situation does arise, I believe we have the Lord’s backing as long as we are honest with him and ourselves and not just wanting to dishonor the Lord with our substance. Even if we do not want to honor the Lord with our substances, God does not condemns us. Instead the Holy Spirit works within us to bring us to a point where we voluntarily desire to honor God.
In the bible passage, Jesus countered the Pharisees by using the scriptures (pretty much the same way he always does with the enemy). He told them about how David “broke the law” by entering into the temple to eat the foods reserved for sacrifice. He also went a step further to debunk their theory of “working on the sabbath”. He explained according to scriptures, how the priests work on the sabbath when there was a need for them to tend to people.
This means that God is not angry with us as our hearts would have us believe. Especially when we need to help or minister to someone “outside” the boundaries of the law. The bible says that God is greater than our hearts or our conscience 1 John 3:20 and he knows everything. Therefore would you rather a loved one went hungry because you want to give an offering? Would you not help your neighbor because it is a sabbath day?
No, we should learn to live like Jesus, who had God’s full backing to tend to his sheep on any day be it a sabbath or otherwise (We are using sabbath for its legalism here). Also, when we feel condemned by our hears, the bible says that God is greater than our hears. You see, our hearts are being renewed and will keep being renewed by the word of God and the Holy Spirit up until the day we die due to the sinful nature of the flesh – 2 Corinthians 4:16. In addition, the bible says in the book of Romans 8:1 that God does not condemn us and we are no longer under any form of condemnation as we are in Christ Jesus and we continue to seek him in the spirit.
So you see, there is a difference between conviction and condemnation. The Merriam Webster dictionary describes conviction as: A strong persuasion or belief, the state of being convinced, the act of convincing a person of error or of compelling the admission of a truth. It also describes conviction as the state of being convinced or error or compelled to admit to the truth.
Condemnation on the other hand is described by the Oxford language as the expression of very strong disapproval, criticism – which is described as the expression of disapproval of someone or something on the basis of perceived faults or mistakes. Another description for condemnation says censures, fault finding and berating.
So since our natural minds as believers in Christ is being continuously transformed or renewed Romans 12:2, due to its conformance to the world. The enemy latches unto this aspect of our lack of understanding of the promises of God and uses the tools of criticism and condemnation. While constructive criticism is healthy and useful and can save our lives, destructive criticism on the other hand can keep us in bondage so we do not live our best lives for Christ. This was evident in the Pharisees as they sought to criticize Jesus and to stop him from doing the work of God. Or even today, when we seek to preach the gospel or share our faith we are suddenly met with resistance, criticism and mockeries. The same tool is still being employed by Satan till this day.
Condemnation, a sense of guilt or even shame could be introduced in our lives in different stages. It could be in infancy, if you had a particularly challenging childhood, it could be through abuse or a life event that leaves you feeling guilty and condemned. If your mind has not been fully renewed to grasp the depth of the grace and mercy of God which is available in his everlasting love like most of us. We will find ourselves giving in to the wiles of the enemy of our soul when he comes at us with condemnation, criticism and guilt. The enemy can use these tools to build a strong hold in our minds so that we always process most events through this lens. As such we do not live in the victory, love, kindness and forgiveness that is ours in Jesus. Especially as God himself has promised not to be angry with us again as long as we are in him Isaiah 54.
In Matthew 12:7, Jesus referred to his disciples as innocent in the light of the accusation of the Pharisees. He declared them innocent of “the crime” in spite of the Pharisees condemnation. The bible says in the book of Romans 8:31-39 that no one can condemn us before God. Because Jesus is always interceding for us, and as such no case brought against us can stand. Hallelujah, what a victory we have in Jesus. This means that when the enemy tries to come at us with the legalism of the law, our hearts should not be condemned because Jesus declares us innocent.
So when our hearts condemn us, we can search to see if we need to confess any sins to Christ so that our hearts can be free 1 John 1:9. Also we can do a soul search to see if there is any area of challenge we need to bring before the throne of mercy because God desires to help us Hebrews 4:16. And if we find none, then it is most likely just the enemy trying to use our hearts to condemn us, then we can use the scriptures to rebuke the lies, criticism and condemnation of the enemy James 4:7-8.
Therefore let us step out with confidence in Christ and with a confident mindset that God has got us, just like the disciples. The bible says we should enter boldly into the presence of God that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help us in time of need . As we continue this journey of life, let us be joyful that we are not condemned but we are accepted in the beloved. God bless you.
These resources are also available to further edify us:
https://proverbs31.org/read/devotions/fullpost/2019/10/03/silencing-your-inner-critic
And another one from Derek Prince ministries: https://www.derekprince.com/radio/830
If on the other hand you are not yet a believer, the good news is that almighty God loves you and he longs to have a relationship with you. Would you accept him as savior and Lord of your life?
If YES please say this prayer, dear God thank you for sending Jesus to die for my sins. Forgive me my sins and come into my life, I acknowledge you as my savior and Lord in Jesus name.
That’s all, if you say this prayer, you are born again and part of the family of Christ. Get into a bible based church and God will work a miracle in your life. Also fee free to contact me.