The Ballestero Blog

The Sin Of Finding Fault

Prov. 6:16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

Prov. 6:17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

Prov. 6:18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

Prov. 6:19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

God hated the first six things mentioned here. The seventh one… He hated it so much, He called it an abomination.

“The sowing of discord among brethren.”

If God calls it an abomination, then it’s a bad sin.

1. ‘The Sanballat Syndrome’. – (He wanted Nehemiah’s work to fail.)

• It hinders growth
• It divides
• It sows discord
• Critics do great damage.
• Do you want your church to fail? Then don’t kill it with criticism.
• Many are destroyed by criticism.

2. What makes people criticize? There is always a motive!

The reason Judas became critical of Mary washing the feet of Jesus and breaking the expensive alabaster box with perfumed ointment, is because he wanted it to be sold so he could get his hands on the money. He was a thief!

John 12:5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?

John 12:6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

There is a reason, a good reason why people say what they say.

What makes you criticize? At the very least, it’s a spirit that is using you to bring disruption into the Kingdom. Your actions hinder unity at the very least.

3.  Biblical treatment of critics.

Railers are critics or fault finders that make little snippy comments. Sometimes they even make harsh indictments.

Luke 23:39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

2Pet. 2:10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

4. Paul said, don’t even eat with a critic. Don’t sit at the same table. That spirit will get on you.

1Cor. 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

5. Murmuring in the wilderness

It brought the judgment of God.

• The fiery serpents.
• God keeps track of your complaints.
• He reminded them that they had murmured 10 times.
• God said that by murmuring, they had tempted Him to destroy them.
• Complaining is criticism.
• Don’t make God want to get rid of you.

6. Almost every church has at least one critic.

They make comments about:

• The temperature
• The noise level.
• The drums
• The songs
• The sermon
• The sermon length
• What someone wore
• The worshipers
• The youth group
• The youth leader
• Those that pray too loud
• The preacher, his wife, his kids
• The offerings
• The tithes

7. Fault Finders:

• Have a self–righteous attitude.
• They have a sense of superiority.
• They have pride issues.
• Refuse to admit what their doing is wrong.

My father had a sign in his pastoral office that said: “You can’t white wash yourself by blackening others.”

8. Like the Pharisee praying in the Temple with the publican,

They thank God they are not like other men. Yet unknown to them, God is not hearing their prayers.

9. Haman could not see the thousands bowing down before him.

All he could focus on was the one that didn’t. That fault led to his eventual downfall and death. He could not enjoy what he had. He could only see what wasn’t going his way.

10. To those that battle with this problem, there is hope.

• Paul mentioned that he had learned in what so ever state he was in to be content.
• It’s possible to learn to be content.

Contented people do not criticize. They are content.

• May there be peace in our spirits and in our church.
• Contentment is a friend of unity.
• Unity preceded the Holy Ghost outpouring in the book of Acts.

Barnabas was an encourager. He was an edifier.

May God give us more men like Barnabas. We desperately need them.