The Ballestero Blog

Results of a Critical Spirit

(Guest article by Pastor Mark McKinney, Indianapolis, Indiana.)

Pro. 21:23-24

23  Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

24 Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.

Tongue: law-shone; fig. (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame): — + babbler, bay, + evil speaker, language, talker.

Scorner: Mocker

• Keepeth his mouth.
• He who is without sin.*
• You can’t whitewash yourself, by blackening others.

When a sinner is converted they enjoy:

• Bible Study
• Revivals
• Prayer Meetings
• Worship
• Church in general
• Thinks everybody loves one another
• All seems to be wonderful

Then Critical Spirit Develops:

• Pastor doesn’t seem capable anymore
• His decisions not as sound as before
• He stands smaller in esteem
• Sermons don’t seem to have effect anymore
• Saints are hypocrites
• Bad feelings causes divisions

A Critical Spirit Denotes:

• A deficient Prayer life. (Pro. 28:9)
• A bitter spirit. (He. 12:15-17) *

Bitterness: Painful to the mind or body; Unpleasant to accept, hard to bear, distressful.  Harsh as cutting words, cruel, characterized by intense animosity

Results of Bitter Spirit:

• God won’t bless over the mess
• Feelings of others will get involved
• Valuable ground has been lost, may never be regained.
• Spirit like a virus (highly contagious)
• Revival hindered (repentance and confession in order)

*Where it all Leads*

Pro. 6:16‑19

• Rumors ‑ Tale bearing
• Backbiting
• False accusations (the devil is the accuser of the brethren)
• Evil imagination (second guessing) *
• Slander: A false tale or report maliciously uttered and tending to injure the reputation of another
• Critical spirit will not accept council.
• (Pr.9:8‑10, 15:32‑33, 19:20‑23)
• Guilty of self‑justification
• (f) Raising a generation of cursed children

1. Cursed by their own parents spirit
2. Faith in church gone
3. Lack of confidence in Pastor’s life
4. Ministry, and prayers
5. Loss of love for Saints and church.

* Charity *

I Co. 13:1‑7

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

~ Bro M. S. McKinney