Learning How To Be Critical In a Growth Way

I went to a bible study this week on the topic of Avoiding a Sour Spirit. I was particularly interested in this topic because it is about judging others. This is one of the pitfalls that a counselor can fall into so I wanted to delve into this topic to learn how I can learn not to judge others. It was important to hear that assessing someone else is not a "thou shalt not" but we have to learn to balance it with how far and how low we let it go. Jesus tells us to look to ourselves first before passing judgement on others. I can't tell you how many times I have thought to myself, "stop and get the log out of your own eye" But Jesus didn't end with that. After looking at ourselves and checking our motives we need to first assess if you have a trusting relationship with the person you are wanting to confront. If this is a relationship that can withstand criticism than you have to best figure out how to approach the person with this criticism. This analogy given was a beautiful description of criticism: Criticism, like rain, should be gentle enough to nourish a person's growth without destroying it's roots. Not all of us are the same, so like I said before, you have to really know the person to find the best way to approach them without crushing their spirit. The main thing to consider following is to always think good of others and continually pray to see all people through God's eyes.

If you judge people, you have not time to love them. Mother Theresa

Matthew 7:5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.