None of us is above criticism. All of us need honest, constructive criticism. We should be willing to receive criticism. From time to time it will be necessary for us to give criticism to others.

Criticism is healthy. Criticism can be of great benefit to us. We can all profit from criticism. Criticism can be the surgeon's knife to cut away some serious, life-threatening infection in us, and be the means to restore us to spiritual and psychological health. We need to learn how to give and how to take this kind of criticism.

Criticism can also be destructive. Criticism wrongly given can seriously injure the one to whom the criticism is directed, can turn brother against brother, can destroy fellowship. Improper, unloving, harsh criticism can create civil war in the church, sap the church of its strength, and ruin its worship of God and its witness to those outside.

Scripture has much to say about this matter of criticism. Solomon writes in Proverbs 27:5, 6,

Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

In Proverbs 9:8 we read,

Rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

We are told in Ecclesiastes 7:5,

It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

Passages like Romans 15:14, Colossians 3:16, and Hebrews 3:13 call the people of God to admonish one another.

Criticism is judgment. A critic acts the part of a judge. He reviews evidence, makes evaluations, and draws conclusions. He attempts to discern problems and offer solutions. There are basically two types of criticism: positive and negative.

Positive criticism identifies strengths and acknowledges achievements. It offers congratulations and encouragement.

We all need positive criticism. Positive criticism in the form of commendation, praise, expressions of appreciation and thanks serve the purpose of building us up. Positive criticism spurs us on to perseverance and continuation. A good parent, teacher, employer, officebearer knows the value of positive criticism.

Too often when we think of criticism we think in terms of negative criticism. Many of us are woefully weak in the area of positive criticism. There should be much more positive criticism among us. Many of us are quick to offer negative criticism, but never have a good word to say to our wife or husband, our children, the Christian school teacher, the minister, or the elders. Hardly ever is a word of appreciation or encouragement found in our mouth. This is wrong. If all we ever do is give negative criticism, find fault, and identify the weaknesses of others, there is something radically wrong with us. In Proverbs 12:25 we read,

Heaviness in the heart of a man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.

Although positive criticism is needed, we must beware of extremes. Too little encouragement leads to despair. But we must also beware of too much or undeserved commendation. This is flattery, and the Bible everywhere condemns flattery.

It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory. Proverbs 25:27

And in Proverbs 29:5 we read,

A man that flattereth his neighbour speadeth a net for his feet.

There is also a place for negative criticism in the life of the child of God. Negative criticism points out weaknesses and mistakes and calls for correction.

Negative criticism can be useful, and there are times in our lives when we all need the negative criticism of a loving friend. There will be times when it will be necessary for us ourselves to give negative criticism. Although we might naturally draw back from this and although we would rather not offer the criticism because we are afraid of how it might be received, our love for the one who needs the criticism and our concern for the correction of some wrong or the strengthening of some weakness in his life must motivate us to carry through with it.

Certain Basic, Biblical Principles should Regulate the Negative Criticism that we Give.⤒🔗

• First of all, our negative criticisms should concern significant matters in the life of the one we feel it necessary to criticize. A significant matter would be a matter of sin, a serious weakness, or dereliction of duty. What we must all avoid is the very real danger that our criticism degenerates into a personal diatribe. Our criticism then concerns insignificant, trivial matters. Every little difference of character, viewpoint, way of doing things becomes an occasion for our criticism. Our criticisms concern matters that are either indifferent or of little importance.
  
  We have much to learn in this respect, I fear. We have much to learn about being longsuffering towards one another, bearing with one another's weaknesses. We have much to learn about tolerating different emphases, distinct viewpoints, and differences of personality. We have much to learn about living peacefully with one another, and not making an issue about every little thing that arises. We ought to have a concern here for the unity of the church and preserving the unity of the church. One of the quickest ways to tear down the church's unity is our living with each other in such a way that we are always ready to criticize and condemn each other. What would happen if we lived this way in our marriages or in our homes? What would happen if all we ever did was criticize each other for every little thing? In no time our marriages would be ruined and the fellowship of our homes destroyed.

• In the second place, negative criticism must be given in love, and the one who is giving the negative criticism is responsible to make plain to the one to whom he is offering the criticism that his criticism is motivated by love. What is condemned is harsh, unfeeling criticism that cuts, wounds, and kills. Proverbs 27:6 says that "Faithful are the wounds of a friend … ." In offering negative criticism, Ephesians 4:15 also applies, that we must speak the truth IN LOVE.
  
  How many Christians have not suffered from negative criticism that was not given in love, but which amounted to a vicious attack? How many parents, ministers, Christian school teachers, employees have spent sleepless nights after such attacks? How much pain of soul have not such attacks caused?

• Our criticism will be loving criticism, in the third place, if it is criticism that aims at the upbuilding of one another. This is the question we ought to ask ourselves before we ever offer negative criticism: "Why am I giving this criticism? Am I aiming at his (or her) spiritual and physical wellbeing? Am I motivated by his (or her) upliftment?" If the answer to these questions, in all honesty, is "No”, don't give the criticism, even if the criticism itself is valid.
  
  One measure of our concern for the upliftment of the one whom we criticize is whether or not we pray for them. It's easy to criticize them, but do we pray for them? It's easy to criticize our wife or husband, but do we pray for them? It's easy to criticize the Christian school teachers, but do we pray for them? It's easy to criticize the elders, but do we pray for them? It's easy to criticize the minister, but do we pray for him?

• In the fourth place, in offering negative criticism we should be objective and specific. Our criticism should be based on concrete evidence, and not just on subjective opinion and feeling. This will also assure that our criticism is specific. Criticism that is vague and general does little good. Be able to substantiate your criticism, to point out the evidence that supports the validity of the criticism that you are making.

• In the fifth place, accompany your criticism with suggestions for correction and improvement. To confront someone with negative criticism, but to point out no alternative is wrong. There are many negative critics who can go on at great lengths describing weaknesses and mistakes, but who do not have a suitable alternative.

This kind of erroneous negative criticism abounds in the world today. This is the character of our society that gives itself over to gossip, ridicule, poking fun of the weaknesses and mistakes of others. Our country is filled with critics who point out what's wrong with our nation and our nation's leaders, but who never suggest a viable alternative.

It has been said that it is easier to give criticism than to receive it. This is hardly true. To give proper criticism, out of the right motive, in the right way, and with the proper goal in view is one of the hardest things for the Christian to do. Yet, criticism given following the Biblical principles we have cited, will be blessed by God. It is criticism that will be received. It is criticism that will serve the good of the one to whom it is given. It is criticism that will prove to be constructive criticism.