We Are All Critics

I’m not sure if this happens to you but I find planning a vacation overwhelming. There is this inner angst that I need to pick the perfect vacation spot, to find the best places to visit and the best food to eat. I worry that I will end up regretting not going somewhere else. But perhaps more than anything, I fear that others will criticize my choices. I went on vacation two years ago to Europe and when I got back I was told by people all the places I should have gone, all the places I should have eaten at, all the museums and shows I should have gone too instead of the ones I did. Nothing strips away joy like criticism. Why are we like this?

Thanks to social media, we now live in a world where are the critic. Yelp, Instagram, Facebook. Like, dislike, three stars, five stars. We have been trained to criticize everything and we expect to have the best experience. Listen to this podcast, read this book, watch this show, wear these clothes, make this food, follow this preacher. What happens when we don’t meet these expectations? We failed. We didn’t measure up to our critics and we are found wanting.

Why do we enjoy giving criticism so much? I mean, why does it matter what type of bread I eat for dinner, or the genre of music I enjoy? Isn’t the point that I enjoy it?

I think one reason we love to criticize is that it makes us feel powerful. There’s power in criticism, to feel better than another person, to reveal faults and errors. We have power at our fingertips and in our mouth to bring another person down and raise ourselves up. We have succeeded and they have failed.

There are many other reasons for criticism but two that come to mind is envy and insecurity. Our eyes covet the things of others. People’s popularity, looks, knowledge, their inner circles. Our pride cannot abide to feel inferior to others. So we search out their weaknesses, or create our man made laws of how they should live according to our heart laws and not God’s. We become their god.

Criticism shows a graceless life. We don’t see our need for grace, instead we justify ourselves by comparing ourselves to others and rejoicing that our wisdom and righteousness appears to exceed theirs. To need grace is to admit that I failed. I sinned. I am the one who needs help. The fountain of ever flowing grace humbles our hearts. This quote from Thomas Goodwin has convicted me deeply.

"Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, that is, that all power in heaven and earth was his, so soon as he should set foot in heaven; then in the midst of these thoughts he tells us, he went and washed his disciples feet." (The Heart of Christ)

Christ, even when he knew he would be glorified by the heavens still chose to wash his disciples feet. He already knew all that he had, he didn’t need that night to be about him and his glory. He has all things, so he gives all things. It is his delight to give us the kingdom. I think we are too busy fighting for our own little kingdom of power to receive the kingdom he has given us. May we have hearts to see his kingdom more.