QUIT CRITICIZING
by Kathy Pegram

 

Criticism seems to run rampant in churches today. I wonder if any of us realize that it is just a tool of satan? If we look at it from a biblical perspective, we should be able to see that so many of the people in the Bible would never have accomplished God's will if they had let criticism stop them. Take David for an example, when he saw Goliath, he saw a man defying God. Everyone else saw a giant they couldn't beat. David however saw it from God's point of view. But, he was only one man and all the onlookers only saw Goliath from the perspective of man's point of view. So what did David do? David knew that God was on his side. He knew that God would fight for him. Therefore, the criticism, the mockery and the negative comments didn't stop him. And you know the rest of the story, he came out a winner!

God is on the move in the land today. There is such a mighty and powerful move of God happening today that a lot of people don't know how to deal with it. Some are afraid of it, some ridicule it, some criticize and still others embrace it. But, do you know what I've found? I've found that most of those who are so critical, are the ones who think serving God is just going to church on Sunday mornings or maybe Sunday night, or if they are REAL spiritual, they'll even go on Wednesday nights! They believe that the experience that they got with God 50 years ago, or 20 years ago, or 10 years ago, or 5 years ago, or 6 months ago, or last week, or even yesterday is all they need. I have found that pretty amazing since we need to grow in God continually.

If I'm more interested in staying home to watch the movie of the week or a football game, than I am in going to church then something is wrong! If having my kids on every single sport activity there is to be played so that I am too busy to come to church, then something is wrong! If it gets to be 8:00 and church isn't over yet after only 30 minutes and I can't wait to get out the door, then something is wrong!

That is what so many people are missing with this move of God that is happening. People are getting excited about going to church and they can't wait to get back to see what God is going to do next. They can't wait to get back to see all what is happening. They're stirred up, on fire, and excited about serving their heavenly Father. But, the people with the critical spirits in them can't seem to be happy that souls are being saved, addictions are being kicked, or that bodies are being healed. All they can say is things like; I don't believe it's real, or, That can't be of God, or things like, I'm not the pastor of that church so it can't be that good because I'm not there. Or, I'm not the evangelist so that revival can't be as good as they say since I'm not leading it. And still others will say things like, I know the people of that church and they'll never change or, that revival and that church is just into hype.

Well, first off, I'd have to be 100% sure that something was not of God before I made a statement that it's not God. God doesn't like to be mocked and when you mock a move of His Spirit like what is happening in the land today, you're not mocking a particular man or church, no, you are mocking God! Before you criticize God's move and the leaders involved in these moves, perhaps you might want to see what happened to those who mocked God in Bible times....

In Numbers 12, Miriam was covered in leprosy for mocking Moses for having a Cushite wife. In Samuel 6, Michal despised David because he danced before the Lord. What happened to her? She remained childless for the rest of her life. In Acts 13, Bar-Jesus, a sorcerer, lied about Paul in an attempt to turn the proconsul against him and was stricken with blindness. In 2 Kings 2, a group of youngsters mocked Elisha and laughed at him for being bald. What happened to them? They were instantly killed by bears. In Nehemiah 2, 4 and 6, Sanballat and Tobiah spread rumors and lies in an effort to stop the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls. What happened to them? They were frightened and humiliated. In Jeremiah 28, Hananiah contradicted Jeremiah's prophecies with false predictions and she died two months later. In 2 Samuel 16, Shimei cursed and threw stones at David and was executed at Solomon's orders. In Numbers 16, Korah and his followers led the people of Israel into rebellion against Moses' leadership. What did God do about that? He opened up the mouth of the earth and literally let it swallow them alive!

So, next time before you tear down the revivals and the exciting moves that are happening all over this land, think about that and ask yourself......Have I not given this move a chance? Have I grown lukewarm in my walk with God? I believe that we each can have a unique walk with God if we will just let our spirit be open to Him. We're all different and we don't all worship the same way, but does that mean we have to criticize those who are worshiping God in a way we see different from our own? Think about it. You could be missing out on something fantastic!!!

 

In Christ's Love,
Kathy