When we look at others, we see people who are not perfect. Only God is perfect. The more we see of God the greater the beauty of His holiness. But the more we look at other people; their sinful nature becomes more evident. And so we criticise those around us. It may make us feel superior and give us feelings of power over people.

Such criticism can so easily become a habit; but we need to know it is an ungodly habit - for two reasons. Firstly, because we can never judge as accurately as God; we do not know the depths of anybody else's heart. And secondly, because we have our own faults. Our own wrong patterns of thought, speech and behaviour may seem normal to us because that is how we usually behave - and we do not even see that they are wrong. In fact, the sin in our own lives blinds us to what we are really like.

A blind critical eye is useless to us and dangerous if we try to take a speck out of another person's eye. But worse than that for us, is the all-seeing eye of God. He never judges wrongly; He always sees where the fault lies and has a way of showing hypocrites the foolishness of their own behaviour, calling them to repent.

Criticism within the family of God is dangerous and divisive. It will wound a brother or sister and hurt our Father's heart. It will not achieve anything that we desire, but will bring God's judgement down on us. These high-sounding critics are really hypocrites (play-actors) who use the stage of life to persuade people to applaud them for their wisdom and boo the 'baddies'. That is a pantomime act which is far too common in churches. It is time to repent.