Col 4:6, Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. Eph 4:29, Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearers.
Much is said in the bible concerning our speech. I recently did a teaching on the difference between criticism and correction. I believe the lines are blurred concerning these two things. Often we call correction criticism and criticism correction. I’ve had many people come to me and say they want to offer some constructive criticism. Most of the time I draw up and little bit and get ready for something that’s about to hurt. Often words of criticism and words of correction can feel the same but they are totally different.
When someone offers me a word I have two questions I ask myself in evaluating that word. First, what does this word produce in me if applied? Second, does this word line up with God’s word. Criticism and correction have a product tied to them. We seem to have no problem applying critical words to our life, but big problems applying words of correction. Criticism produces death, correction produces life. Criticism produces confusion, correction produces peace. Criticism produces weariness, correction produces strength. Criticism produces everything counterproductive to growth in the Lord Jesus. Correction must be based on the principles of God’s word or it is no correction at all. Therefore, there is no such thing as constructive criticism. Criticism by its very nature is destructive. Criticism was used by the enemy all through the Word of God to attack the leadership of God through His people. Satan was critical of God to Adam and Eve in the garden and was critical of every leader of God to the people. This pattern seems to follow the Church to this day.
It is plain that leaders in the Church often need correction because no one is perfect. However, criticism is designed to destroy the leadership. I do understand that there are those who cannot receive correction. Those who cannot receive correction are manifesting that they are not in proper relationship to the Word of God. I also understand that many attempts to correct by being critical.
While in prayer for someone not long ago, I was asking God to please give a word for the person. The Spirit of God told me that we didn’t need a word but we needed the word. I have tried to process what the Lord was saying to me through that. I believe any specific word must flow out of the logos, or the totality of God’s word. This is the only way that we can be corrective and not critical. Those who cannot be corrected by the Word of God are living in open rebellion. The standard has always been the Word of God and not man’s opinion. We need to be speaking His Word. Our conversation needs to always be centered on the message of His grace while being seasoned with salt. The Word comforts as well as cuts. The Word is a sharp sword the cuts and divides between soul and spirit, while at the same time brings us to peace and unity with ourselves and with God. Help us Lord to be corrective with our speech and not critical.
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