1. One of the problems of the Christian life is "The Problem Of Fault-Finding."

2. It is a problem for a number of reasons.

• It is impossible to live without faultfinding (criticism).

• Jesus condemned it. (Matt. 7:1, 22; Jas. 4:11,12).

• It hurts our relationship with others.

• It hurts others.

• Feelings

• Self-image

• Financially

• Productively

5. God is light and the Christian walks in the light. (l Jno. l:5, 7).

6. Christians must discern between good and evil and abhor evil. (Heb. 5:14; Rom. 12:9).

• This involves judgments.

• This involves criticisms.

• How can we make judgments without violating the word "Judge not"?

7. Criticism can become a nasty, habitual habit.

• Some cannot get through a day without numerous criticisms.

• This most often leads to a negative personality.

1. The New Testament commands some judging.

• Judgments of the civil courts. (Rom. l3:1-7).

• Judgments of the church. (1 Cor. 5:l-13).

• Refusing false teachers. (1 Jno. 4:l; Matt. 7:l5; l Thess. 5:21.)

• Personal judgments. (Matt. 7:6; 3 Jno. 9; Tit. 3:10, 11).

• Recognizing and disapproving the faults of others. (Gal. 6:l; Jas. 5:l9, 20).

2. The New Testament condemns harsh judgment and faultfinding. (Matt. 7:l-5; Jas. 4:11,12).

• Condemning others when doing the same thing. (Rom. 2:l-2, 22).

• Condemning others with lessor faults. (Matt. 7:1, 22).

• Condemned Jesus for healing on the Sabbath, but would cheat widows.

• Condemned disciples for not washing hands, but refused to honor parents. (Matt. l5:1-6).

• Condemning others who have been forgiven.

• Condemning others for doing what is lawful.

• Eating meat offered to idols. (Rom. 14:3).

• Observing days (Rom. 14:5).

• Condemning others without knowing all the facts (hasty judgments).

• Condemning the motives and sincerity of others.

• "He's not sincere."

• "He never tried."

• Condemning others in uncharitable, malicious, slanderous manner.

1. An effort to divert attention from one's own sins.

2. An unmerciful spirit delights in hurting others.

3. An effort to justify one's own sinful life and console a biting conscience.

4. Intent to built up oneself while tearing down another. (Lk. l8:9-14).

5. Envy and hatred.

• Envy of another's success leads to faultfinding.

• Hatred or dislike of another distorts and blinds a person of the good in others.

6. Prejudice leads to criticism.

• Race

• Education

• Custom and cultural differences

• Wealth

• Appearance

7. A conscious or unconscious feeling of perfection.

8. Boredom - A lack of something else to do.

9. A refusal to admit initial criticism was wrong. 

• Find fault regardless of evidence presented.

• Keep knit picking to justify initial judgment.

1. We never fully know the circumstances of others; yea, all the facts in the case.

• We usually know only some of the facts.

• We usually do not know the motives of others and our judgments may be clouded with fallacious conclusions.

2. It is next to impossible to be impartial in our judgments.

• Personal bias or prejudice

• Custom

• Close relationships often affect objectively.

3. Not everything we condemn in others is actually sin.

• Hannah was accused of being drunken, but she was not. (l Sam. l:l2ff).

• Jesus was accused of blasphemy, but he was not guilty. (Mk. 2:7).

4. The right to judge is not ours; but, the Lord's. (l Cor. 4:3-5; Rom. l4:4, 10-13; Jas. 4:11, l2.).

• It is the Lord's place to judge.

• It is our place to obey the Lord and do His will.

5. We see only the outward man, not the inward man. (2 Cor. 4:16-18).

• We do not see their motives, intents, inner battles, and desires.

• They may be penitent.

1. Love (l Cor. l3:7).

• Love covers a multitude of sins. (l Pet. 4:8).

• The faults of others will appear thick if our love for them is thin.

2. Consider how despicable it is. (Matt. 7:3).

3. Practice the golden rule. (Matt. 7:l2).

4. Self-examination (l Cor. 11:28; 2 Cor. l3:5).

• If we are critical of ourselves, we will be more charitable to others.

• We will not look for motes (specks) when we have a beam (log) in our own eyes.

5. Look for the good in others.

• Emphasize the positive rather than the black dot on a white sheet of paper.

• Be like a bee and concentrate on the sweet and beautiful rather than like the buzzard who concentrates on the dead and foul.

6. Ask God for help in overcoming this sin. (Matt. 7:7).

7. Consider how much hurt one inflicts upon the heart of the one harshly judged.

• Criticism can crush others.

• It destroys self-image and confidence.

8. Put yourself in the other person's shoes.

9. Remember that our judgments are often wrong. (Jno. l:46; Acts 21:37,38).

10. Consider what judging does to a person.

• Blinds to own faults. (Matt. 7:l-6; Lk. l8:9-l4).

• Destroy friendships.

• Blinds us to the virtues of others

• Robs us of happiness.

• No one can live happily and meaningfully on a diet of negatives.

• No one can live happily and meaningfully without seeing the good in others.

• It makes it difficult to repent and confess. (1 Jno. 1:8-10). We become blind to our own faults through faultfinding and thus do not seek repentance or confess our sins to God.

11. Remember we will be judged with the same judgment we render. (Matt. 7:2)

• We reap what we have sown. (Gal. 6:7,8; Matt. 5:7; Jas. 2:13; Matt. 18:31-35).

• Remember the mud thrower will get plastered.

12. Remember we will give account for our words and if we are unmerciful will receive no mercy from God. (Matt. 12:36,37; Jas. 2:l2,13).

1. The Christian should be very cautious with his criticisms.

2. It is much better to encourage and praise and look for the good in others.