A Critical Spirit

At church recently, I overheard the following: "The number one problem with the local church is a critical spirit." How true! How convicting!

Aren't we too critical of others all the time? Don't we constantly blame others for wrongs within the church rather than ourselves? Doesn't that turn non-Christians away from the church? Absolutely!

Have you heard or said any of the following?
"I don't think the preacher should preach that long."
"That music was terrible."
"Sunday School is boring."
"Why is he (or she) wearing that?"
"I wish we did _________ instead of __________."

The list goes on and on, but guess what? Nobody asked you! Nobody asked me either! And it's a good thing; isn't it?

I struggle with this at times. It's so easy for me to point a finger when something bothers me at church. God is working on me though. I cannot play the blame game anymore. If I don't like something, I must get a better attitude about it. Oftentimes, I've learned that praying about the things I don't like changes my heart and not the thing(s) I don't like. I've learned to repent of my "church is for my entertainment" mindset and remember the church is people--Christian people--not a building or programs or whatever I made church out to be in my flesh.