Is It Rebuking Or Criticism

The Bible is used by God to teach us what is wrong with us and how that wrong is to be addressed. Every man--even a believing man--is prone to go his own way. Therefore, the believer must "reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." --2 Timothy 4:2-4

We should prayerfully self-examine our life and heart before dealing with the sins of others. We cannot be used of God to call anyone to obedience to us or to God if we are doing so from a position of our own disobedience. [Ouch] The words of God must saturate our own heart before we attempt to teach them to others.

Following the example of Jesus Himself, he considered this willingness to rebuke and chasten an expression of His love for His people. He loved them too much to allow them to continue in their sin. His rebuking was done for the sole purpose of restoring them to God.

But the one who criticizes usually desires to elevate himself over the one he is criticizing. These motivations are ungodly and follows the ways of Satan. So the important thing for us to ask our self is do we follow Christ's example? Is our desire for giving rebuke or "constructive criticism" done with the intent of restoring a person to a closer relationship with God? A loving heart must clearly be evident when giving a rebuke. A believer who is allowing God's Word to convict his own conscience and his relationship with God and his follow neighbor will not be mean-spirited as he deals with others.