Article October 25, 1969 Issue

Overcoming Criticism

ANN T. BEALS

In his age, Christ Jesus denounced some of the religious practices of the people of his day because they were so unkind, binding the people to customs that were unjust and ungodlike. He exposed the hardheartedness of the scribes and Pharisees and urged his followers to love more. At one time he said to his disciples, "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another."^{John 13:34;} This commandment is a spiritual law for all time. We cannot practice Christian Science without obeying it.

Today, with the world so greatly in need of the healing Christ-spirit, we should ask ourselves whether we are really living according to this law or mostly feeling critical of our fellowmen.

Unkind criticism is not just a little wrong; it is one of the most subtle forms of hatred. At times it even makes us unloving toward these who are nearest and dearest. If we persist in seeing imperfection in others and passing judgment on them, we should remember that such criticism is not only unkind to others but also harmful to ourselves. It dims the Christ-spirit within. It produces a fretful, cold attitude toward the world, all seemingly justified, for indeed there is much in the world today that is wrong. But criticism doesn't heal it. A merely critical analysis of error, however brilliant, does not remedy problems. Sometimes it only makes them seem more real, for thought focuses on evil instead of good.

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