We sometimes hear that it is never right to criticize. This may be true when destructive, personal criticism is meant; but there is another side of criticism.

Christian Science shows us that criticism in Christianity can serve as valuable a function as do critiques in drama, athletics, or ballet. No one intent on mastering any of these disciplines would want to be without corrective guidance. To improve one's precision and performance in any of these endeavors, one needs to know when he or she is right, as well as what mistakes are being made and how to correct them. True artists and athletes value this expert analysis—and so does the true Christian, who seeks and treasures the criticism that is a result of hearing the Christ.

Peter thrived on the criticism of the Master, Christ Jesus. Jesus was quick to compliment Peter when he did well but was also ready with a rebuke when Peter failed to practice the highest Christianity. In one case he declared, "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" ^{Matt. 14:31.} Perhaps Jesus' sternest comment was, "Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men." ^{16:23 .}

Instead of taking offense, Peter must have felt the deep love that impelled these rebukes. He responded to them and grew spiritually until he was able to do the remarkable healing work recorded in Acts and to be a leader in the new Christian Church. ^{See Acts 2, 3 .}

Jesus is not personally with us today to provide the kind of expert correction he gave Peter, but the Christ he expressed is with each of us always. Mrs. Eddy interprets "Christ" as "the divine manifestation of God, which comes to the flesh to destroy incarnate error." ^{Science and Health, p. 583.} The Christ is not a bodily entity, but is tangible to spiritual sense. We all possess this sense, and there are ways to sharpen it and to increase our responsiveness to Christly criticism.

First, we can silently and humbly pray to be more receptive to appraisals motivated by Christliness in ourselves and others.

Second, we can study the life of Jesus as told in the Bible and as Mrs. Eddy's writings illuminate it. We can adopt his life as our model.

Third, as spiritual discernment becomes more and more a part of our lives, we can make the constant effort to yield to it and so bring "into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." ^{II Cor. 10:5.}

When we do this, we become Christian critics: not sitting in judgment on our neighbors but acting as wise spiritual judges of the thoughts and suggestions that come to us daily. Only good, true, spiritual thoughts can possibly meet this high standard.

Christian correction is never aimed at the real man but always at a false concept calling itself man. Scientific criticism makes real selfhood apparent by eliminating from our view anything that does not express God.

If we were, in belief, to criticize man instead of the error that claims to be man, we would at the same time be criticizing God, since we would imply that He is capable of creating an imperfect man. But God is wholly good and creates only perfection. Evil and imperfection have no place in the divine reality, in the true nature of man. If we feel that someone is sick or sinful, we can be sure that this view of man does not represent our own true thought but is a false suggestion of the one accuser, evil, or mortal mind. This "mind" is really not a mind at all but only the false claim that intelligence, life, substance, and man can exist apart from God and so be less than perfect.

Mortal mind is the suppositional source of all unrighteous criticism: of the inaccurate or undeserved rebuke; of gossip about the alleged flaws of those who are absent; of the unspoken mental error that would pin faults on others. If we are tempted to yield to such evils, we can instead resort to the criticism that comes from the Christ. Listened to and obeyed, this true assessment will restore our consciousness of man's perfection and of God as the perfect creator. In our true being we are no more conscious of evil than God—who is wholly good—can be. The more certain we become of the total unreality of evil, the more clearly we discern and reflect the Christ.

The author of Revelation relates, "And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night." ^{Rev. 12:10.} Here is the fate of "the accuser of our brethren": to be cast down, not agreed with. Are we allying ourselves with "the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ" or are we joining with the accuser?

How we answer this question will help show us whether or not our criticism is Christianly motivated. If based in Christ, criticism will injure no one and will accomplish the good works that always spring from the heart of a true Christian—a heart full of God-derived love.