Critique vs Criticism

“Do not judge, that you may not be judged” (Matthew 7:1-5).

As I reflect on this gospel today, I don’t think Jesus is telling us to “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil”, or to be naive and undiscerning.  Part of the prophetic role of the baptized is precisely that; to be prophetic, not to abstain from taking positions.  Part of our being sent is to call evil what is evil and good what is good. But this doesn’t necessarily mean that we have to set ourselves up as judges of others.

In the English language, there’s a distinct difference in the use of two similar words, namely, ‘critiquing’ and ‘criticizing’.  They both have the same etymological root, but they have different meanings.  We critique products: books, poetry, paintings, music; we critique actions, strategies, principles.  The moment we pass from products to persons, from actions to agents, we’re no longer critiquing, we’re criticizing.  And in criticizing we’re setting ourselves up as judges of our brothers and sisters, we become personal in our passing judgment.  We’re able to critique products, because, at least to some extent, we can measure their quality.  But we don’t have any sure gauge to measure the intention and heart of the agent, as distinct from the action itself, and so to criticize the person.

I believe this is the context of the Lord’s injunction “don’t judge: don’t condemn (the person), that you may not be condemned. Whether we judge/criticize or not, we are all going to be judged one day by the One, who is entitled to do so: The Father has entrusted all judgment to the Son (John 5:22).

We’re asked (Matthew 16:16) to be “simple as doves, but shrewd as serpents”.  Simple toward people, but prophetically shrewd toward actions, policies, products.

It seems that the times we live in demand mercy more than ever.  Perhaps one of the reasons for that is the extreme tendency, as a world culture, to be harsh and critical of others.  All we need to do is read a newspaper, browse social media, or watch the nightly news programs to see that our world culture is one that is continually growing in the tendency to overanalyze and severely criticize.  This is a real problem.

We’re called to be self-reflective rather than the bearer of judgment.  The most annoying things I find in other people are generally things that I find or have found in myself.  I often learn a lot about myself when I’m aware of my less favorable experiences of others.

The good thing about the mercy of God is that He uses either our judgmentalism or our mercy (depending upon which is more manifest) as the measuring rod of how He treats us.  He’ll act with great mercy and forgiveness toward us when we show that virtue.  But He will also show His justice and judgment when this is the path we take with others.  It’s up to us!

Mercy is always far more rewarding and satisfying than being judgmental.  It produces joy, peace, and freedom.  We need to put mercy in our mind and commit ourselves to seeing the blessed rewards of this precious gift.