This week’s Truth Speakers for Truth Seekers is about criticism, often means finding fault, focusing on negatives, and critical thinking.
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My highlight of thought this week has been analysing whether I am truly encouraging people, offering encouragement that is uplifting and at the same time helping them build on a piece of wisdom I myself received. Or am I offering so called positive criticism which can come out as judgemental or discouraging to some and falling on deaf ears by others.
The other thought that has intrigued me for months now is the thought from that beautiful book, the Word of God regarding the aroma I can give off.
The first thought I will approach more from an intellectual point of view. The second thought from a spiritual line of thinking.
So, how does one intelligently help people improve in their thinking and thereby changing their current way of doing things? If you really want to help people, you first define the words or ideas people seem to be stumbling over. That is neutral in a way because it is stating what it is and what it is not.
We go wrong when we start attaching our emotions to a definition or automatically call something wrong without analysing the background of a line of thought, skipping the definition and putting together our own. We don’t even consider that the other person might be right or have something to contribute to the idea that is being discussed. We are so convinced we got our facts together, thinking of ourselves as the intellectual intelligent beings and ripping their statements apart with our acquired wisdom we think they do not have.
You probably lost a good friend if that has been your approach.
Criticism often means finding fault, focusing on negatives, and can be personal or emotional, aiming to judge or disapprove; critical thinking is a deeper, objective process of analyzing ideas, evaluating evidence, questioning assumptions, and seeking deeper understanding or truth, aiming for improvement and often including strengths as well as weaknesses. While criticism points out what's wrong, critical thinking explores why, considering pros, cons, context, and broader implications.
Criticism
Focus: Usually negative, finding flaws, mistakes, or things to disapprove of.
Method: Often subjective, based on personal feelings, opinions, or a desire to blame.
Goal: To point out errors, express disapproval, or find fault.
Outcome: Can lead to conflict, defensiveness, or hurt feelings.
Critical Thinking
Focus: Objective analysis, considering strengths, weaknesses, evidence, and context.
Method: Active, disciplined questioning, analysis, interpretation, and evaluation of ideas, arguments, or situations.
Goal: To achieve deeper understanding, logical consistency, truth, and informed judgment.
Outcome: Builds stronger ideas, promotes understanding, and fosters solutions.
Key Distinction
Criticism = Fault-finding (often subjective).
Critical Thinking = Deeper Analysis (objective, aims for truth/improvement).
You can use critical thinking to offer a critique (a balanced evaluation) but simply criticising is often just expressing an opinion without the rigorous analysis that defines critical thinking.
Critical thinking is a higher-level brain function that values accuracy, truthfulness, fairness, and being analytical. Criticism is subjective, selfish, and often harmful.
Critical thinking is valuing truthfulness, fairness, relevance, and being analytical, while criticising is disapproving and subjective.
So, this week, try to give advice through being a critical thinker instead of being critical of the other person and trying to prove them wrong.
What is my goal for this year and why?
There are some very un-usual scriptures in the Word of God that people who never read it might look on as not belonging in a sacred book like God’s word. One of my goals for this year is to give of a smell that is pleasing, encouraging, life giving and lifts people up. That means in the spiritual although physically I will continue to try to smell nice.
What are the smells we can give off?
1) Sweet smelling like myrrh.
ALL YOUR GARMENTS ARE FRAGRANT WITH MYRRH AND ALOES AND CASSIA; FROM PALACES OF IVORY THE HARPS MAKE YOU GLAD. ( PSALM 45:8)
Myrrh was used more in perfume and medicine and is most often associated with death, burial, bitterness, healing and anguish. The ancient Egyptians used myrrh as a sacred ingredient in their embalming rituals.
We can decide to give of a sweet smell of encouragement. Genuine praise, pointing out what truly helped me, do better and if anything seem to be offensive just ask a genuine question what they meant with it, thereby avoiding a “verbal shoot out” of criticism.
2) A Christ sweet smelling aroma which is living and fresh.
2 Corinthians 2:15 (Amplified) says, "For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ [which ascends] to God, [discernible both] among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the latter one an aroma from death to death [a fatal, offensive odor], but to the other an aroma from life to life [a vital fragrance, living and fresh]".
This means believers spread the message of Christ, which smells pleasant (life-giving) to believers but can be offensive (death-bringing) to unbelievers, unless they respond to wanting to receive that life that seem so attractive yet so challenging.
These two aromas are highlighting the different spiritual responses to the Gospel.
Note: A true sweet smell of life is connected to being connected to Christ.
3) An aroma of death- a fatal offensive odor.
Some people can be so critical in whatever we do or say; it can eventually become fatal because all hope is taken away by their words which they might think of as intelligent and trying to set us on the right path. They do not realise they silently caused some serious fatal wounds. If the Gospel is not brought to us with the compassion and love Christ brought those words, it will turn people off and make them turn around from what could have been their lifesaver.
Jesus taught critical thinking through calls for discernment, testing, and renewal of the mind, urging followers to examine beliefs, seek God's will, and focus on truth.
This can be seen in verses like John 10:3-4 (sheep know the shepherd's voice), and Matthew 7:15-20 (testing false prophets by their fruit), and encouraging believers to transform their thinking by renewing their minds to discern God's will (Romans 12:2).
Here are key verses and principles from Jesus' teachings and New Testament writings that encourage positive, discerning thought:
Jesus' Teachings on Discernment and Wisdom: John 10:3-4 (The Sheep Know His Voice): Jesus describes His followers as sheep who recognise and follow His voice, showing an ability to discern true teaching from false. Matthew 7:15-20 (By Their Fruit You Will Know Them): Jesus warns against false prophets, instructing people to judge their character and teachings by their actions (fruit) rather than their words.
This coming week, try to take a step back and watch yourself. Decide if you want to be a critic or a critical thinker, helping people see things from different points of view or are you being a critic, just spouting off criticism as soon as you have a chance? Which smell are you giving off?
It is us that choose how to respond regardless of others comments and contributions to a conversation. It is us that choose to give off a sweet aroma or just a bad smell. As for me, I will be striving to be that sweet aroma of Christ and be a critical thinker, encourage people and give out from a pool of life and encouragement.
It is my hope you will do likewise.
More on this next week.
Blessings
Akhrienuo