Glass is a hard substance composed of sand, soda, lime, and other ingredients fused through rapid cooling. When it is smashed, the dangers in the bits of splintered broken glass remind me of the bitter criticism being tossed about every day.
 
If you swap the damage that shards of glass can cause to the body for the words that many people sling, you may notice the impact can be as cutting and lethal. Fault-finding against others has become as comfortable as an old pair of shoes or a worn blanket. Its ceaseless flow is like running a gauntlet of cruel punishment. You cannot escape being wounded.
 
Criticism covers many areas—the list is infinite. It can run the scale from focusing on a person's facial features and appearance, to clothes, gender, race, culture, or religion. It includes our government, word usage, speech, competency, or intellect. You name it!
 
Bible history records criticism as a crime. When you speak against someone or speak words that are hurtful to the reputation of the person, it is condemned as "evil speaking." (Colossians 3:8; Jude 10) Several events in the Bible cost the grumblers their lives.
 
One of the topmost areas of criticism regards the Bible and the church. Many say the Bible is too complicated to understand. Some declare that the various accounts of the same events by different writers, adds to their confusion and disbelief.
 
Then there are statements about which church to attend. An undisputable claim is that there are so many denominations. This provokes the question on how to commit to attend one regularly? Finally, there is the worn-out statement trotted out for years, that “the church is filled with a bunch of hypocrites.”
 
If you have ever visited a hospital, you recognize it is a place that is occupied by people with various illnesses, wounds, and distresses. Although there are many medical specialists who help treat countless anomalies, the mission of the hospital staff is the same: restore the patient to health.
 
As much as we would like to believe we were born into this three-dimensional world as perfect individuals, it doesn't take long for our bubble to burst once it becomes obvious that is not the case. Although it may seem unfair, the truth is we came as damaged goods with a flaw in our spirits. God's original creations made a deadly choice, and the aftermath of their decision was transmitted to all of their future offspring. (Genesis 2:17; 3:6-7,16,17.)
 
The church is a spiritual health facility to dispense abiding, eternal love and leads to God's gift of forgiveness that can restore His creations to spiritual health. (Matthew 9:12; Mark 2:17) Seek out a church that actively expresses His gifts. When you commit to attending, you will have ample opportunities to read and study the Bible with others to increase your understanding of God's Word.
 
If you select at-home Bible reading, sincerely ask God for Divine wisdom. I guarantee you will receive an answer. You won't be disappointed.
 
Criticizing and fault-finding expose an unhealthy personality temperament. Frustration, helplessness, or anger may be at the root of grumbling. Remember, criticizing another is like criticizing yourself. Turn those thorny areas over to God and let Him show you how to prepare a message that will reach the heart of another.

With the entrance of darkness into the universe, three deadly predators trailed along in the atmosphere like an infected carbuncle(boil). Early on, they each had their personal profile for carrying out their deadly intentions.
 
However, over time, they became close friends and formed a powerful coalition that works together for mass destruction. Hate, fear, and doubt are three of the deadliest weapons in the toolbox of darkness. Together they can score a knockout punch and create havoc in a very short time to hundreds of people.
 
These vultures are extremely dangerous since they have the capability to choose anyone as prey at any time without reservation or conscience.

• Hate (hatred) a learned behavior, is nurtured by intense dislike, malice, personal resentment and malevolence, which is an attempt to cause harm or evil to another.

• Natural fear (fright and flight) arises in the presence of obvious and visual danger. There is a natural response to remove or avoid its effect(s). On the other hand, anticipated fear or dread assumes or predicts an outcome that may or may not exist. There is a sense of anxiety and an unshakable uneasiness or disturbance within the mind and spirit of a person.

• Doubt, a cousin to fear, is uncertain and distrustful. There is disbelief and a tendency not to believe or accept what is spoken or written. There is a feeling of a lack of proof to support faith, and there is evidence that appears real when in reality, it is false.

 
If you have ever watched any type of construction, you know every house or building structure must begin with a foundation. In addition, every construction project must meet specific building and safety codes before the plans are approved. Once the standards are met, the project can move forward.
 
If we make the world situation our daily focus, it may appear we are faced with overwhelming odds to defeat the powers of darkness. As a result, we begin to wonder where is our foundation to overcome this toxic atmosphere?
 
Recall that every new construction project must meet certain safety standards. Assuredly, we have a foundation based on our spiritual Rock. He meets all the standards of eternal love. Biblically speaking, we have everything needed to wage war against any unholy alliance whose only aim is to keep us imprisoned and destroy our faith in His promises.

• Hate stirs up conflict, while love covers an abundance of wrongs. (Proverbs 10:12) The only thing we should hate is evil.

• God has not built us to be timid/fearful, but has given us power, love and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7) We are more than conquerors. (Romans 8:37)

• A wise man builds his house on the Rock, and not on sand. (Matthew 7:24-26)

• His words will never pass away. (Matthew 24:35)

 
An important reminder is that our walk of faith will not be an easy one. We are wrestling against spiritual forces who hate God and His creations. You may not want to believe you are in a war for your soul, but truth be told, that is exactly what is happening every day. It is a war of darkness against light.
 
When we hang out with hatred, lock ourselves in the closet of fear, and hold hands with doubt, we give wicked principalities, cosmic forces and the powers of darkness approval to find a nesting place within our soul. (Ephesians 6:12)
 
Our weapons must be spiritual: the Bible (His truth and light), prayer, faith (trust/hope), are our offensive weapons to overcome evil forces. Our foundation cannot be built on sinking sand, but on the strength and love of our spiritual Rock.