Criticism Has Become the Great American Pastime

“Let the one who is without sin be the first to cast a stone at her.”

Jesus Christ, Gospel of John

Casting stones has become part of the great American pastime. Everywhere we go we hear criticism. It’s practically written on the wind. People criticize their spouses, children, co-workers, government, celebrities and practically anyone who crosses into their angry consciousness. Nothing is ever “good enough.“ People complain about the weather, the way people dress, or about how “those people” drive too fast or too slow. And too often we add our gripes to this ever-growing negative buzz. Criticism is the worst possible noise pollution.

So we all need to ask ourselves “what’s going on here?” Why are we so negative? Why are we so hateful? Is it really about “those people,” or is it about us? I believe it’s about us. Criticism is a disease of the soul. It is a learned behavior and it is most likely based in shame. If we were shamed as children into believing we weren’t quite good enough, if we heard constant criticism as to how we were so inadequate, we eventually learned to cast stones at ourselves. Our self-love flew out the window and so did our self-worth. We simply stoned our spirits to death.

Once we became proficient at stoning ourselves, we learned the importance of casting stones at others. First, we needed a release from the unbearable shame our constant self-criticism had magnified. Second, we needed a way to cover-up our inadequacies. What better way than to criticize others sans mercy? When we criticize others we take the burden off ourselves. We also create a brief oasis from our nagging fear of being “found out.” We hope we can hide our flaws by flaunting the flaws of others.

This is exactly what is happening in the Gospel story of the Woman Caught in Adultery. An angry crowd is hungry to feed the fire of their own neediness. They’re good at throwing stones and stoning this unfortunate woman will bring them powerful relief. You see, their own self-esteem will be falsely boosted through the self-righteous act of condemning one of “those people;” and their own flaws will be temporarily masked for another day.

Seems like a win-win situation-- until Jesus gets in the way. He understands their brokenness and their fears. He can empathize with the inner-pain of the crowd and of the woman. Jesus also understands that this hatefulness needs to end where it began: within the hearts of the crowd. He knows that condemnation of others is based in self-condemnation. And so he offers profound words that can change the world: “Let the one who is without sin be the first to cast a stone at her.”

These are words we need to live by. None of us are perfect and none of us ever will be. We need to drop the stones we have been casting at ourselves. Once we accept our flaws-- and that we are “good enough” despite them-- we will stop stoning others. There won’t be a need anymore to find fault. And we will be able to say to ourselves and others what Jesus said to the woman “neither do I condemn you.“ Love will replace hate in our hearts. We’ll be healthier and happier, and the world around us will be a little freer of noise pollution.

Allow your soul to shine!