I'm a critical person.  To many, it seems, that's a bad thing.  I shouldn't question the activities, motives, or intentions of others.  It makes me come across as, well, critical.  In today's society, we should give everyone the benefit of the doubt.  Even among us Lutherans, didn't we learn to "put the best construction on everything"? (see Luther's explanation to the Eighth Commandment.)

I was taught to be critical in the sense of evaluating the truth or error in a person's theology, philosophy, or world view.  The Bible tells us to test the spirits to see if they are of God.  The Bereans are lauded for checking everything Paul told them against the inspired Scriptures.  I was taught to think morally, ethically (yes, there is a difference between those two which most don't appreciate), and legally.  I was taught to ask "Is this legal?" and "Is this moral?" and "Is this ethical?" and "Is this true?"  

So if to ask a question or to question an event, an activity, a motivation is to be critical, then I am a critical person and I don't see any Biblical or ethical reason not to be.  In fact, I see Biblical and ethical imperatives to be critical.  Otherwise, every person runs about doing whatever seems right to them and that is chaos.  One person thinks sex and procreation are reserved for those who are married.  Others believe that "traditional" marriage is anachronistic.  Some think that if you're in a committed (lifelong and exclusive?) relationship (if they're committed, why don't they want to get married? I know the arguments about finances and such but those just reveal that they are, in fact, committed to other things more than they are to each other, from what I can see.) that sex for them is just fine.  Still others want to redefine sex as something less than intercourse or something which is merely a necessary biological function.  So what then is marriage?  Why then should anyone get married?  But see, even the word "should" in that question reveals a moral, legal, or sociological critique? 

So I will not ask you to excuse me for being critical.  I think we should (there's that word again!) all be more critical.  Let's define our words better.  Let's examine our behaviors.  I'm not hoping to create a civic righteousness.  I'm only trying to do what God, my fallen human nature, my vocation and, I believe, rational society expects us to do.  Ahh, but there's another "expectation" which opens the door to criticism once again.