Why should I be careful about criticizing others?

Romans 14:10So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.

James 4:11Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you.

Constructive criticism differs from condemnation and can be a welcome and wholesome gift if given in the spirit of love. But criticism that ridicules, demeans, or judges someone has at least four harmful consequences: (1) it tears down self-esteem, making a person feel shamed and worthless; (2) it damages your reputation, making you look mean and merciless; (3) it damages your ability to offer helpful advice because you’ve made someone become defensive; and (4) it brings greater judgment upon yourself from God, who detests when you hurt others.