An outspoken church member walked by the new minister on Sunday morning and said, “Preacher, that’s the worst sermon I’ve heard in my life!”
The young preacher was devastated, but a compassionate elder put a reassuring arm around the minister’s shoulder and said, “Don’t pay any attention to that guy -- he’s not mentally right. He just goes around repeating what he hears.”

Every leader has to live with criticism. Believe me I live with my share, as city mangers, school officials, executives, coaches, and politicians we all hear complaints. Criticism is part of the price anyone pays for accepting a leadership role or accomplishing something significant. Every leader who is an achiever is vulnerable to review and criticism. Even if you are a leader who succeeds at nothing - then you are criticized for doing nothing.

No one experienced criticism like Jesus. He was frequently the victim of barbs and slander. But on one ever coped with it better. Five times in Luke 5:21 to 6:12 we read that Jesus was unjustly criticized for forgiving the sins of a paralyzed man; for associating with sinners; because his disciples weren’t fasting like others religious people; because his disciples picked and ate corn on the Sabbath; and for healing a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath.

No wonder we read in Luke 6:12, “One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.” Jesus often withdrew into solitary places and prayed. Perhaps those retreats served a dual purpose: to spend time with his heavenly father and to get away from the pressure of critical people.

Sometimes criticism just needs to be ignored. Many people who criticized do not know the whole story - just their personnel point of view and when they find out the big story they are embarrassed that they even said anything. One time I had two dear ladies upset that I was making so much money. They saw the church budget and thought I was getting the whole thing as salary. So they complained about how much Paul was making and they would not support the church any more because of it. I once was criticized for removing a hymn form the order of service. When the person found out why - they were sorry. Sometimes other minister’s complained about what I don’t do - not realizing my doctor has said, “Paul you better not.” One time people where mad at me because I was so late for church, later they found out I was with a woman who’s husband had just died.

Sometimes criticism needs to be confronted. Jesus didn’t always keep quiet when criticized. In each of these instances recorded in Luke 5 and 6, the Lord gave a tactful but irrefutable answer, “Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Get up and walk’?” What is lawful on the Sabbath ....... to do good or evil, to save life or destroy it?”

Jesus’ responses teach us that when verbally attacked, Christians should not always passively accept persecution. Sometimes we need to give an answer so that the critics and other listeners will hear the truth.

Charles Colson, founder of Prison fellowship and a popular Christian author and speaker, recently spoke to the National Press Club. Following his talk on the need for absolutes values, a reporter cynically asked, “You speak of the need for religious values. Whose values - David Koresh?”

“There are 1.7 billion people in the world who claim to be Christian, “ Colson responded. “If you promise not to evaluate all Christians by David Koresh, I promise not to evaluate all media personnel by the NBC executives who deliberately exploded a General motors truck!”

It takes a spirit of discernment to know who, when, and how to answer. That’s why Peter wrote, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander” ( 1 Peter 3:15, 16).


Paul Leavens - Minister 562-3743
This was printed from Lindsay Christian Church
http://lindsaychristianchurch.com