What Must I Do about the Incessant Critic(s)?

If I may, this essay will be directed primarily at Elders, Deacons, and Gospel Preachers. Having thus identified the primary audience let me just say that if you are a faithful Christian, and have been criticized by someone who does not have your best interest at heart, then this essay is for you too.

I recently read the story about a young man who decided that he would open his own little fish market. He thought that he would go out and catch the fish, and then sell them. So, after his first day on the lake, he came home and made a sign to put in the front of his little shop--"Fresh Fish For Sale Today."

A short time later, a passerby asked "Why did you include the word 'Today' on your sign? Everyone knows you want to sell the fish today." After the criticism, the young entrepreneur removed the word "Today" off the sign.

Again, a little time passed and a second individual came along and said, "It's really ridiculous to use the word 'Fresh' on your sign. Are you implying that if you sell fish at any other time, they are not fresh?" After the criticism, he removed the word "Fresh" from the sign.

After another brief period of time, a third critic walks by and asks "Why use the words 'For Sale' on your sign? Anybody with half a brain knows that the purpose of a fish market is to sell fish." So, the young man removed the words "For Sale" from the sign.

Finally a fourth passerby asks "Why do you have a sign at all? Anyone who comes within half a mile of this place knows that you are selling fish, just by the smell."*Well, you get the point. No matter what our stage in life is, there will be critics. We must simply learn to live with them. Now, I realize that not all criticism is bad. For instance there are what we call constructive critics. These are people who really want to see us succeed. They do not wait on us to make a mistake. There is never any malice in their hearts, nor attempts to hurt us with their criticism. The constructive critic just wants to see us succeed.

On the other hand, there is what we might call the abusive critics. I like to call these people the incessant fault finders. It does not matter what you say or do, they will find a problem with any or all of it.

Good elders, deacons, and preachers will not mind constructive criticism. Good "church leaders" are always examining their own lives to see how they can be better in their service for God. But at the same time, given the tremendous task before them to be shepherds, special servants, or God's mouthpiece, they can and will become discouraged by the incessant critic(s). In the remaining portion of this essay, I want to talk to these three groups about how to deal with their incessant critics. A good way to summarize what I am about to say is this: be like Jesus when responding to criticism.

Recognize that criticism is going to come.

Jesus himself was criticized. He was criticized because of where he lived and who his earthly family was. "And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house" (Mt. 13:57).

Jesus told his disciples that criticism would come their way too. "It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!" (Lk. 17:1).

Friends, if Jesus was criticized, and if the first century disciples were criticized, then we must appreciate the fact that we are in good company when criticism comes our way.

Learn to ignore the incessant critic.

During a conversation between Jesus and his disciples, we find these words: Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch (Mt. 15:12-14). When Jesus said, "Let them alone," it was just another way of saying ignore the incessant critic--that is precisely what the Pharisees were. Tragically, we have many modern day Phariseesamong us.

Failure to ignore the incessant critic(s) is to allow them to have control of our lives. I recently read these words spoken by Abraham Lincoln: If I were to read, much less answer, all attacks made on me, this shop might as well be closed for any other business. I do the very best I know how, the very best I can, and I mean to keep doing so until the end.

Appreciate that the criticism you face means you are doing something for the Lord.

Those who are in the forefront of the battle against Satan, and the fight for God and the Lord's kingdom will suffer criticism. Paul spoke of that fact in 2 Timothy 2:3,4. Jesus likewise discussed this point when he spoke of bearing a cross (Mt. 16:24-28).

Friends, I had rather be criticized for trying to do something for the cause of Christ, than to be judged by Christ on the Last Great Day (2 Cor. 5:10) for doing nothing for His name's sake.

Faithful elders, and faithful deacons, and faithful preachers, keep on doing the work of the Lord. "For as much as you know, your labor is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Cor. 15:58).

Standing at the Foot of the Cross

Luke records these words, "And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him..." (Luke 23:33). When is the last time you stood at the foot of the cross? When you were there, what did you see?

Standing at the foot of the cross, and what do I see? But a savior who offers love looking down at me.

Someone asks, "Why did Jesus die the humiliating death of the cross?" The answer—"Because He loved me so!" John writes, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). Jesus taught, "This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:12-13).
When I stand at the foot of the cross, I see a loving Savior giving His life, His all, for me. What should my response be to that love? Jesus said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15). Will you love the Lord enough to come to him in trusting obedience, being washed in the blood of Christ by being baptized for the forgiveness of your sins?

Standing at the foot of the cross, and what do I see? But a savior who offers grace looking down at me.

It was John Newton who wrote—"Amazing grace! How sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now I'm found, was blind, but now I see." What beautiful sentiments.
The little boy defined grace as "unmerited favor." In other words, grace is a "free gift." The word "grace" is found in more than 150 verses of the Bible. It is this grace that makes salvation possible.
Paul accentuates God's grace over and over again in the book of Ephesians. It is in this book that we find the words, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8). The word "grace" here represents all that God did in order to make salvation possible. The word "faith" represents the little that we do to make salvation probable.
By faith, we activate this free gift (salvation) by repenting, confessing, and being baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of sin.

Standing at the foot of the cross, and what do I see? But a savior who offers forgiveness looking down at me.

The Bible contains over 277,000 words. One of the most beautiful words in the Bible is the word "forgiveness." Why? Because forgiveness implies forgetfulness.
Political offenders are sometimes granted what is called "an amnesty"—that means a not remembering. This is precisely what God grants to all who submit to Him through His Son Jesus. No matter how many the offences, the God who is ready to pardon says, "Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more" (Hebrews 10:17).
God says, "I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins" (Isaiah 43:25). We serve a God who is not only ready to forgive our sins, but to forget those sins as well. God's Son was sent to the cross because He does not desire anyone to be lost in sin. He is ready to forget, He is longing to forget, and He is willing to forget every sin that I have ever committed. Will you repent of your sins and be baptized to have them washed away (Acts 2:38)?

Standing at the foot of the cross, and what do I see? But a savior who offers peace looking down at me.

The woman said to her physician, "Doc, I'm all run down." The physician replied, "Run down? Ma'am, you're all wound up!"
We live in an age of day-to-day grind, tight schedules, detailed time-management, and ever-increasing responsibilities. Not to mention the fact that we must occasionally deal with disappointment, depression, despair, disease, and death. Job's words, "Yet trouble came" is true of any age (Job 3:26).
In the midst of all the hustle and bustle of life, Jesus is a source of comfort, offering a unique peace of mind. We can take His words to heart, when He said, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you, Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27).
When we obey the gospel of Christ in baptism, as God prescribed (Acts 22:16), then we observe the same unique calm that Paul did, as we faithfully live before the "God of peace," in view of the final judgment.

Standing at the foot of the cross, and what do I see? But a savior who offers hope looking down at me.

The psalmist penned these words, "Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God" (Psalm 146:5). Peter wrote, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Peter 1:3). Happiness and hope go hand-in-hand. Happy is the man who hopes in heaven.
What is the meaning of the word "hope?" Hope is the desire and expectation of fulfillment.
Paul wrote that we are saved by hope (Romans 8:24). Hope and obedience go together. Without these one cannot see heaven (Hebrews 11:6). Do you want to see heaven? Do you "hope" to see heaven?

When I look at the cross, I see a savior who offers me hope in "an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you" (1 Peter 1:4). Will you obey the Lord so that heaven will be your home?