On Dealing With Criticism
Posted on Tuesday, December 11th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
I have been thinking a great deal of late about the Christian method for dealing with criticism. Preaching at Coral Ridge has taught me that no matter how hard you work, the critics will come out when you least expect them. I don’t mean those people who are really trying to help by giving suggestions; I thank the Lord for those people. I mean those who simply cannot be satisfied. Here are a few quotations that I have found helpful:
“If I tried to read, much less answer, all the criticisms made of me, and all the attacks leveled against me, this office would have to be closed for all other business. I do the best I know how, the very best I can. And I mean to keep on doing this, down to the very end. If the end brings me out all wrong, ten angels swearing I had been right would make no difference. If the end brings me out all right, then what is said against me now will not amount to anything.”
—Abraham Lincoln
When Anaximander was told that even little boys were laughing at his singing, “Ah!” he said, “then I must learn to sing better.” Plato, being told that he had many enemies who slander him, said, “It is no matter; I shall live so that none will believe them.” Epictetus said, “If any one speaks ill of thee, consider whether he hath truth on his side, and, if so, reform thyself, that his censures may not affect thee.”
I have no more right to object to a man holding a different opinion from mine, than I have to differ from a man because he wears a wig and I wear my own hair. But if he takes his wig off, and shakes the powder in my eyes, I shall consider it my duty to get rid of him as soon as possible.
—John Wesley
This story was told of General Robert E. Lee: Hearing General Lee speak in the highest terms to President Davis about a certain officer, another officer, greatly astonished, said to him, “General, do you know that the man of whom you speak so highly to the President is one of your bitterest enemies, and misses no opportunity to malign you?”
“Yes,” replied General Lee, “but the President asked my opinion of him; he did not ask for his opinion of me.”
Onward . . .
DrSamLam
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Comments
1Laura K.:Wednesday, December 12th, 2006 at 9:58 am
The John Wesley one is my favorite!
2JJD:Wednesday, December 12th, 2006 at 3:37 pm
Dr. Sam, I think criticism is most difficult for the Christian because we all try to do the right thing and it makes us wonder “did I do the right thing after all”. When I consider it and know I did the right thing I put the critic in my spam box and move on.
3Terry Wise:Friday, December 14th, 2006 at 6:35 pm
Hey Sam,
After all the years of service in the church there are times that we too have felt as if some people are put in our lives to just keep us humble. I can remember Norm preaching once and he gave a burning sermon that should have caused hearts to break and repent and draw even nearer to Jesus but instead the blue cards came through with cutting remarks about how bad he spoke certain words and had stumbled over an unual word. I got angry and wanted to go to war but Norm just said that these people reminded him why he served a great God because Norm the man was broken and of no use unles the Spirit did the work. So I will admonish you to apply grace to yourself. Norm and I always remind each other to be gentle with ourselves because we are in this battle until Christ takes us or He returns. I will continue to pray for you and the body of Christ gathering together in CRPC. Each week as we gather I walk in praying that each one of us will KNOW the truth that God is Real and dwells in the worship of His people. May He Who began a good work in you bring it to completion. Because He Lives, Terry Wise
4eclexia:Saturday, December 15th, 2006 at 1:24 pm
Thanks for these quotes. I especially appreciated the one by General Lee. It takes a lot of integrity to be able to say what he did. But, more importantly, I think, it takes an approach to all of life that is not commonly seen. We can’t just read about other people’s gracious responses and decide to emulate the words--to paste them on, so-to-speak. When I read the quotes above, I am drawn to picture and consider the deeper elements of the individuals’ characters that their responses flowed out of. Thanks again for sharing these, and blessings on you as you navigate your way through a place in the public eye.