On Dealing With Criticism

Posted on Tuesday, December 11th, 2007 at 11:29 am

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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