Three Wise Responses to Criticism
Catching Flak
Todd D. Catteau
Saturday, September 2, 2000
 1 of 1
Q. How can you handle being criticized?
A. Three pointers: Don't assume you're wrong. If someone criticizes your ministry, it doesn't mean that what you're doing is wrong. Even Jesus offended people.
Analyze yourself. Evaluate your motivations by asking some pointed questions: What's the primary motivation for what I'm doing? Am I serving for some other purpose than being obedient to Jesus? Have I correctly understood what God has called me to do? Am I relying on God's strength and the gifts of other believers as I minister, or am I trying to do too much on my own? When we take criticism seriously it can help purify us by revealing blind spots in our motivations for ministry.
A wise person accepts criticism as a learning opportunity. Many proverbs teach the importance of being able to receive correction: "He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray" (Proverbs 10:17). "Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid" (12:1).
Look to Jesus for commendation. Constant criticism can deflate a person's spirit and produce an apathetic and bitter Christian. To offset criticism, look to Jesus for commendation. A wonderful example is the martyr Stephen. What did he do as his accusers hurled rocks at him? Stephen (see Acts 7:55,59-60) looked toward heaven and saw Jesus standing up for him. Remarkably, as Stephen received commendation from Jesus, he was able to pray for forgiveness for his accusers.
Todd D. Catteau is a minister at Park Avenue Church of Christ in Denison, Texas.
Credits: Adapted from Discipleship Journal (March/April 1999)
Copyright © 2000 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity. For reprint information click here.
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