Leadership Thought: For Those Who Have Heard the Words, “I Hate to Be Critical, but…

Dear Friends,

“I hate to be critical, but…… Don’t you ever wonder how odd it is for a person to do something that he/she hates so much?

There is a fabled story about the famous 20^th century preacher, Phillips Brooks. On day Brooks received a letter in the mail. Opening it, he found a clean sheet of paper with only one word written on it. “Fool”!

The next Sunday, Brooks carried he letter into the pulpit in Boston. Holding it up, he announced, “I have received many letters from people who wrote the letter but forgot to sign their name. However, this is the first time I’ve received a letter from someone who signed his name but forgot to write the letter. Now that is one way of dealing with criticism, but I don’t recommend it, not unless you are very secure in your position, or you are already looking for a new job.

One of the signs that a person is living a high quality of Christian life is the criticism he/she receives. The more dedicated he or she is, the more intense the criticism. Remember, there has never been a monument erected to critics. Like the poor, they will always be with us, so we had best learn how to deal with them.

When I think of dealing with criticism, I am reminded of the words of Jesus who said not, “if” men revile you, but “when” men revile you. “Blessed are you when men revile you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of me. Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matt 5:10-11)

Former television journalist David Brinkley remarked that “a successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others  have thrown at him.” I like that. Build on the criticism. Use the bricks of criticism to make you a better person, not a bitter person. If there is some truth in the criticism, take that bit of truth, but throw the rest away, and don’t swell on it, for it will eat at you and destroy you.

Sometimes it is just best to remain silent when criticized. Jesus remained silent in the face of the accusations made against him by the chief priests and other Jewish leaders who were demanding answers to their charges (Matthew 27:12-14) There are times when the wisest thing  we can do is to remain silent in the face of criticism and false accusations. Just keep your mouth closed and listen. Don’t speak or try to be defensive. Don’t point the finger of blame in some other direction. Just remain quiet in the face of the one who would criticize you, and in so doing you may become that bright and shining star that this dark world so desperately needs to see.

Yes, I know all of what I write is much easier said than done, but keep in mind that you have a force and power within you that enables you to say, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Give it to Him in prayer and let Him deal with it. He is much better equipped to fight those kinds of battles than you are.

Yours in faith and friendship, 

Tom

P.S. It was Henry Ironside, a well-known preacher of this last century, who said when facing criticism, “If what they are saying about you is true, mend your ways. If it isn’t true, forget it and go on serve the Lord.”