After all these years criticism still hurts. I have prayed for thicker skin. Instead my skin is simply stretching to fit my body more comfortably. I suspect it is because I am wearing my skin instead of living in Christ’s skin. My experience tells me many people struggle with criticism. Some people believe providing a critical review is a spiritual gift and often call it, “telling the truth” or “constructive criticism.” If our desire is to be in union with God in the midst of a critical world, it might be beneficial for us to see how Our Lord Jesus handled criticism as He was going about the Father’s business.
I. The World of Criticism
a. Everybody does it (distortion)
b. Everybody receives it (destructive)
c. Everybody responds to it. (differently)
“Criticism is something we can avoid easily by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing.” – Aristotle, 384-322 BC
II. The Word about Handling Criticism (Luke 9:51-62)
A. The Criticism Displayed at Jesus (Who is in authority?)
1. Critical of His Destination, vv. 51-56 (Where?)
2. Critical of His Standards, vv. 57-58 (How?)
3. Critical of His Timing, vv. 59-60 (When?)
4. Critical of His Priorities, vv. 61-62 (What?)
B. The Critical Differences between Jesus and His Disciples
1. The Disciples’ Response to Criticism: Let them burn!
2. The Jesus’ Response to Criticism: He moved on to His God-given task!
III. The Phrases that will Change Your Life about Criticism (Application)
A. Follow Jesus regardless of the criticism, v. 59
B. Proclaim the Kingdom of God to those who want to live regardless of the criticism, v. 60
C. Don’t look back regardless of the criticism, v. 62
Table Talk: Whether you are alone or with your family, ask the following questions: What part of the quote really speaks to you today? Why? Can you think of biblical examples that are consistent with these quotes? Is there something the Holy Spirit is teaching you about criticism or being critical?
*Monday and Tuesday: Read this quote by Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States and discuss: “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”
*Wednesday and Thursday: Read this quote by the Apostle Paul in I Corinthians 9:19-23 in the Message Bible and discuss: “Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized – whoever. I didn’t take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ – but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I’ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn’t just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!
*Friday and Saturday: Discuss this quote by William Arthur Ward, pastor and author; “Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you. Love me and I may be forced to love you.”
June 27, 2010. The Way Christian Fellowship, Dr. Tony Baron, Teaching Pastor. Fr. Tony can be reached via email at tbaron@dtwc.com and Deacon Kirsten Gardner can be reached via email at mgardner600@roadrunner.com.