Quieting your critics

It's March...which means March Madness in the NCAA basketball world...and in our house. March tends to be a little crazy around our house. We have birthdays, softball games, baseball practices, spring break, Roberts family cupcake war, chapels, banquets....and on and on. And during the crazy times is when it seems the critics come out in full force. If you have been alive for more than 5 minutes you have had critics. Those people who will criticize you for doing too much, those that criticize for not doing enough. Those that criticize your work, your house, your family, your writings....and you. I may be wrong, but if you are in the sports or ministry world you will get criticized more than most! There are sports talk radio and T.V. shows where the whole premise is to criticize the players, coaches, owners etc. People are standing in line to post articles and facebook posts on why certain pastors aren't "real pastors" or believers.  It is has been interesting reading the articles that are criticizing the "Son of God" movie...and they weren't written by non-believers. So how do we handle it because it is impossible to avoid it....Let's look at Jesus.

The first thing we need to learn is that it will happen...YOU WILL BE CRITICIZED. It's not a question of "if" but of "when". How do I  know this? Because the only perfect man to ever walk this earth had critics therefore we will too.
We read throughout the gospels that Jesus was criticized...a lot! It must have been difficult for him because the ones criticizing him were the ones that were suppose to be representing God and were the Pharisees and Religious leaders. He was criticized for not fasting and praying enough (Luke 5:33-39), for breaking heads of grain and eating it on the Sabbath (Luke 6:1-5), for healing on the Sabbath 6:-6-10), for not washing his hands before he ate (Luke 11:37-53) and on and on and on. So...if you are thinking "I am just doing what God has called me to do and I am getting criticized for it".....Yep! You are in good company because so did Jesus!

The second thing we need to understand is how to handle it because I don't know about you, but I want to defend myself, my actions, my calling....me. Do you see the problem? The focus is on me not God. When we read each story about Jesus and his critics...he never defends himself, not even before Pontius Pilate when he was about to be crucified. Yes, Jesus got defensive.Yes, Jesus got angry. But every time it was to defend God his father. There is a difference between Righteous anger and being "Right" anger...one defends God, the other defends yourself. Jesus knew who He was and who had sent him. He was prayed up and ready to press on. He knew these people's intentions would never overtake God's directions. At one point, his critics "mobbed him and forced him to the edge of the hill on which the town was built. They intended to push him over the cliff, but he passed right through the crowd and went on his way." (Luke 4:29-30) We have to understand that the crowd's intentions may want to push you off the cliff but God's direction is to push you through the crowd. Don't be afraid to speak up and speak out on God's behalf...not to show you are right, but to show He is.  I heard a quote from Pastor Mark Batterson that said, "It's easier to act like a Christian than to react like one." We want to quiet our critics with our own voice when God is asking us to quiet them with his: His words, His actions, His forgiveness, His voice, His Spirit. So if you have critics that don't want you to pray with your team...take a stand by taking a knee. If you have critics because you're losing...keep your focus on the One that never does. If you have critics because you are succeeding....Keep your focus on the One that always does.

The third thing we need to understand is there is such a thing as constructive criticism, or I call wisdom, that we can not overlook. This is when God does use His people to speak Truth into an other's life. How do we tell the difference? 1) How they say it. If they come to you in a calm and loving way and even ask to pray before the conversation. Listen to their heart because God maybe trying to speak to yours.
2) What they say. Listen to hear if their words help you or harm you. There are some Words from God that may hurt (you might be struggling with sin or going down the wrong path), but will never harm you. We know it comes from God when True words are spoken with Grace. 3) When they say it. If you have a parent who wants to tell you how horrible of a coach you are after a game it's probably not from God. God's words are perfect and so is his timing.

Here's to quieting your critics and listening to your wisdom walkers....