Nov
14
2009
Critiqued By The Cross
In Bob Kauflin’s book Worship Matters, he has a section on how to handle criticism. He’s writing specifically with church leaders in mind (pastors, preachers, music directors, etc.) but his insight proves to be super beneficial for all Christians.
He shows that criticism provides Christians with an opportunity to glory in the cross of Christ. He makes the point that the main reason Christians resent criticism is because we fail to believe what God has said about us at the cross.
He explains what he means by quoting Alfred Poirier: “In light of God’s judgment and justification of the sinner in the cross of Christ, we can begin to discover how to deal with any and all criticism. I can face any criticism man may lay against me. In other words, no one can criticize me more than the cross already has.”
Reflecting on these words, Bob writes:
What a thought. The cross is a loud statement of our sin, unworthiness, and need. And in light of the cross, we can receive criticism graciously because God, who knows our wickedness better than anyone else, has fully forgiven and justified us. We will never be brought into condemnation (Romans 8:1)! So we can confidently pray with David, “Let a righteous man strike me – it is a kindness; let him rebuke me – it is oil for me head; let my head not refuse it” (Psalm 141:5).
Once again I was reminded that because I am in Christ, all that I need I already have–even the capacity to endure criticism with great gospel joy and thanksgiving.
10 Comments
Thank you for this helpful information. As a pastor I need this reminder as well. I would add two things. First, as church leaders or Christians in general we run from conflict or do not handle it well because we fear man more than we fear God. As church leaders we fear that we may loose members or contributions or perhaps our own sinful flesh rises to the occasion, so we cannot face the fallout instead of remembering that the Lord is our light and salvation whom shall we fear. As pastors if we were putting our trust in the Lord and not trying to defend ourselves, even we we have been ridiculed we would not be afraid of whatever criticisms may come. Second, when criticism comes and it will, the Lord uses this to point out our own sin or perhaps refine us for the battle. We need to sometimes hear the criticism especially if we as ministers have offended someone else. I have a puritan quote that I have found to be a great blessing. In part it says, “Don’t chase the devil’s dogs.” Ministry can be wasted by tracking down every rumor or discontented person instead of leaving those matters to the Lord. As the hymn, Be thou My Vision, reminds us be thou my battleshield sword for the fight, be thou my inheritance my delight.
Stephen…Amen to every word.
Pastor Tullian
This would be my perfect opportunity to critique, but I cannot honestly find anything significant to critique.
I listened to the sermon dte 11/08/09 twice yesterday and then went back to 03/08/09. I enjoyed them both very much. I am keeping you all in prayer and waiting patiently for Gods plan for the Church to unfold. I’ve almost finished ” The Abolition of Man” by C. S. Lewis.
God Bless.
Wow! Critiqued and found guilty by the cross and yet justified by it, too. I’ve never thought of it in terms of delineating our condemnation.
I think one thing salvation enables us to do, since we are ever growing in our understanding of the Father’s acceptance and embrace, is to accept and consider the critique. It is one thing to not be negatively effected by it, it is quite another to consider the criticism and examine its validity. The quote from Psalm 141 is so good. As Christians we are called to repentance as gospel people and criticism can be one way in which the Sovereign Lord brings us to that place.
“Faithful are the wounds of a friend” Proverbs 27:6
Tullian,
I’ve got a question for you that I’ve been meaning to ask the past couple of weeks. Don’t you think the proclamation of the gospel not only makes friends of the unbelieving community because of the witness of love (for example) but also enemies? It seems there have been both those who embraced the gospel because of the power of God in the life of the Christian community (in coming to faith or only in accepting the kindness of Christians without coming to Christ) and those who vehemently rejected it. After Pentecost, there were those who responded to the gospel (as a sweet aroma of life) like Lydia or Paul and those who ardently fought against the truth like the Jewish leadership or Roman establishment. Of course, the gospel allows, even enables, some to move from a “hater” to a “lover” of the truth, like Paul. I think we can err on the side of being gracious without the honesty of the truth of the Gospel just as easily as we can err on the side of standing for righteousness without the sweet reasonableness of the Gospel. Its a good thing that God has not called us to chose between truth and graciousness. Jesus was at times very kind and tender and at other times very confrontational. May we have the discernment to understand what we need and when we need it.
O Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me!
I think with age we learn that we not only need to “endure criticism with great gospel joy and thanksgiving,” but we also need to grow and change because of that criticism. There is most likely some truth, even if it hurts, in all criticism.
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Tullian,
As a member of the PCA, I have been hopping all over the blogosphere tonight, reading various blogs an articles concerning the controversies at CRPC. As a member of the Body of Christ, my heart has been heavy as I thresh out all the gory details.
I think I have read enough now to form an opinion of you.
Perhaps if weren’t on an iPhone at
midnight I might be more verbose but I am so here goes:
I think you’re cool.
Praying that 2010 will be a downright boring year for you.
in contemplating about missy’s comment – the goal of a pastor is ?????