"No one ever erected a statue to a critic."   Fred Smith

"For every action, there is an equal an opposite criticism."  Harrison Postulate

"Never confuse the will of the majority with the will of God."   Charles Colson 

"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith;  be men of courage, be strong."   1 Cor. 16:13 NIV

Disclaimer...I write this article, not in an effort to answer any of my critics, but only as an encouragement to our scores of friends and ministry leaders that are in the heat of the battle!  As for myself, we find ourselves in the midst of a very loving and supportive atmosphere here in South Africa.  Needless to say, we have had our fair share of criticism through the years, yet we can say with assurance that it has only made us wiser and stronger.

Friends, in any organization, leadership and its subsequent decisions are always subject to endless second-guessing and often fierce criticism.  Whether it's in church, a ministry, business or industry, decisions will be assessed, dissected, challenged and judged.  The only way to avoid the scrutiny is to "...say nothing, do nothing, and be nothing." 

Some critics go out of their way to find fault with fresh ideas, new procedures, and original thinking.  They tear down rather than build up, and in the process, often attack the individual rather than the issue at hand.  Let me make it clear, I'm NOT referring to honest, constructive criticism or a righteous, just rebuke that is motivated by loving concern.  What I am talking about are those criticisms that are roused by jealousy, anger, complacency, hostility or short-sightedness.  You're familiar with the rhetoric:  "It'll never work," "We've never done it that way before," "It's not our responsibility," "We're doing just fine without it," or "We can't afford it."

If you stay out of the fight and simply maintain the status quo, you'll be left alone.  But if you are willing to be an agent of change and if you desire to accomplish something worthwhile, don't be surprised if you have to withstand a barrage of criticism throughout your leadership pilgrimage.  Although it may not remove the sting of criticism, it may be somewhat easier to endure if you recognize certain characteristics of critical people.

1. Critics are obsessed with the trivial.  Critics have an amazing ability to focus on the trivial while neglecting the crucial.  In the Old Testament, David's older brother, Eliab, was much more concerned with the sheep than he was with Goliath and the threat he posed to Israel's national security.  1 Sam. 17:28.

2.  Critics believe the worst about people.  Typically, critics don't practice "grace living" and rarely give others the benefit of the doubt. Criticism of others serves as a smoke screen to make it less obvious that the critics aren't accomplishing anything in their own lives.  Francis Asbury, the 18th century Methodist bishop, was criticized for being unsophisticated in his evangelism methods.  Asbury politely asked his critic if she had personally led anyone to Christ.  She said she had not.  Asbury's response was, "Madam, I like my way of doing it better than your way of not doing it."

3.  Critics typically express a negative attitude or outlook toward life.  The mouth speaks out of the overflow of the heart.  And for some, negative criticism is simply a way of life.  Remember that people who hurt the most, often hurt the most.  Criticism that focuses on attacking individuals usually reveals deep personal struggles. 

Twenty-sixth U.S. president Theodore Roosevelt wisely evaluated criticism when he wrote,

 "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 the dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly...Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy or suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory or defeat."

I like the story about the quarterback that was being interviewed in the locker room after another defeat. A sportswriter leaned over and asked, "Be honest now, don't all these negative remarks that we reporters write, and all this public flack disturb you?  Doesn't it make you want to quit when people throw things at you from the stands and when you get all those nasty letters?"  That old quarterback just leaned back, and with a big grin replied, "no, not really, I don't want to quit.  I've been in this game long enough to know that every quarterback, every week of the season, spends his time either in the penthouse or the outhouse!"

If you have ever served in a role of leadership you can identify with those comments.  You spend your time either on top or on the bottom and seldom know what it's like in between.  Either you're the hero or the villain; respected or hated.  Leaders must live with the fickleness of public opinion; receiving accolades one moment and brutal criticism the next.

While we may enjoy the choice times of penthouse living, life in the outhouse seems to be much more authentic and real.  Ministry is not exempt from the capriciousness of public opinion.  It will oftentimes seem that you commit yourself to a life of faith and declare before God that you are going to walk with Him regardless, and suddenly, every gun is pointed directly at you to blast you out of the water and make you finish in defeat.  If that's where you find yourself this week, don't lose perspective, don't lose hope, and don't lose courage.  Remember the words of the apostle Paul; "Stand your ground.  And don't hold back.  Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for Him is a waste of time or effort."  1 Cor. 15:58, The Message.

Mark it well my friend, if you are trying to accomplish anything great for God, you will be criticized by those who are doing next to nothing.  Your motives will be questioned; your character may be assaulted.  But as leaders we need to develop a God-confidence and a thick enough skin to handle criticism constructively.  If you are overly sensitive to the opinions of others, you'll end up carrying a burden of guilt and inadequacy that will manifest itself in ineffectiveness.  Ignore empty faultfinding; refuse to be swayed by others' chiding, and never, never disregard the dream the Lord has given you!  Stay strong!