This isn’t the post I was going to write. But, I’ll save it for another day . . .
I am at a conference in New Orleans. After a late night last night, the conference deosn’t start back up until tonight. So, today has been a productive day of catching up in a nice hotel room without the distractions of meetings and fires needing immediate “putting out.”
I just finished lunch, and was perusing my Google Reader when I came across a very thought provoking article by David Swanson on Christianity Today’s leadership blog, Out of Ur. The article was a good one, generally asking an question I often deal with about the nature of the Gospel and pure representation of it through public testimony. It was a thought provoking piece on how our methodology is affected by our theology (and vice versa).
I get to the end of the piece and was going to make a comment. That’s when I made the mistake of reading some of the other comments. They weren’t bad. Not nearly as offensive as you might see elsewhere. And they weren’t personally affrontive.
Some of them were just really critical. And not really critical of the real issue David was raising.
Two of the comments took specif issue with some of David’s characterizations of the people in the article, taking to time to sort of lecture about this or that . . .
The specifics really aren’t important. What kind of stopped me in my tracks is the realization of how critical we have become as a Church.
We have this wonderful medium, the Internet, that has been harnessed to create virtual environments where incredible knowledge is being communicated. Meaning is being created on the spot! Wonderful articles and sermons about culture, theology, praxis, and so much more occur on blogs and sites across the Internet.
But inevitably, each article ends and the comment section begins.
And here is where so often things get ugly.
In every single comment section on any meaningful post or site, there are “trolls,” people who use that little blank text box to attack and ridicule. They do not really offer any meaningful new information about the issue at hand. Many times, they will pick a tangential point made and use it to hammer home their personal soap-box speech about this or that. Instead of informing a discussion, whether it be with a dissenting viewpoint or a supporting one, they divide with their words.
One of my favorite writers, William Barclay, once wrote, “There is room in God’s Kingdom for different opinions.” I believe in the civil exchange of different ideas.
I welcome it.
What I have grown so weary of (and I mean truly weary, I cannot overstate this) is the culture of criticism that absolutely pervades Christendom. It has become a cottage industry.
I hate it. I really do. And it is almost enough to make someone despair.
Have we lost the spirit of Paul’s words in Ephesians 4:29 and 1 Thessalonians 5:11?
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up.”
There is room for healthy critique . . . but in the name and spirit of Christ.
There is room for discipline and rebuke . . . but only in accordance with the model set by Christ in Matthew 18:15-17 and Paul in Galatians 6:1.
There is absolutely no place for self-righteous criticism (aimed at another person or an entity made-up of people) that does not build up the individual or the Body.
I hate to be so blunt, but the old cliche comes to mind: If you aren’t part of the solution, you’re part of the problem. Certainly it is rarely this cut and dry, but the sentiment seems appropriate for this issue.
How would your interactions with the Church, with other specific believers, change if you measured everything you say by whether or not you were building the Church up, or tearing her down? Whether or not you were encouraging someone to think abotu a different view, or attacking what you perceive to be their shortcomings.
We have been tasked by Scripture to build each other up through our words.
I wish this were a truth we, the Church, felt compelled to embrace . . .
Filed under: Bible Study/Teaching, Reflections, Spiritual Development, church culture, ministry | Tagged: building up, church criticism, critical comments, criticism, critique, disagreement, division, encouragement, judging, judgmental, Unity
First, let me say something you already know: I am a critic. It is my spiritual gift. I confess that on occasion I could be accused of being critical for the sake of being critical and maybe even of “tearing down” the church.
However, I’d like to think that most of the time I am being critical in order to point out something that I think could be done better or something that I think shouldn’t be done because it isn’t healthy or effective or right.
I am dealing with this RIGHT NOW. My church is doing some things that I think are SO wrong that I may quit my job there and move my membership somewhere else “in protest”. Needless to say I have been VERY critical of my church lately. (Did I mention I’m on staff?) I struggle with deciding whether I am being a “troll” or a “concerned citizen” willing to be seen as a jerk for the sake of change?
SO…
How do I determine what is “critical” in a bad way from what is a criticism that is meant to bring about change or at least be a catalyst for thinking about something differently?
Is it attitude or motive or something else?
(First, I laughed that you your spiritual gift was criticism. Sometimes I tell Brendt my love language is biting sarcsasm. We kid because we care, right?)
Also, understand that thsi is a journey I am on, personally. So, feel free to push back (dare I say, critique?) or tell me where you think I am offbase.
A few points:
1. You said: “I am being critical in order to point out something . . . I think shouldn’t be done because it isn’t healthy or effective or right.”
I think if we love the Church, we must critique things we believe to be wrong. My question would be to ask yourself how you are critiquing them. Are you griping about it to Heather? Are you griping about it to others in the church? Or are you seeking out the person who is at the heart of the decision/issue/problem and constructively sharing your thoughts? I think that is part of the issue. HOW you are communicating the critique.
If you think your church is doing things that are unbiblical, it is within your role as a believer to address it. (Following Jesus’ model in Matthew 18.) Look what Paul did with Peter and his reluctance to eat with the Gentile Christians? If it’s not addressed, you have to make a decision I think . . . Once you can no longer be part of the solution, you might have to move on . . . It’s a hard call.
2. You said this: “However, I’d like to think that most of the time I am being critical in order to point out something that I think could be done better.”
This is where I am the grayest, but I am beginning to think that it is not our place (and I am speaking to myself here too) to critique something that we think could be done better. I think the only option is to roll up our sleves and help make it better through our actions, or keep our mouths shut. Ouch! (I am so guilty of this and am working really hard to get better.)
What do you think? Am I off base?
Rock and roll.
The corner stone quote from your post: “There is room for healthy critique . . . but in the name and spirit of Christ.”
Right on!
I just have to get this off my chest..kidding. Well said, Andy. Nobody likes a party pooper and too often I have caught myself being negative or argumentative. Flaw-finding and nit-picking begins innocently enough but can quickly pervade all aspects of your life. Joy is sucked out and the opposite of love is shown to others. Wish I wasn’t so guilty of this myself!
As for point One: I don’t THINK I’m griping…I do share my frustrations with those who I feel are good sounding boards or might have the same feelings or maybe a different perspective because my biggest fear is to “confront” the issue with the person most responsible or most likely to have the ability to fix the issue or make the change only to find out that it’s actually ME who has the problem. That I’m alone in my feeling that there even IS a problem.
Consequently I “gripe” (I’d like to think it’s more like discuss) the issue with others to make sure I’m not off base or have missed a perspective on the issue before I confront the major player(s). I don’t think this is wrong?
In regard to point two: I whloe heartedly agree that it is wrong to complain about an issue and do nothing to adress it yourself.I’m not sure about the keeping you mouth shut part though.
I think if you are working to fix the problem or address the issue through your own actions, you have the “right” (I hate that word in this context) to speak out about it in order to draw attention to it or create change. The reason I say this is that there may be others who feel as you do about the issue but are afraid they are alone. “Speaking out” while working can help to draw like minded people together. Many hands make light work right?
OK, griping was a bad choice of words on my part . . . Didn’t mean to imply anything. So, sorry if it sounded like I was insinuating something less than proper on your part.
In regards to a sounding board, I think this is a great thing. You are right. And it seems to me that as long as that person knows your heart, as long as they are mature enough to listen without engaging in gossip (or enabling legitimate critique become harmful), and as long as it is PRIVATE, it is completely acceptable and reasonable by what I see in Scripture. You are right . . . It’s a good idea to bounce thoughts off of someone to see if you are on track before confronting (in love) another individual.
On your second point, I see where you are coming from. And since I know you and know that you are the kind of guy that seeks to be a part of solutions, I can see “keeping your mouth shut” might not be the exact right response if you see something in your church that is not necessarily wrong, but could just stand to be improved. I think the part that gives me pause is where you said, “to speak out about it in order to draw attention to it or create change.”
I want to be clear . . . I was referring to practices that were not wrong, per se, just not done, or facilitated, or whatever, exactly like we would like for them to be. I think this comes pretty close to making my point. If someone on church staff, or a volunteer is performing a service or outreach of some sort, and they are not doing it incorrectly, I do not see where Scripture would agree with speaking up in public. to me this falls right in line with the verse I quoted originally, ““Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs.” I think the only solution in this case (again, if the individual is not doing something wrong) is to go to that person and offer to help, possibly raising your concern with them in the process. If they do not embrace your help/suggestion, I think the issue is over.
The Church is, afterall, made up of people . . . some (many) who may not be as bent towards efficiency/proficiency as others. But I tend to think that their efforts are just as appreciated by God. God doesn’t call everyone to be excellent in all they do. Just to give their all to Him. My best may be far less than your best. Doesn’t mean I’m wrong.
Again, I might not be understanding you correctly . . . Straighten me out if so.
great dialogue, by the way. Miss having you in the office . . .
Clarifying that you aren’t really talking about things that are “wrong” but more of a preference for how something could be done makes the rest of your comments more on target for me. I can live with inefficient, or less than excellent performance. It’s the “wrong” stuff I can’t live with.
I agree and really like how you put this: “I tend to think that their efforts are just as appreciated by God. God doesn’t call everyone to be excellent in all they do. Just to give their all to Him. My best may be far less than your best. Doesn’t mean I’m wrong.”
SO true! I think a lot of people are pushed to the outer edges of serving the church because of this idea that you have to be the best a a given thing before you are “allowed” to do it.
I’ll let you know what I decide about the church here. I’ll know by the first of the year for sure.