Cross and criticism
March 23, 2010
Few things in life are more difficult to handle rightly than criticism. How hard it is to speak and to respond in a gospel-centered way. As a pastor, I am a frequent recipient of criticism–the constructive and the destructive, the accurate, the half-true, and the utterly false, the well-timed and the ill-timed, the gracious and the malicious–I have learned that how I respond reveals a lot about me. What do I do with my critics? Do I shrink them in my field of vision so that I no longer acknowledge them, regard them, pay any attention to them, share with them, or regard them as part of the family? Or do I inflate them in my field of vision so that I brood over their words and think about them constantly, see them as larger than they really are, give them control over my feelings and decisions, or allow them to lead me around like a bull with a ring in his nose?
I commend to you Alfred J. Poirier’s “The Cross and Criticism,” which appeared in the Spring, 1999, issue of The Journal of Biblical Counseling. Here’s an excerpt:
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. By agreeing with God’s criticism of me in Christ’s cross, I can face any criticism man may lay against me. In other words, no one can criticize me more than the cross has. And the most devastating criticism turns out to be the finest mercy. If you thus know yourself as having been crucified with Christ, then you can respond to any criticism, even mistaken or hostile criticism, without bitterness, defensiveness, or blameshifting. Such responses typically exacerbate and intensify conflict, and lead to the rupture of relationships. You can learn to hear criticism as constructive and not condemnatory because God has justified you.
Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? (Rom. 8:33-34a).
Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it (Ps. 141:5).
Cream of blog: 20 May 2009
May 20, 2009
- Ross Douthat in The New York Times on why the popularity of Dan Brown (author of The DaVinci Code and Angels and Demons) provides insight into prevailing attitudes toward religion in America.
- David Brooks in the aforementioned periodical on why “organized, dogged, anal-retentive and slightly boring people are more likely to thrive” as CEO’s.
- Tullian Tchividjian has summarized some contrasts Tim Keller has drawn between “Religion” and “the Gospel.”
- Ray Ortlund has shared some penetrating insights into the sin of gossip.
- Today marks the 1,684th anniversary of the opening of the Council of Nicaea (and yes, I still doggedly hold to the “ae”. I also favor ‘aesthetic,’ ‘anaesthesia,’ ‘aeon,’ and ‘mediaeval.’ And, if I’m feeling especially peevish, I’ll use ‘aeroplane.’)
Just walk away
April 23, 2009
The biographies of Southern Presbyterians from the 19th century show them bringing biblical teaching to bear on the ethical question of the duel, which was a common means of settling disputes among gentlemen of the aristocratic class. For example, a young James Henley Thornwell observed in an 1829 letter to a New England patron,
Is it not to be lamented that a squeamish sense of false honour is so prevalent? It is contrary to human dignity, which it should be our pride to support. Every character has motives of the strongest obligation to support it. The parent should consider the interest of his child; the patriot, the welfare of his country; and the philanthropist, the good of mankind.
Vice-President Aaron Burr (grandson of Jonathan Edwards) killed Alexander Hamilton in an 1804 pistol duel. Andrew Jackson, later to serve seventh president of the U.S., fought 2 duels. On May 30, 1806, he killed prominent duelist Charles Dickinson, suffering himself from a chest wound which caused him pain for the rest of his life. And what would a good “Western” be without a gunfight in the street?
Resolutions re: the tongue
September 30, 2008
In an address at the recent Desiring God Conference, Dr. Sinclair Ferguson listed 20 resolutions drawn from the book of James (in the style of Jonathan Edwards’ resolutions) “that need to be part of the Christian’s covenant with God about how the believer is going to employ the tongue and lips, and master the heart in such a way that the beauty of Jesus is expressed:”
James 1:5 To ask God for wisdom to speak and with a single mind
James 1:9-10 To boast only in exaltation in Christ, & humiliation in world
James 1:13 To set a watch over my mouth
James 1:19 To be constantly quick to hear, slow to speak
James 2:1-4 To learn the gospel way of speaking to poor and the rich
James 2:12 To speak always in the consciousness of the final judgment
James 2:16 Never to stand on anyone’s face with my words
James 3:14 Never to claim as reality something I do not experience
James 4:1 To resist quarrelsome words in order to mortify a quarrelsome heart
James 4:11 Never to speak evil of another
James 4:13 Never to boast in what I will accomplish
James 4:15 Always to speak as one subject to the providence of God
James 5:9 Never to grumble, knowing that the Judge is at the door
James 5:12 Never to allow anything but total integrity in my speech
James 5:13 To speak to God in prayer whenever I suffer
James 5:14 To sing praises to God whenever I am cheerful
James 5:14 To ask for the prayers of others when I am sick
James 5:15 To confess it freely whenever I have failed
James 5:15 To pray with and for one another when I am together with others
James 5:19 To speak words of restoration when I see another wander
All the conference addresses and panel discusssions are available in mulitple formats at Desiring God.
Biblical thoughts on the banking woes
September 19, 2008
“Sentimental hogwash…I’m talking about the Building and Loan!”–Mr. Potter 
Here’s an informative, succinct and theologically-grounded analysis of the current U.S. financial market woes, courtesy of Justin Taylor’s excellent blog, Between Two Worlds. I’d certainly welcome any feedback or critique on the piece from my economically astute friends.
Nota bene: wisdom for Christian parents
August 25, 2008
Matt and Elizabeth Schmucker have posted 39 lessons, 20 tips and 10 don’t for parenting at the 9marks site. It’s an excellent collection of biblical wisdom for Christian parents, even if #32 reflects a baptist view of Baptism.
Bad reports and worse hearts
August 8, 2008
I wish everyone could see a congregation the way I get to see it as a preacher. Some faces are joyful and expectant, others skeptical and wary, others bored and sleepy, others surprised and wondering. I preached this past Sunday night from Proverbs on the sins of meddling, gossip, and slander. I’m not sure how to describe the looks that say, “Hey, how did you know what was going on in this relationship and this situation?” I know because I struggle mightily in this area as well. Who can argue with James when he writes, if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man…[James 3:2]? If I can master my tongue, so much of the rest of life would fall right happily into place.
You might think being a pastor simplifies these matters, because I get to breathe the pure, sanctified air of the pastor’s study and am insulated from all the sharp edges of “real life.” If you think that, you’d be wrong. Martin Luther said that unless a minister “smells like death and devil” he’s worthless. One of the devil’s aromas that surrounds me comes from the war of words. Like anyone else I hear rumors and bad reports, slander and abuse. And I’m called to labor for the peace and purity of the Church. I am an ambassador for his kingdom agenda of grace and truth. I hear Jesus saying, Blessed are the peacemakers [Being a peace-keeper is easier by far.]. What do I do with the information that comes to me by observation and report? What do I need to confront? To what do I need to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear and cover over with forbearance and compassion? How do I help my brothers and sisters repair and restore broken relationships? When the Bible requires us to purse the more formal avenues of church discipline, how should we deal with evidence and information?
Sometime soon the sermon from 3 August will be posted at fpckosciusko.org and on the free podcast at iTunes. If it helps, thanks be to God. If you want a shorter treatment from some more reputable teachers, read this related post that appeared on 4 August on Justin Taylor’s Between Two Worlds, written by Tim Keller and David Powlison, entitled Should You Pass on Bad Reports? I recommend reading it carefully. In a follow-up to some comments, Powlison writes,
…the leading edge of our argument is to place checks on the tendency we all have to snide, sneering, self-righteous, gossipy, malicious words. Any growth we can make in the direction of Ephesians 4:29 will make life much more joyous for all, and bring much glory to our God. And even criticisms I make become more hearable when I the critic am not posturing, but actually care about others. When I don’t care, my bad attitude and superiority becomes my actual message. Love is patient, love is kind . . . and then love is candid.
How much grace and mercy you and I (well, at least, I) need!
Wield wisdom wisely
January 2, 2008
Think about the non-biblical proverb, “Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.” What is that proverb telling us? If you take it as an ironclad law, then you will conclude that the secret to health, wealth and wisdom is good sleep habits. But surely there is more to it than that–and of course, there is!
Think about a Thanksgiving dinner being prepared, and the main cook says, “Too many cooks spoil the broth,” what does she mean? She means, “Get out of my way and out of my kitchen so I can cook this meal properly.”
However, after the meal, she looks at everyone and says, “Many hands make light work.” She is saying that now is the appropriate time for everyone to get busy clearing the table, washing, drying and putting up the dishes and pots and pans. Before the meal, all that involvement was a hindrance; but now, after the meal, all that involvement is a help.
One more interesting example is in 26:4-5, where we find two statements that seem to be contradictions: Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes. Well, which is it? In Every Thought Captive, Dr. Richard Pratt applies to these two verses to the task of defending the Christian faith by saying that sometimes we must reject the philosophical underpinnings of unbelievers in order to confront them with the claims of Christianity. At other times, we should deal with them as though their false beliefs were true in order to point out the absurdity in their thinking.
Both proverbs are true if understood according to their intention and according to the situation. Proverbs are not ironclad laws. Their validity and applicability depends on the right time and the right circumstance. In fact, that is a basic component of true wisdom. In order to read, interpret and apply Proverbs to everyday living, we ought to keep in mind the importance of doing the right thing at the right time in the right way for the right reasons–or as the poetry of Proverbs expresses it, To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is! [Proverbs 15:23]
A wise person knows the right time and the right situation and the right approach and the right reasons to do something. The writer of Ecclesiastes expresses this right thing/right time/right way/right reasons thinking in these famous words: To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die…[Ecclesiastes 3:1-8].
Proverbs are not magical words. If you just memorize them and apply them in a wooden or mechanical way, you will not necessarily find good things happening around you:
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools…
Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
Like a lame man’s legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Like one who binds the stone in the sling is one who gives honor to a fool.
Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Like an archer who wounds everyone is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.
Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly. [26:3, 6-11, emphasis mine]
God is telling us that it takes wisdom to apply wisdom properly. The fool applies a proverb with no regard to how fit it might or might not be for a situation—like a paralyzed leg, thorn bush brandished by a drunkard, hurting the one who wields it as well as the one on the business end of the blow. If we are to wield wisdom wisely, we must 1) understand the text; 2) understand people, and 3) understand the situation.
Proverbs: urban lions
December 5, 2007
The sluggard says, ‘There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!’
As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed.
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.
The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly.
~Proverbs 26:13-16
Proverbs’ depiction of the sluggard contains a vivid illustration of the deceitfulness of sin and its operations in the human heart. Twice in Proverbs we hear the sluggard claiming that there is a lion in the streets. Why would he do that? He is creating imaginary circumstances to justify neglecting his work. He shifts the discussion from the sin of laziness to the danger of lions. No one will condone his staying home because he is lazy. But they might sympathize with him and agree with his decision to stay home if there is real danger in the streets. So, to hide his laziness and justify himself, he deflects attention away from laziness (truth) to lions (an illusion).
Do you see the broader insight into the human heart Scripture is giving us? The heart can exploit the mind to justify what the heart wants. We are not always willing to deal with things as they really are. We are not neutral when it comes to understanding our situation. On the contrary, we feel powerful desires and pressing fears, and then our mind can bend reality to justify the desires and fears and seek fulfillment or find relief.
The sluggard desires to stay at home and avoid work. Instead of dealing with his evil desire, he uses his mind to create unreal circumstances to justify his desire. He may even believe the excuses he has fabricated. [Remember George Costanza's advice to Jerry: "It's not a lie if you believe it."] The deceitfulness of sin can actually make us mentally deranged!
Understanding this truth makes Proverbs 26:16 come alive: “The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can give a discreet answer.” The self-deception makes the sluggard resistant to any truth that exposes his sin. When seven wise men confront him and say, “There is no bloodthirsty urban lion in the street. We walked here safely. We’ve searched the neighborhood. You are not in danger of becoming a lion’s lunch,” the sluggard still will not get out of bed. Their testimony won’t change his mind. He knows better. He insists that the hungry urban lion is out there. Otherwise his laziness is exposed for what it is. Truth gets flushed down the toilet of self-justification.
No one is immune to this. It goes far beyond the matter of work ethic. Walking in the darkness of evil makes us hostile to the light of truth–and in the process our mind concocts and spits out “spin”–half-truths, equivocations, sophistries, evasions and lies – anything to protect the our evil desires from exposure and reproof.
The longer I serve as a pastor, the more I see this at work in people with addictions, people who harbor bitterness, people whose marriages are crumbling–in other words, sinners who need help. And, at the same time, it makes me cry out to God to deliver me from my delusions as well. I must reckon with God’s grace and truth as I really am and in the situation I am really facing–that is, without the urban lions.
Thanks are in order to John Piper for being the catalyst for these insights.
Proverbs: Anger, continued
September 17, 2007
Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
~Proverbs 16:32
A little extra something re: the 9/2 sermon on anger in Proverbs. This morning Andra
Mooney, retired English teacher, reminded me of William Blake’s 1794 poem “A Poison Tree” concerning unresolved anger:
I was angry with my friend:
I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
I was angry with my foe;
I told it not, my wrath did grow.And I water’d it in fears,
Night & morning with my tears;
And I sunned it with my smiles
And with soft deceitful wiles.And it grew both day and night,
Till it bore an apple bright;
And my foe beheld it shine,
And he knew that it was mine,And into my garden stole
When the night had veil’d the pole:
In the morning glad I see
My foe outstretch’d beneath the tree.
