Young Christian Leaders and how to handle Criticism.

A Spiritual homily.

How should you as a young Christian Leader handle Criticism? A simple question that has huge implications for the young leader. Get this wrong and you may well destroy what God has already built.

For example, in days gone by the normal way to criticise was to face the person in open debate. It allowed both parties to defend their positions and for people to come to a conclusion as to the critics complaints. Later rather than openly debate they would write a letter to the editor of the local newspaper in order to vent their spleens on a particular topic. However today, the first recourse of those that have a complaint or criticism is social media, for all and sundry to see regardless of audience. Once it is out there it’s out there and there is nothing we can do, it would appear that today’s generation has very few filters.

Criticism can be divided into three categories, True, Untrue or malicious. If it is true then respond do not react, do not appear to be defensive or antagonistic. That plays into the hands of those who are criticising. If it is untrue then perhaps do what Jesus did, keep silent, or follow the advice if the writer of Proverbs 12:16 “A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.”

I read a blog post this last week that criticised a nation’s prime minister, a church denomination, its leaders and its organisation and beliefs. Very little evidence was given other than this persons view. Rather than give specific evidence he made sure everyone was brushed with the same tar brush, in his mind the perceptions were very real. On these issues the church has remained silent and rightly so.

The fact is that through your life and ministry you will be criticised, you never know it may be an opportunity, but if it is not, the answer is simple; Keep silent take a leaf out of Jesus’s playbook. If you feel you are right and what you are doing is God’s work and mission, then do not feel you have to defend God. He will always be vindicated.

Comments

The myth of Ministry Leadership.

The myth that all leaders are leaders. Not everyone who leads in church is a leader. I think it is wrong, for Church leaders to believe that those they train up to take various ministry leadership positions, are in fact leaders in their own right. They are not. At best I would categorise these people- that many churches call 'ministry leaders' as ministry managers. "At one level there is nothing wrong with title inflation; it is a cheap way of recognising people who work hard and make serious contributions" Jo Owen. I am of the opinion that this title inflation undervalues both the leader and the ' ministry manager' and can often bring about confusion and mismatched expectations. Many churches have ministry training evenings for their volunteers. Many use the reason for this training is "to make a person a better leader," when in fact the only thing actually happening is that th...

The 1970's Christian Coffee Shop

I remember as a new Christian being invited into a Christian Coffee shop in the town where I grew up. It was clean and tidy, the table tops were all brightly painted in different colours, but mainly yellow and scattered on top were a random selection of Christian tracts. Fish symbols and Christian posters proclaiming that there was but 'One Way' to heaven were everywhere. The music playing out of the stereo was The Bill Gather Trio or Dolly Parton singing Gospel. The crockery, was a mixed assortment of coffee mugs, donated by keen supporters of this outreach to the unsaved sinners and ungodly people living in the city. The coffee was a local brand heavily mixed with chicory. In all the years the Coffee Shop operated, I never saw a non-Christian go in and I never heard of a person coming to faith through having coffee there. I never really understood its purpose. Fast forward to today, when I was asked recently, to advise on helping a local community church open a c...

Playing well with others.

Today's rambling. Looking over some of my old school reports the other day and was amused at how some of the comments, that teachers made about me have shaped my life and in many respects made me who I am today. One teacher wrote that I didn’t play well with others, I was 5 at the time maybe I had an excuse. Another teacher in my high school years, the wood working teacher or wood shop teacher for my American friends wrote; “If you value your life you will keep him away from power tools and other dangerous equipment. I can’t remember why he wrote this, obviously I did something that made him fear for his life. Today as an adult I have to say that I don’t do well in committees, for most of my life I have been self- employed. I have steadfastly stayed away from power tools and other wood working equipment, basically anything that can cut something off and is a danger to life and limb. Over the last 10 years I have been looking at and teaching about Emotional Intelligence ...

Tim King Leadership

Search This Blog