Have you ever been criticized? Of course, you have. To be human is to be criticized. Conversely, to be human is to criticize others. You’ve heard it from parents. You’ve directed it towards younger brothers or sister or cousins. You heard it all through school. It fills every political newscast. It is rampant.

           Some criticism is “constructive.” But, too often it is delivered as though it is “destructive.” Proverbs 15:31 says: “Whoever heeds life-giving correction will be at home among the wise.” Constructive criticism can help us achieve our goals, if it is honestly given and earnestly heeded.

          Theodore Roosevelt famously said, “It is not the critic who counts; not the person who points out how the strong person stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the person who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends him/herself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.”

           A shortened version of that is: “Stick and stones may break my bones, but I’ll keep trying till I get it done!”

         Imagine that you know all there is to know, that you have direct access to information that is not even stored in the finest computer, and people still don’t believe you; still want to argue with you and belittle you. Well, that is what Jesus must have felt when dealing with the Pharisees and Sadducees. Yet He pressed on.

           Imagine you are the best theologian ever to walk the earth and people ignored you. That would be the Apostle Paul. And it was Paul who said: “Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.” Romans 14:13

I like Vince Gill’s song/hymn:
    Let there be peace on earth, And let it begin with me
    Let There Be Peace on Earth, The peace that was meant to be
    With God as our Father, Brothers all are we
    Let me walk with my brother, In perfect harmony.
    Let peace begin with me, Let this be the moment now.
    With ev'ry step I take, Let this be my solemn vow
    To take each moment and live, Each moment in peace eternally
    Let there be peace on earth, And let it begin with me.

May your critics be few and loving.

Doug

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