At a recent Ordination service, a seasoned pastor’s wife delivered this charge: “Criticism in ministry is as certain as the sun rising tomorrow.” She paused a moment to let this inescapable truth settle.
Just last week, I heard a younger pastor ask an older one, “How do you manage criticism?” The older forced a straight face, feigned careful thought, and dead-panned, “Not sure. I’ll let you know the first time I get it.” The younger sat stunned for a half second, then broke out in a hearty belly-laugh. The sheer absurdity of a non-criticized pastor was enough to dissolve the tension.
But pastors aren’t uniquely prone to criticism – everyone in leadership experiences attacks that range from petty to personal. A few years back, while experiencing some intense criticism, I found solace in Psalm 26. But it wasn’t the type of comfort I anticipated – I’d kind of expected God to say, “You know, Greg, you’re right. Just for you, I’m going to call down some swift and terrible justice. Would you prefer a lightening bolt? Or perhaps another vindication of choice?”
No, Scripture often gives counter-intuitive advice that heals far beyond what we expect.
Under the Spirit’s guidance, David withheld the life-event behind Psalm 26, so we aren’t certain he had criticism specifically in mind. But before discounting Psalm 26 as a guide for responding to criticism, consider Spurgeon’s description in the Treasury of David: “The sweet singer of Israel appears before us in this Psalm as one enduring reproach; in this he was the type of the great Son of David, and is an encouraging example to us to carry the burden of slander to the throne of grace.”Reproach? Slander? Yes, I think these qualify as criticism. Far be it from me to argue with the “Prince of Preachers.”
Psalm 26 teaches us how to harness criticism: it spurs stronger character, deeper trust, and more meaningful worship. Man might criticize for evil, but God can utilize it for good.
1. Criticism Promotes Reliable Character (v. 1, 11-12)
David not only highlights integrity first and last, but notes it’s two-fold advantage: (1) the blameless have nothing to fear from criticism, and (2) the innocent have shelter from future attacks (Prov. 10:9). Leaders learn rather quickly that some people delight in undercutting authority; David certainly experienced similar betrayals (2 Sam. 15:1-6). These threats, however, must not be an excuse for vengeful behavior, but a prod to moral uprightness that preserves and protects.
2. Criticism Evokes Personal Examination (v. 2)
Criticism typically provokes self-defense. David, however, wonders whether the criticism is fair (cf. 2 Sam. 16:5-12). And who better to judge than God Himself? So David asks the Lord to prove his heart as a merchant certifies gold; to examine his motives as an engineer inspects structural integrity. When criticized, I must allow God a thorough audit of my motives, a final say in my behavior, and a gracious transformation of my flaws. It’s likely that I was wrong. The best solution is to let God decide the matter.
3. Criticism Demands Patient Trust (v. 3-5)
Patient trust, like putting on and off in Ephesians 4:22-24, is a two-step process. First, believers must turn the criticism over to God’s loving faithfulness. Second, they must deliberately avoid self-serving counsel, self-justifying friends, or self-satisfying revenge. I call these wrong responses “turning the cube” — as in, a Rubik’s cube. Aligning allies and concocting revenge is like trying to make all the sides of a Rubik’s cube match. For me, that’s a frustrating and fruitless toil – I have never once unscrambled a cube (I even cheated once by googling the instructions). When it comes to receiving criticism, I want to turn that cube furiously until everybody bends to my will. I’m guessing you’re tempted to do the same. Take David’s advice and put the cube down. Instead, trust God’s Sovereign character and wait on the Lord for vindication.
4. Criticism Provokes Thankful Worship (v. 6-8)
You may have guessed the first three points without reading Psalm 26, but here David begins to plumb the depths. When criticized, I want to run away with this parting shot: “Hey, if you think you can do it better …. ” David, on the other hand, engages God in deliberate praise for the rehearsal of His wondrous works. David no doubt faced the same difficulty many of us do – we worship with the very people whose criticism stings the most. We can usually tolerate the barbs of non-Christian scoffers, but what of the Christian mom that judges my parenting choices? What of the student that leaves my Sunday School class for another because “I’m boring”? What of the VBS worker that has far better ideas? Refuse the temptation to run from those people. Rather, run to God in deliberate praise, trusting that the decision to worship with the very people criticizing us results in a fifth step – humble prayer.
5. Criticism Hastens Humble Prayer (v. 9-10)
When we hold out the possibility that we’ve sinned and we deliberately stand before God Most High in humble adoration, we’re quickly brought face-to-face with our own sinfulness. The realization that nothing good dwells within us (Rom. 7:18) causes the same reaction that led to David nearly blurting out, “Do not sweep away my soul …. ” These prayers, uttered from a broken and contrite heart, spring from sheer amazement that God could use a guilty sinner like me in spiritual leadership.
And herein lies the unrecorded benefit of Psalm 26 – I bet that while you read the fifth point, the anger you’ve been harboring toward that critic melted away. You may have forgotten about it altogether. No, you likely remembered that your relationship with the Savior is paramount. While practicing Psalm 26, it’s almost impossible to harbor bitterness toward another sinner who just might be right in his or her criticisms. So walk in integrity, let God’s faithfulness decide the matter, engage God in worshipful praise, and beg for God’s continued use of your life.
