4. They don’t deal with change very well.
Some people are born more adverse to change than others. Their brains are wired that way. Their fear circuits are more easily set off by uncertainty, and change brings uncertainty.
• Response: Recognizing this fact will give you greater tolerance and understanding of why some people tend to criticize more than others. Again, empathy will go a long way to help these folks feel more comfortable with change and less critical.
5. They need to find something or someone toward which to vent their hurt caused by other life issues.
Some people in your church project their personal hurts through criticism. Criticism helps ease their angst, at least for the short term.
• Response: Although this is not a pleasant reality, it is true. A wise counselor once said, “The past is not past until it is processed.” Many in your church still carry heavy loads of guilt and anger that can easily spill over toward you through criticism. I suggest prayer in response to this kind of critic. Prayer could fit into a response for every category I’ve listed, but it’s especially apropos in this case. If you sense that others are projecting their pain toward you through criticism, ask the Lord to heal their hurt and to release their unforgiveness, bitterness and pain.
6. They are truly malevolent people committed to your demise.
• Response: Although I believe these critics are few, they do exist. If you face this kind of person in your church, take bold action. Titus 3.10 commands us to warn a divisive person once and after that have nothing to do with them. Sometimes extreme cases require you to apply church discipline.
7. They have a point.
Sometimes the criticism is valid and you need to hear it.
• Response: Listen and heed. When the criticism reflects a valid issue, learn from it and make appropriate adjustments in your life or ministry. Proverbs 27.6 says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend.”
Criticism is never pleasant, but sometimes necessary.
