I must say, my appreciation for Tim Keller is always high, but today’s blog article is particularly helpful and an important issue to me. I am concerned about the angry tone and poorly delivered criticism around the web, and Tim give some helpful direction. Before I get to Tim’s article, I will add that I’ve written a much less erudite series on how to give criticism:
1. Critique What One Actually Believes
2. Critique Fairly and Charitably
3. Wait
4. Check Your Motive and Goal
5. Admit When You’re Wrong
Here, at the Redeemer City-to-City blog today, Tim Keller gives some helpful guidance for everyone to consider:
1. Carson’s Rule – You don’t have to follow Matthew 18 before publishing polemics…
In short, if someone is publicly presenting theological views that are opposed to sound doctrine, and you are not in the same ecclesiastical body with this person (that is, there is no body of elders over you both, as when, for example, both of you are ministers in the same denomination,) then you may indeed publicly oppose those without going privately to the author of them…
2. Murray’s Rule – You must take full responsibility for even unwitting misrepresentation of someone’s views…
In other words, to misrepresent reality to others is always wrong. He grants, of course, that there is a great difference between a deliberate lie and unintentionally passing on erroneous information…
3. Alexander’s Rule – Never attribute an opinion to your opponent that he himself does not own…
In other words, we must not argue in such a way that it hardens opponents in their views…
Be sure to read the whole article here. Oh, how I wish all of blog town would all listen.
If you are not reading the City-to-City blog, I’d encourage you to start doing so.
