I feel sad for church-world critics

In the Book of Nehemiah, we see a man courageously following God's grand vision while enduring great personal criticism and friendly fire.  Every pastor and church planter in America walks in Nehemiah's shoes.

I can honestly say that now when I read Nehemiah's story, I'm starting to feel sad for Sanballat and Tobiah.  They completely miss out on the miracle. 

Sanballat and Tobiah mock & jeer, but ache on the inside.  After all, only hurting people hurt people. 

Jesus said our words and behaviors are simply the overflow of what's already going on in our hearts.  If we're at war on the inside, of course we'll be at war on the outside.

Bitterness is the fuel of criticism.  John Courson once said:

"This is what bitterness does.  It's like taking a bottle of poison, swallowing it, and then waiting for the other person to die."

Sanballat and Tobiah are drinking poison and I genuinely find that sad.  It's impossible to build something beautiful with your life when you're swinging a sledgehammer.  They need the Gospel; a renewed explosion of God's grace in their lives.

Nehemiah is our godly model in not firing back; he simply remains Gospel-centered and trusts that God will take care of the church-world critics.  He remains faithful to the mission entrusted to him.

And so we pray for those who wish us harm.
We out-love, out-serve, and out-bless our critics. 
We trust God as our Guard when we're misunderstood.
And we press into these words from Charles Spurgeon:

"Somebody has said a very nasty thing about us.
Well, well; we will answer him when we have got through the work we have at hand, namely, praising God continually. At present we have a great work to do, and cannot come down to wrangle.  Self-love and its natural irritations die in the blaze of praise."

Comments

[Stephanie Drury]

Me too. But its extra beautiful when grace comes to them when they've been swinging the sledgehammer.

[Kurt Hannah]

Good word. Thanks Jonathan.

[Sharon Herron]

Appreciated your insightful comments -- I couldn't agree more...having been on the receiving end of criticism many times. The ONLY person I have to answer to is Jesus and that is a very comforting thought!!