Critiques are a natural part of life. But not all criticism is bad. In fact, as Christians, we can expect to receive good and bad feedback throughout our walk as believers. But how do we respond to criticism in God’s way?
In this article, we’ll explore what that looks like and give you practical tips for handling it when it comes your way.
What The Bible Tells Us About Criticism
One of the most important things to point out is that if you’re a follower of Jesus, you can expect to face criticism and persecution. When the Holy Spirit dwells within you, you naturally stand out. And when you are vocal about your faith, there will be times when people speak out against you.
1 John 3:13 says, “Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you.” That’s an example of the harsher kind of criticism.
But the Bible also tells us in 2 Timothy 2:24-25 that “the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness….”
This is a wonderful example of how we are called to give critiques: lovingly and gently. It’s more of a helpful partner in your walk with Christ, not someone who calls out your flaws.
In fact, real friends will tell you when you are wrong. They will point out the things that are not honoring God and help you discern what good decisions are.
How To Give Criticism As A Christian
We mentioned this briefly above, but there are right and wrong ways to give criticism.
Positive criticism is:
- Helpful
- Clear
- Direct
- Kind
Criticism should not be:
- Attacking
- Unkind
- A list of personal attacks
- Just complaining
So, with this in mind, what is the way to respond to criticism in God’s way?
Responding To Criticism in God’s Way
When critiques come from a person who wants the best for us and is presented helpfully, they see it as an opportunity for character development. When others pour kindness and love into our lives and help us see what we may be doing wrong, it can give us a chance for self-reflection.
Thank them, don’t get angry, and don’t immediately dismiss what they have to say. This is a human response, but it doesn’t do any good for their words to go in one ear and right out the other.
As we mentioned above, not all criticism is good or helpful. But there are times when an outside perspective can help us identify areas of our lives that need improving.
Swallowing your pride and acknowledging — even repeating — what they’ve shared with you can help you make sure you understand what they were trying to say.
Speaking of pride, responding to criticism with humility is the best way to conduct yourself in these situations. James 4:6 says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” This verse is an important reminder when someone approaches you with a critique.
Know Your Own Heart
Above all, know your own heart. When the Holy Spirit is within you, you learn to be in tune with the truth about yourself and the truth about God. And when you know these two things, you can discern which criticism is beneficial and which is coming from the wrong place.
Remember, someone who comes at you unkindly with personal attacks and complaints shouldn’t be taken too seriously. Their criticism is not of God, and they also have some personal work to do.
Get into the Word and find out what God says. Refrain from letting their words get into your head. Instead, set aside time to pray and ask God to give you clarity about the situation.
Responding To Criticism: Leaving Retaliation Behind
As we’ve discussed, the Godly way of responding to criticism is sometimes hard to do. Setting aside your pride and seeing criticism as an opportunity isn’t something that comes easily the first time.
Whether at work, at home, with your friends, or somewhere else, don’t get frustrated, and don’t try to retaliate. Harsh words back and forth are not a healthy way to accomplish anything or understand each other.
Also, know there are good and bad kinds of criticism; you don’t have to take someone’s unkind words in and believe them. You know your own heart, and you know what God says about you. Don’t let anyone get in the way of that!
I remember the first musical programming I did. When it was played in Church, a brother criticized it in a way that got me really upset, and I didn’t waste any time giving it back against him.
As I grew in my experience much later, I realized I could actually have used his criticism to up my skills and do better, rather than fight back.
This is a really good article. Thank you Gerardo.
I appreciate your feedback. It’s commendable that you possess the maturity to reflect on your past responses to criticism and recognize the potential for handling it differently. May you be richly blessed in 2024.
Gerardo