Constructive criticism
“Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear” (Proverbs 25:12).
Dwight L Moody, the famous evangelist, was once told by an irate church lady, “Mr. Moody, I don’t like the way you do your evangelism.”
In reply Moody said, “I don’t necessarily like all of it either, but it’s the best way I know. Tell me, how do you do it?”
“Oh, I don’t,” was the reply.
“Well,” said Moody, “I like the way I’m doing it better than the way you’re not doing it.”
It’s always easy to know what to do when we don’t have to do the job, and very easy to criticize others when we’re not doing the work ourselves.
Some time ago when I was a pastor and things weren’t going too well-
I was asked what I thought about the situation and what could be done to improve things.
I said that I didn’t feel I had the right to criticize unless I was prepared to do something about it.
I was, however, prepared to help, and several of us working together saw things greatly improve.
In this instance, as it is in many other instances-
– criticism without offering help would have only served to make matters worse and cause further dissension among the groups.
So, if we’re not willing to put our shoulder to the wheel and do our bit-
– let’s not stir up dissension through negative criticism.
Furthermore, might I add that-
-journalists, politicians, authors, and even preachers don’t have the right to name others and confess their sins in public,
-without having first confessed their own sins in public.
(PA)