'Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.' But they do. They hurt us. They hurt our families. They hurt our ministries. And the hurt they cause can fester. Criticism from the body of Christ is not always constructive, and when it's not, it can emotionally kill us. When criticism becomes painful and you can't take any more, what do you do? Where do you turn when you've done your best and God doesn't seem to be defending you? Like most leaders, Blaine Allen is familiar with the underside of ministry, where critical words and negative attitudes thrive. He provides helpful advice for ministry leaders struggling with personal or public criticism to know when to blow it off, when to take a stand, what to do when the critic speaks the truth, how to make the situation easier, and what to do when we don't want to forgive. |
