So Sensitive

For centuries certain occupations like pastors, preachers, journalists, and politicians, have been required to share thoughts, opinions, and beliefs in the public square. For centuries people serving in those occupations have been criticized, condemned, and at times killed. The opinion world can be a brutal world.

The truth is that any time you share a thought, belief, or opinion you are going to be criticized. It’s how it works. Our culture is not going to be changing any time soon on this issue.

The last decade, with the invention of social media, everyone has been given a pulpit, a megaphone, and a platform to share their thoughts, opinions, and beliefs. I find that many people are taken back by the criticism they receive on those social media platforms. It can be discouraging.

How do you deal with criticism? Some people deal with it in a not so great way:

1. They get angry. They post back angrily, engage in harsh debate, or unfriend/unfollow anyone who disagrees with them.
2. They get depressed. They allow the criticism to shape their self esteem and inform who they are.
3. They shut up. The criticism becomes hard enough to take that they simply stop posting, writing, preaching, or sharing.

I think there are a few fundamental rules we can follow when it comes to dealing with criticism:

1. Allow critics to become coaches. Really listen to what critics have to say. It won’t all be valuable but some of it will be really helpful. Some will help you shape thoughts, tighten up ideas, and communicate more clearly. Receive that and allow it to make you a better leader, writer, or preacher.
2. Speak, write, or post with conviction. I believe when you post with conviction, the criticism stings a little less. Sometimes on social media we attempt to simply be provocative or antagonistic. Resist the temptation to do that and post with conviction, preach what you really believe, and share what God has placed on your heart.
3. Keep it in perspective. For every critic you have, you probably have 20-30 people that are cheering you on and encouraging you. Don’t forget that those voices matter as well.

When you share publicly, you will be criticized. But those voices don’t have to define you or change you, they can actually help you. Remember, you are in good company, a few thousand years ago there was a Rabbi named Jesus who shared some fairly radical thoughts. We all know the overwhelming amount of criticism He received.