When the Dragon May Be Right
Get a friend to tell you your faults, or better still, welcome an enemy who will watch you keenly and sting you savagely. What a blessing such an irritating critic will be to a wise man, what an intolerable nuisance to a fool!
Charles Spurgeon Nobody enjoys criticism, especially from dragons. Their "constructive" observations often come across like a wrecking ball — maybe beneficial in the long run, but the immediate effect is noise, rubble, and a large hole in your self-esteem. Yet even dragons can sometimes be right, and almost all pastors are willing to benefit if the criticism is valid. As Proverbs 17:10 says, "Criticism to an intelligent person has more effect than a hundred lashes on a fool." The problem is deciding which criticisms are valid and which are unjustified. It requires a tough hide and a sensitive heart. And a few specific criteria don't hurt. Here are several tests pastors have identified to help distinguish fair from unfair attacks. Consider the source. The first test is the motivation of the critics. Are they truly well-intentioned? Are they committed to ministry? Do they want the best for the church? Are they people of integrity? Are they self-aware enough to understand the issue and accept their share of the responsibility or blame? Psalm 141:5 says, "Let a righteous man strike me — it is a kindness; let him rebuke me — it is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it." The righteous, those of integrity who are spiritually mature, must be taken more seriously than impulsive dragons. The number of sources making the same criticism is also telling. Church dragons often claim, "It isn't just me but a lot of people who feel this way." Unless those other people step forward, however, you can afford to be skeptical. ...
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