Criticism and the Cross

The Wounds of Words

If you’ve served in ministry for any significant length of time, you know that criticism is inevitable. Some of it is constructive. Some of it is cruel. Occasionally, it’s a whisper behind your back. Sometimes, it’s a full-on confrontation in the church foyer.

Every pastor faces it—Jesus certainly did. The very people He came to save insulted, misunderstood, and ultimately crucified Him. Yet, He absorbed their cruelty without retaliation. His response wasn’t weakness; it was divine strength rooted in trust.

The question is not whether criticism will come. It will. The question is: how will we respond in a way that reflects the cross, not the flesh?

Real-Life Examples—When Criticism Hits Home

Let’s consider a few hypothetical (but very real) scenarios most pastors will recognize—and how to respond with grace. Continue Reading…….