Thrive in Criticism

Thrive in Criticism

2 Corinthians 1:12-2:4

Take your Bibles and turn to the first chapter of 2 Corinthians. We are continuing our series from the first two chapters of this book called Thrive.

Up to this point in our study, Paul has been dealing with afflictions and troubles that we face in everyday life, and how we, as believers in Christ, can thrive in those environments. Now, we are about to observe the tone of the letter change from encouragement to vindication.

Paul had a great joyful ministry while he was at Corinth. However, when he wrote this second letter it had turned from his greatest joy to one of his greatest miseries. The apostle was becoming unwelcome in the Corinthian church on account of a small group of false teachers. Furthermore, they were becoming highly critical of Paul and his actions. Some might see the things that they are complaining about as petty, but when a contentious spirit abounds in a church, every little miscue becomes a problem.

I am thankful for Paul’s defense and vindication because he shows us once again from his own personal example how we can thrive in criticism, or misunderstanding

How can we thrive in criticism? How can we thrive when people are questioning our character, or actions, and our motives? We learn from the apostle Paul that thriving in criticism is possible through a clear conscience before the Lord.

1. Clear Conscience before the Lord

Begin reading in verse twelve, “For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you. For we are not writing to you anything other than what you read and understand and I hope you will fully understand— 14 just as you did partially understand us—that on the day of our Lord Jesus you will boast of us as we will boast of you.”

Paul begins verse twelve with a personal boast about his character. He ends with the Corinthians boasting about his character in verse fourteen. This type of boasting was not common for the apostle Paul. Paul said in this first letter to the Corinthians that Christians should only boast in the Lord. I imagine that Paul’s detractors were taken back by Paul’s boasting, but closer observation reveals that Paul’s integrity and character found their source in the Lord.

When it comes to the Christian life and thriving in criticism integrity is crucial. The reason that Paul could stand in his integrity is the fact that he had a clear conscience before the Lord.

“For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience.”

As Paul lived his life before the Lord, and in light of the day of the Lord, through consistent self-examination he could say that his conscience was clear of the criticisms that he was receiving from the church.

As he examined his life, his conscience testified that he conducted his life in holiness, simplicity, and godly sincerity.

His life was not guided by earthly wisdom, but by the grace of God. Paul lived is life in step with the Holy Spirit, not the flesh. Furthermore, the Corinthians were witnesses of how he lived among them.

Paul was a straight shooter. With Paul you didn’t have to wonder what he meant. He didn’t send veiled messages. Paul states this in verse thirteen, “For we are not writing to you anything other than what you read and understand and I hope you will fully understand.”

I’m reminded of the professor who was asked to give a reference for a student for a ministry position. He didn’t have anything good to say, but he didn’t want to keep the student from the opportunity. So he wrote these words, “If you knew him the way I know him you would feel about him the same way I do.” I was calling one of the references of a youth minister several years back. The reference told me that he was laid back. Once he came on staff I realized that being laid back means that he is lazy.

Paul is so confident about his clear conscience that he believes he will be vindicated on the day of the Lord. How? Verse fourteen, “just as you did partially understand us—that on the day of our Lord Jesus you will boast of us as we will boast of you.”

Some criticisms come to correct us. Accept them and make the appropriate changes.

Some come to perfect us, when they do, make sure that you can stand in your integrity because you have a clear conscience before the Lord.

This means you will need to consistently spend time with the Lord doing self-examination. Paul exhorts us in the last chapter of this great letter to examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith. Next, if we are going to thrive in criticism we will need our actions to be conformed by the truth of the gospel.

2. Actions Conformed by the truth of the gospel

“Because I was sure of this, I wanted to come to you first, so that you might have a second experience of grace. I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and to come back to you from Macedonia and have you send me on my way to Judea. Was I vacillating when I wanted to do this? Do I make my plans according to the flesh, ready to say “Yes, yes” and “No, no” at the same time? As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been Yes and No.”

Paul had a change of plans concerning his visit to the Corinthian church. This caused the Corinthian believers to question his actions. There were accusing him of being unfaithful to his word, and disloyal to the church.

Unfortunately, because the small group of false teachers were being contentious, they were also acting childish. For Paul qualified his plans in 1 Corinthians 16:7 with the words, “If the Lord permits.” Paul understood that we make plans, but God determines our steps. Paul goes on to defend his faithfulness and loyalty based upon the integrity of Christ found in the gospel.

Verse nineteen, “For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes. For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.” God is faithful to his promises, and all his promises are yes in Christ Jesus. God is not only faithful to his promises, he is also loyal to his people.

Verse twenty-one, “And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” Believers are sealed with the Spirit. The seal antiquity represented ownership. The guarantee of the Holy Spirit is a down payment given to believers guaranteeing that the best is yet to come. In Christ Jesus, we find that God is faithful to his promises, and loyal to his people. Now, what does this have to do with Paul’s changed plans?

Paul lived by the truth of the gospel. His actions were conformed by the character and actions of Jesus Christ. Christ’s faithfulness and loyalty was Paul’s faithfulness and loyalty. He was a trustworthy because he understood that the gospel had ethical implications. You too can thrive in criticism with your actions are conformed by the truth of the gospel. A third principal for thriving in criticism is found from verse twenty-three of chapter one to verse four of chapter two. You can thrive in criticism when your motives are compelled by the love of the Lord.

3. Motives compelled by the love of the Lord

In these verses Paul gives further reason he changed his plans. Instead of making a second visit, Paul wrote a harsh letter confronting them with some sinful behaviors. Why the letter? Paul reveals that his motive for the letter and not the visit was his tremendous love for the Corinthian church.

“But I call God to witness against me—it was to spare you that I refrained from coming again to Corinth. Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith. For I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you. For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all. For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.”

Paul knew that if he visited and they had not repented of the particular sins, his visit would be painful. So he wrote the letter. Paul confronted the sin because he truly cared for their spiritual well-being. Notice what Paul says in verse twenty-four, “Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for you joy, for you to stand firm in your faith.” Paul’s concern was their spiritual life. His concern caused him great anquish. Notice verse four of chapter two, “ For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you” His motives were compelled by the love of the Lord.

Paul said something very similar to the Galatian church, “My little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!”. Paul’s goal for confronting sin was to see Christ formed in God’s people.

Christian, if you really love someone, you will speak the truth in love, even though it might cause you to be criticized. Paul was willing to risk criticism for the sake of their spiritual life. People confronted with sin will either love you for helping them, or criticize you for being judgment. Just be sure that your motives are compelled by the love of the Lord.

If we respond to a critic is should be in the love of the Lord. First, we should always see of the criticism is true, and make the appropriate changes. If not, then in love pray for those who criticize you. The great danger in being criticized is not your reputation, but your heart. If you pray for those who are attacking you it will soften you heart towards them. Have mercy on your critics who seem to be unbelievers, for they need God’s converting grace, and pray for their salvation.

And if you need an perfect example of thriving in criticism, don’t look to Paul; look to Jesus.