Aristotle said to avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing. Others say to cope with criticism, forget perfection, check what you tell yourself; keep your focus, never quit, and be confident. Paul knew from experience that followers of Christ face not only criticism, but also persecution for our faith. So in Philippians CH 1 he counsels us this way: “Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. You have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him.” So to deal with criticism and rejection, we must know who we are: followers of Jesus Christ–the highest ruler in the universe. We can have confidence knowing that despite criticism, we should honor our Lord and be confident knowing we are on the winning side.
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, Sr.
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, Sr. is the founder and chairman of UMI (Urban Ministries, Inc.). Under his direction, UMI has grown to be a leading publisher of Christian education resources for churches in the African American community. Read More
