On Criticism in Ministry

"If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.  The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world.  I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you." - John 15:18 & 19.

Generally when the topic of Criticism in ministry is addressed it is approached from one of two ways:
1) Find the validity among the criticism and grow from it.
2) Find the deeper issue impacting and fueling your attackers criticism and emphasize with them.

While it is certainly true that there is always some validity, my experience tells me that there is generally about an ounce of validity to every pound of criticism.  Yes, we should address the ounce...but we need to move on and ignore the rest of it.  I think sometimes we work so hard validating criticism that we go so far as to validate things that ought not be.  Likewise, it is true that deeper issues fuel the critical nature of our accusers but I personally don't find that contemplating this fact does much good.

In contrast to these two focuses, I am instead suggesting that we focus on a third possibility, that maybe our criticism is because we are on the right track.  It is with this in mind that I am actually starting to appreciate criticism, for as someone involved in a Western World, middle class suburban ministry, criticism is the closest I will ever get to joining Christ in persecution.  So instead of trying to validate our criticism, let us take joy in the fact that often it is not valid, for that might just mean that we are walking with Christ.   

Moving Away From Missions Trip and Towards Real Service and Justice

Heard a great story about a father who dealt with the spoiled materialism of his children by making breakfast burritos with them and their friends and distributing them to homeless people. They have done this weekly for the same "community of homeless" for a solid two years, building real relationships.

There has been a lot of re-examining and subsequent criticism concerning short term mission trips among youth ministry circles (For a well articulated summary of this check out what Fuller Youth Institute has to say about "Sticky Justice")  Here's the thing, I think our youth group (and church) has a scenario that addresses all of this and can be duplicated by any church anywhere.  There is a center on the southside of Grand Rapids.  It happens to be owned by our denomination, but that really is irrelevant.  The homes and the apartments around this place have a neighborhood type feel.  Our Church (a lovely inter-generational  blend of senior high youth and adults) puts on a monthly dinner there.  We also do a VBS annually and have done weekly soccer clinics there.  There is a service project run out of the center that our Middle School students participate in each summer.   Our youth director and students know many of the people in that community by first name and they trust our church and know we genuinely care for them.  

I think this is an example of where church missions is heading.  Virtually every church in the united states has the opportunity to partner with an urban ministry nearby.  Building real relationships is the key...and lack of that is at the forefront of the mission trip criticism.  So I am challenging everyone to think about they and their churches can do locally, consistently to serve  and build real relationships as they seek justice.