Criticism is normal in our lives. Everybody receives criticism from almost any source: family, friends, persons in authority, colleagues, and even strangers. We ought to know how to respond to it, given that we can't run away from it.
The average person tends to respond to criticism in a fairly negative way. Depending on the criticism received, some will get angry, some will get depressed, some will feel rejected, and some will feel the urge to retaliate. After all, negative criticism hurts.
As a Christian, however, we are given the power to simply shrug the negativity and the condemnation and not let it affect us because "the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world" (see 1 John 4:4).
Whatever criticism it is that's thrown at us for being Christ-followers who stand for truth, justice, holiness, and righteousness, we can face it.
So how do we respond to criticism? Here are three ways:
1. Learn From It
Chances are some of the criticism we receive will be truthful. Although it may be so, it is best not to let it consume us, nor weigh us down. Instead, we should see the truth about what others say and leverage it to our advantage. "[T]he truth shall make you free." (see John 8:32)
To do this, we must test whatever comes to us, taking the profitable and throwing away the trash. "Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil." (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22)
2. Consider It a Challenge to Improve
Certain criticisms can also be used as fuel for us to improve and grow in character. In fact, all kinds of criticism can be fuel for that.
"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." (James 1:2-4)
3. Ignore It and Press Forward
Best of all, we can imitate the Lord Jesus Christ's response to all forms of criticism, maligning, and malicious gossip and rumour that was spread against Him. We can just ignore all of them and press on to what God wants us to do.
"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:1-2)
"Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13-14)
