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The last few years of pastoral ministry have been especially joyful. In
large part this is because those who excelled most at highlighting specks in others eventually saw fit to take their "fault finding" elsewhere. In this vein, I know of one pastor who during one sit down meeting was criticized for three plus hours. The sad irony was that this brother had some
pretty significant logs in his own ministry/marriage/family. During this lengthy meeting this member never once admitted any of those shortcomings or failures (see Matthew 7:1-5). During meetings like this it is often best to say very little and to not turn the tables. To evaluate the criticisms and accusations of others and to swallow any kernels of truth and to spit out the rest.
In this vein, I came across this encouraging word from Charles
Spurgeon. "From the
earliest period it has been found impossible for the messengers whom God has
sent to suit their style of utterance to the tastes of all."
Many hearers lose much blessing through criticizing too much, and
meditating too little; and many more incur great sin by calumniating those who
live for the good of others. True pastors have enough of care and travail
without being burdened by undeserved and useless fault-finding. We have something
better to do than to be forever answering every malignant or frivolous slander
which is set afloat to injure us.
