Criticism is not a Fruit of the Holy Spirit
This past week, my body welcomed Covid-19 for the very first time. The virus invaded, leaving me achy and tired and disrupted my plans. One of those plans was to take a spontaneous road trip with Shannon to Wilmore, KY in order to observe what many in the faith are describing as an “awakening” at Asbury. While the story is familiar for most, a regularly scheduled chapel meeting was spontaneously continued by groups of students where prayer and singing continued day and night. We wanted to see for ourselves the goings on, but given the circumstances, we were stayed by God’s Providence. We accept the prevention of going as a disappointment, but as Divine Will nonetheless.
As I continued to observe the event from a distance, I became aware of another occurrence that added to my disappointment, namely, the disruptive criticism aimed at the event by those who profess to be followers of Jesus. Perhaps the denunciation proclamations stung my soul a little more sharply because they coincided with similarly expressed disapproval of the “He Gets Us” campaign. “He Gets Us,” was a series of ads that I first noticed during the NFL playoffs. They apparently have been on the air since March of 2022, but once aired on the most viewed televised event each year attracted the hostile attention of many self-appointed advertisement commentators. Sadly, in the name of Jesus, the ads were often uncharitably condemned. Once again, by those who profess to be followers of Jesus.
As I pondered these thoughts while laid up, I realized that sickness was agitating my physical being, but the constant disapproval was molesting my spiritual being. What aggravated me most was how flippantly the Christian community seemed to be willing to engage in spiritual cannibalism. I recognize that it is not the whole of the Christian community (maybe not even the majority), but it’s at least a vocal minority. Shouldn’t the people who were supposedly transformed by the truth of Jesus’ mercy, grace, and love be marked by the truth of Jesus’ mercy, grace, and love? Instead we come across as nit-picky and fault finding.
What prevents us from approaching these matters with a humble and holy curiosity? How might we instead prayerfully inquire what God might be doing in the midst of these moments? Can we keep in mind that even in our most seemingly faithful occupations, when we’ve acted consistently with the highest accuracy of theological prowess, that we’re still flawed and rebellious? If there are errors in these movements (and there almost always are), is there anything praiseworthy? If so, then the New Testament exhorts us to “think about these things” (Phil. 4:8). We are to think about what is praiseworthy. Earlier in that same book, we are told that even if “some…proclaim Christ from envy and rivalry” that he (and we) can rejoice “whether in pretense or truth, Christ is proclaimed” (Phil. 1:15, 18). We are to rejoice because Christ is proclaimed, not to become petulant.
I believe now more than ever, we need to let rejoicing be the sound of God’s people since joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit and criticism is not. I realize my take on this is neither unique nor isolated, but I thought it important for our church to hear that perspective. I wonder how communion with Christ with a sense of holy and humble curiosity might lift the spirit of the Church? I long for people to be drawn in to Christ because of the love of the Church instead of repelled by our abrasiveness.
Submitted by: Kurt Hannah