Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Thursday May 18, 2006

Someone brought a cartoon to me the other day and it pretty well sums the attitude of modern church folks. The setting is Mount Sinai; Moses is standing on an outcrop, holding two tablets, waving his right arm, and it appears fire is streaming from the eyes, implying oratory. Two men are standing near the outer fringe of the gathered Israelites and one is remarking to the other:

"Generally comprehensive and incisive, but with an excessively negative tone over-all, wouldn't you say?"

Several thoughts ran through the old oatmeal mass I use for a brain, the first being that there have always been critics and they have multiplied over the ages. The dear fresh faced young man who aspires to the calling of preacher should not harbor any idea that the exercise of this noble endeavor will in any way exempt him from sharp, biting and ignorant criticism. You have to hold that those who criticize are of somewhat inferior mental capacity else you lose your mind, due to the size of the flood which comes your way, plus the snide remarks just barely out of hearing.

I often take heart by keeping myself informed that even Moses was criticized, so who am I to complain. I recently read an article critiquing the grammar of Jesus in the gospels. Only Luc can understand the pleasure I derived from such ignorance.

Aside from the pain to the old ego when confronted with criticism, is the awful pain that accompanies criticism founded in truth. Ouch!!

When all is said and done, the best lesson learned from the cartoon and highly structured and well thought out verbiage of the critic at Mt. Sinai is the truth that far too many of us act as though the purpose of those who engage in preaching, teaching or even singing is for remarks to be made, criticism to make its bite and go on as though nothing of significance has happened.

You may be sure that when God's word is presented, it is not going forth for ego centric purpose, nor is it being given by the Lord for your well elucidated put down. It is given for your betterment.

For years I relished the nice comments of people as they were leaving the services where I had preached. "Very nice sermon, Mr. Lilly." "One of the finest I have ever heard!" "We could use someone like you around here!" "Could you send a copy of today's sermon to me?"

Over the years I have come to pay no attention to such comments as they are given for the most part to keep me from deep sixing it when I hear the tape! A good sermon is one that causes the hearer to say and to mean it, "I will do something! Now!"

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2006 Use with credit.

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