As iron sharpens iron,
one person sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)
“When we fight back—instead of seeking to defuse the situation by not responding or by answering gently—we condition ourselves to reject all critique, even the kind that is fair. When we do this, we harm everyone including ourselves.” - Scott Sauls
“While it can’t always be done, I believe you can win over the vast majority of them. If you lack the support of key influencers, here are a few items to consider.” - Sam Rainer
“A solid seminary training warns prospective pastors that they’re far likelier to be run out of a church due to interpersonal conflict than due to theological disagreement. Still, we see a surge of pastors so worn down by interpersonal conflict that they’re ready to initiate their own exits.” - TGC
“Harvest Bible Chapel’s founder and former leader James MacDonald has slapped Chicago radio personality Matthew ‘Mancow’ Muller with a lawsuit alleging multiple counts defamation and is seeking at least $50,000 in compensatory damages for the spread of false information which caused him emotional distress and significant harm to his reputation.” - Christian Post
“…be careful about grounding your identity in fluctuating things that will set you up for failure and disappointment. You should be defined by God, not by your changing feelings, fickle desires, Facebook likes and reviews, or others’ assessments of you.” - Facts & Trends
“The urge to fling reciprocal accusations is totally normal. Our impulse is to punch back and set ‘em straight. It’s 100% natural. And that’s the problem.” - IFWE
“Sinful complaining can impact churches and pastors in destructive ways. However, [there are] some forms of complaining—or what sounds like complaining—that can be a sign of health.” - Facts & Trends
Read the series so far.
Need I say a word or two about the wisdom of never hearing what was not meant for you? The eaves-dropper is a mean person, very little if anything better than the common informer; and he who says he overheard may be considered to have heard over and above what he should have done. Jeremy Taylor wisely and justly observes,
Never listen at the door or window, for besides that it contains in it a danger and a snare, it is also invading my neighbor’s privacy, and a laying that open, which he therefore encloses that it might not be open.
It is a well worn proverb that listeners seldom hear any good of themselves. Listening is a sort of larceny, but the goods stolen are never a pleasure to the thief. Information obtained by clandestine means must, in all but extreme cases, be more injury than benefit to a cause. The magistrate may judge it expedient to obtain evidence by such means, but I cannot imagine a case in which a minister should do so. Ours is a mission of grace and peace; we are not prosecutors who search out condemnatory evidence, but friends whose love would cover a multitude of offenses. The peeping eyes of Canaan, the son of Ham, shall never be in our employ; we prefer the pious delicacy of Shem and Japhet, who went backward and covered the shame which the child of evil had published with glee.
Got a case of “certain Christian brother must be a cad, but I just can’t find any real evidence of that”? The good news is that despite that minor inconvenience you can blast him and build yourself a following at the same time—all without breaking a sweat. Here’s ten easy steps.
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