When talking about giants we are referring to enemies such as discouragement, criticism, gossip, guilt, fear, loneliness, jealousy. In our last Bible study we saw how powerful that giant is called discouragement. It is so powerful that it has shaken countries, families, churches, Christian ministries and people's lives. The sad end of a whole generation of children of Israel in the desert still resounds in our ears, who, on one occasion, prey to discouragement, rebelled against Moses and Aaron and came to doubt the person and purposes of God. On this occasion we will talk about another powerful giant on the prowl. This giant is called the critic. Criticism can be good or bad. A good criticism, also called constructive criticism is one that aims to make an objective and reasoned evaluation of a certain issue always seeking an improvement of what has been the subject of criticism. Constructive criticism seeks to build but not destroy. This constructive criticism is very necessary. Each of us should have a critical spirit in the good sense of criticism. That is, we must be able to give a careful, intelligent and reasoned opinion of what we perceive with our senses. We should not accept anything without further explanation. There is nothing wrong with making constructive criticism. But there is another type of criticism, which in essence is bad. It is destructive criticism. He who makes a destructive criticism is the one who issues his ruthless, unthinking and often biased opinion regarding a certain issue or a certain person. The one who does destructive criticism sees everything negatively, looks for trivialities and arms with them a major scandal. He collects all the insignificant errors, and based on that he prepares to condemn unreflectively. Such a person becomes a distrustful person and comes to believe that all human behavior is motivated by a selfish interest in seeking one's own benefit. This type of person mistrusts the motivations of other people and looks at almost everything with disbelief that borders on contempt; and very especially towards what makes him feel or appear inferior. This giant, called destructive criticism drives discontent, destroys everything in its path and leaves behind a trail of people destroyed. Now, this powerful giant has two faces. It seems that there was only one, but in reality they are two, in the manner of twin brothers. One is the giant of destructive criticism we receive from others and his twin brother is the destructive criticism we throw against others. In our Bible study today we will limit ourselves to that destructive criticism we receive from others. When someone speaks ill of us, this can destroy us quickly unless we know how to control this giant. This giant is always chasing us. If you have never met him yet, do not doubt that at some point you will stumble upon him. All of us who have met this giant have felt hurt, confused, worried, outraged, angry. The destructive criticism shakes us without mercy and leaves us licking our wounds, dying of fear. Talking about this, a poem says the following: The man, with the breath that gave him the sky, speaks words that dirty the whiteness of life. It is like a murderer, because it is killed with the tongue as with a knife. When someone speaks ill of you, you will feel as if you were pierced with a knife. This giant will get into his life and mess up all things. It will attack from many fronts. They will be times of trial for your soul. He will not be able to understand it, he will feel confused, frustrated, perplexed and overwhelmed. If we let this giant dominate us, we will live bitter for the rest of our days. The key is then to conquer this powerful giant. How to do it? First, recognizing that it is not at all strange that we receive destructive criticism, especially if we are striving to live holy lives before God or if God has placed us in some leadership position. Moses was subjected to destructive criticism a number of times. Joshua and Caleb were the subject of criticism when they gave a good report about what they saw in the promised land. David was subjected to destructive criticism so many times that he lost count. In his anguish at the destructive criticism, he exclaimed the words found in texts like Psalm 64: 1-6. The Bible says: Hear, O God, the voice of my complaint; Save my life from the fear of the enemy. Psa 64: 2 Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked, Of the conspiracy of those who commit iniquity, Psa 64: 3 They sharpen their tongue like a sword; They throw which arrow of theirs, bitter word, Psa 64: 4 To sneak in secret to the whole; Suddenly they shoot him, and they do not fear. Psa 64: 5 Obstinate in their wicked design, They try to hide the ties And they say: Who has Psa 64: 6 They ask for iniquities, they make an exact investigation; And the intimate thought of each of them, as well as their heart, is profound. All men and women who have done something good for the Lord have been victims of destructive criticism. But no one has suffered such destructive criticism as the Lord Jesus. He was criticized for eating with sinners, was criticized for casting out demons, was criticized for having healed a man on a Sabbath, was criticized for teaching with authority, was criticized for forgiving sins. So, do not think that you are the only victim of destructive criticism. It is natural for the children of God to be the object of the fury of the enemy. Second, thank the Lord for the destructive criticism against him. This sounds strange, but when you consider destructive criticism as an opportunity to grow spiritually, you will be willing to thank the Lord for it. Perhaps when David grew up more quickly in his relationship with the Lord, it was when he found himself at the stake ignited by his critics. Third, do not try to give your due to those who have launched the destructive criticism against you. If it is within your reach to deny the destructive criticism, do so, but do not take justice into your own hand to avenge who has made destructive criticism against you. Do not even think for a moment of counteracting the destructive criticism against you by destructively criticizing the person who has criticized you. It is better to put everything in the hand of the Lord and trust that He will punish those who have criticized you unjustly. Romans 12:19 says: Do not avenge yourselves, my beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God; because it is written: Mine is revenge, I will pay, says the Lord. Fourth, do not let destructive criticism alter your lifestyle, if you're doing things right, of course. The one who criticizes to destroy seeks just that, to destroy. If you become discouraged and abandon yourself and think that it is best not to do anything to avoid being subjected to destructive criticism, you will have been defeated by that giant of destructive criticism. Regardless of what your critics say, if you know that you are clean before the Lord of anything that has been unjustly accused, go ahead with faith and determination. Remember that we who have been victims of destructive criticism have been people who are walking towards maturity in our Christian life. This brings to my mind a passage from Don Quixote de la Mancha, by Miguel de Cervantes. One day, Sancho Panza, his faithful squire, complained that the dogs were barking at them. Don Quixote replied: Do not worry Sancho Panza, if the dogs bark, that means we're walking. This is my dear kind listener. If you are falling victim to destructive criticism, that means you are walking toward maturity. Let the dogs you criticize to destroy keep barking. Fifth, depend on the Lord for Him to protect your integrity. Let the Lord fight for you. Psalm 3: 3 says: But you, Jehovah, are a shield around me; My glory, and the one who raises my head If in his own strength he embarks on vanishing the destructive criticisms against him, he will end up frustrated and badly hurt. It is better to trust in the Lord. He knows how to do it well. I hope you kind listener that these ideas are of help to conquer the giant of destructive criticism in our life.
