I think most organizations--including the church--are tempted to avoid criticism as much as possible. After all, who likes to be criticized? So organizations have the danger of engaging in "groupthink" which the Oxford Dictionary of English defines as, "the practice of thinking or making decisions as a group, resulting typically in unchallenged, poor-quality decision-making." Things seem to run so much more smoothly when everyone agrees and there isn't any conflict or disagreement or criticism. But there is a heavy penalty over time that will be paid if we avoid these.
A few years ago several of us were part of a "Sticky Faith Cohort" held at Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, CA. One of the speakers talked about the importance of valuing what dissenters and persons on the margins had to say. He said that you need to listen to them for they often say things that need to be said that no one else will say.
Levison states that it is the Holy Spirit that may be behind these people and the fact that we receive criticism is not an indication that the Holy Spirit has abandoned us. The Holy Spirit uses the criticism as a means of correcting our course.
It isn't always easy, but I try to remind myself of this when criticism occurs at our church and ask God to give me an open mind and heart.
A few years ago several of us were part of a "Sticky Faith Cohort" held at Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, CA. One of the speakers talked about the importance of valuing what dissenters and persons on the margins had to say. He said that you need to listen to them for they often say things that need to be said that no one else will say.
Levison states that it is the Holy Spirit that may be behind these people and the fact that we receive criticism is not an indication that the Holy Spirit has abandoned us. The Holy Spirit uses the criticism as a means of correcting our course.
It isn't always easy, but I try to remind myself of this when criticism occurs at our church and ask God to give me an open mind and heart.
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