The Criticized Leader
No leader is beyond criticism. In fact, I often think to myself in regard to my own leadership, “I wish I would have handled that differently.” I’ve experienced criticism in every leadership position I’ve ever occupied—as a husband, father, shift supervisor, baseball coach, teacher, and pastor. Some criticism clearly comes from love—someone sees something and then takes the bold step of pointing it out for the good of the leader. However, often criticism comes from personal disagreement. The leader, by definition, occupies a position that necessitates decision-making. Decisions impact other people. Rarely do the people impacted universally agree with the decisions a leader makes.
Culturally, it’s a tough time to be a leader. Public scandals involving leaders dominate headlines and feature in popular documentaries. Social media provides an avenue for dragging a leader’s name through the mud without the due process of considering alternative versions of the story. Strong stands on convictions are easily interpreted as “toxic” or “abusive” in a cultural context where many leaders are indeed toxic and abusive. Complex situations that transpire over time quickly become simplistic narratives where every character is depicted as either good or bad. In a culture that’s swift to categorize everyone as either oppressor or oppressed, victim or abuser, leaders don’t typically get a lot of sympathy. They’re the ones who hold the power, after all.
But what distinguishes healthy leadership from bad leadership is not the mere possession of power, but what the leader chooses to do with it. The leader may use power either for good or for ill, to serve the people being led or to serve self.
The Bible doesn’t hide the difficulty of leadership. In Numbers 12, Aaron and Miriam unfairly criticize Moses for marrying a Cushite woman. However, the text makes clear that their real issue was jealousy. They didn’t like that God had chosen to speak only through Moses and not through them. And, of course, Paul faced criticism at every turn. The two Corinthian letters reveal that Paul was drug through the mud for everything from his physical appearance and speaking skills (2 Corinthians 10:10) to his flipflopping on plans (2 Corinthians 1:17). Leaders will always face criticism.
I’ve never met a blameless leader. We all make mistakes. However, the mistakes of a leader tend to get magnified and justly so. With great power comes great responsibility: “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness” (James 3:1). Leaders should be held to a high standard and must never expect unquestioned agreement from everyone they lead. The wise leader must labor to remain accountable and consider criticism prayerfully.
However, what should a leader do when he or she is unjustly criticized? How should the leader respond when motives are attributed that he or she can’t find within? What’s the proper recourse for responding to misinterpretation and public slander? Where do we find comfort as we mull accusations around in our heads that don’t seem to have any basis in fact? Here are a few biblical principles I’ve found helpful.
First, open yourself to others. Do you have trusted friends that will ask you hard questions about the situation and not just take your version for granted? Obviously, here you must guard against seeking self-vindication. It’s always tempting to confide exclusively in people we think will affirm us in our desire to be right. Leaders must seek others not for pardon but for precision. We must choose honest and bold friends.
Second, fight for humility. The gut reaction when unjustly criticized is to fight back. Our reputation has taken a hit, and we want to set the record straight. Fight this instinct. It derives from sinful pride. Learn from Christ, the only completely blameless man, who “opened not his mouth” before his accusers and those who would ultimately crucify him (Isaiah 53:7). Emotional responses to public criticism are seldom holy. Stay off social media. Resist the urge to post passive aggressive defenses of yourself.
Third, fight to keep loving. Learn from Moses. As soon as we read about Miriam and Aaron’s betrayal, we read this, “Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth” (Numbers 12:3). When God’s judgment came upon Miriam, Moses prayed on her behalf, “O God, please heal her—please” (Numbers 12:13). Not only does Moses resist the urge to repay Miriam, but he also prays for her healing. He keeps loving the person who has wronged him. The ultimate example, of course, is Christ, who died for those who rejected him. We must labor to see past our own hurt to the pain of those criticizing us. We must determine to keep blessing, even if that blessing is limited to private prayers. Whether we agree with them or not, the person making the criticism is more than likely hurting. Labor to make their pain more important to you than your own.
Finally, trust the Lord. Paul writes, “But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God” (1 Corinthians 4:2-5). The highest court is not the court of human opinion. God alone has perfect knowledge of the heart’s motivations. He alone will reveal hidden things when he returns to judge and acquit. We must fight to take great comfort in this truth.
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