Quite a while back, a friend asked me a question, how do you handle criticism?

I said, not very well.

And then when I got serious, I began to explain to him the very steps that I try to take.

You notice I said I try to take, in dealing with criticism and critics because they're not the same. Criticism is not the same as the critics.

The first thing you have to understand that whenever you take a stand for the truth, whenever you

do something, you will be criticized. It's just inevitable. The only people who don't get criticized

are the ones who do nothing, say nothing, accomplish nothing. But if you are doing anything

for the Lord at all, you will be

criticized. It goes with the territory. Secondly, as it classify your critics. Classify criticism.

Examine the source. Thirdly, I said, turn your critics into coaches. Ask your critic, well, how can I do this

better? Instead of just getting to say, tell them, help me. Help me out so I can do it better.

Because sometimes faithful critics can be of enormous help to you. But a habitual critic, on the other hand, is not of much help.

I was thinking of this, and I was thought of D.L. Moody, who had a woman who was really very critical

of him, every turn, she was critical of him. And one day she walked up to him and she said,

Mr. Moody, I don't like the way you do evangelism.

He said, I don't like it either. Tell me, how do you do it?

She said, I don't. He said, well, I prefer the way of my doing it than you're not doing it.

You see, most critics feel that they have superior knowledge, so give them a hearing.

Listen to what they have to say.

The fourth step is not to take criticism personally.

I know that's easier said than done, but it's important because some criticism should not be even tolerated.

Let me quote you.

...