On Criticizing The Church

In an email exchange a friend remarked that believers need to stop criticizing the church and repent. At first it made sense, but as I thought about it, I realized that the problem it was trying to solve, which is primarily unity within the church, went far beyond the offered remedy.

The church is called to unity. This is a clear scriptural mandate (Rom 5:5, Eph 4:13, Col 3:14). This state of unity has yet to have been achieved. Disunity has been a part of church life since its inception. Nonetheless, we work toward the ideal with all of our hearts. In this sense, the remark in question is correct in implying we need to do something differently.

Where the statement leaves the recipient wondering is exactly what to do differently.

Criticism is correct and biblical. The whole book of James is essentially an indictment against pride and base desires. Does the book of James recommend that we not criticize? No, criticism is part of correction and without proper discernment there is no vision of truth.

Additionally, the statement does not address the immense difficulty in trying to achieve unity. It is not fairly treated with a one liner that tells others what to do, implies that the advice giver is not part of the problem and ignores corrective biblical mandates. Our best individual response would be more reflective of Daniel, where there is a personal taking on of the burden in prayer, recognizing a connection to the misguided acts of brothers and sisters, asking for forgiveness and then acting on the guidance received. Group responses are an amalgam of individual responses and the individual response must be driven by the Holy Spirit.

Now this is a one liner I can take to heart.