Articles
Ignore the Critics
Critics. Everyone has ‘em. Especially people who do the right thing. When David stepped up to Goliath, he was criticized from all directions. His brother Eliab accused him of selfish motives: “I know of your insolence and wickedness of heart; for you have come down in order to see the battle.” (1 Samuel 17:28b). Saul said he was too young, then implied the only way David had a chance was by wearing his armor. Goliath was insulted they sent someone so puny! “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” (v. 43).
We’re going to face Eliabs who accuse us of being Christians for selfish motives. “You’re just serving God as a coping mechanism for life’s pain.” We’ll face Sauls who tell us we’re young and naive, or that we should be doing Christianity differently. “Don’t be so radical, you need some worldliness too.” And we’ll meet our Goliaths who think we and the God we serve are a joke. “You really think we need salvation from hell? What an idiot!” David ignored the critics and listened to God instead. He slung that stone in faith, and the critics shut their mouths. Let’s ignore the critics, listen to God, and keep slinging those stones!
