Dealing With Pomergent Criticism

Brother Maynard mentioned, a few days ago, about lessons that can be learned from the Vineyard movement on dealing with criticism. Bro Maynard includes a link to the Vineyard's position papers which dealt with some of those attacks.

Of particular interest for critiques of the emerging church are Wimber's "Why I Respond To Criticism" and (to a lesser degree) the Vineyard's response to "Power Religion", because it includes a section refuting D.A. Carson (who has recently criticized the emerging church as unfairly and inaccurately as he criticized the Vineyard).

As someone who was a part of the Vineyard -- as a layperson and also an ordained pastor -- I was very much in the middle of some of the controversies that swirled around the Vineyard from time to time. Here's my two cent's worth on dealing with criticism, based on those experiences:

Dis-information is rampant, and is usually the cause of most peoples' negative reactions. We need to be able to answer these concerns with well-thought-out responses (I Peter 3:15), and not give in to either (a) criticizing them or their church(es) or (b) writing them off as people who "just don't get it".

A gentle answer turns away wrath (Proverbs 15:1). No matter how immaturely some people approach you, choose to walk the high road in how you speak.

Pick your battles. During my time in the Vineyard, I discovered that there are two kinds of questions that people will ask: one looks for "information" and the other looks for "ammunition". Depending on what it appears people are looking for, we may choose to engage them in dialogue or (as my dad says) "run screaming into the woods". The Holy Spirit will help us discern which option will be the most life-giving (Matthew 10:19-20 and James 1:15).

While keeping the avenues of dialogue open is the preferred approach, you'll never convince the willfully closed-minded. Stop trying. Let your good works and the fruit of the Spirit in your life plead your case for you (1 Peter 3:15-16, Matthew 7:16-20 & Galatians 5:22-23). Our goal is not to convince nay-sayers, it's to prevent the spread of dis-information and/or slander by speaking the truth. We may not win over the critics, but we can keep the record straight and set good examples for those observing the critiques and responses.