[Biblemat] S) DEALING WITH CRITICS LIKE PAUL

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  Here is an article from my
files.  Use to the glory of God.

DEALING WITH CRITICS LIKE PAUL

HAS ANYONE EVER SAID OF YOU:  "He said this..." or "He did that..."?  Have 
you been the brunt of unwarranted or even
false rumor or criticism?  It happens.  How do you react when
the moment arrives to challenge the ones who hurt you?  How do you glorify 
God when you defend yourself?  The hum-
ble apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Corinth, "Follow
my example, as I follow the example of Christ" (1 Cor. 11:1).
What did he do that we should do?  Let's look back in time to
Acts 24 and observe him in the heat of the moment.

     After Paul averted a clandestine Jewish plot to take his
life in Jerusalem, a detachment of almost 500 Roman soldiers
delivered him to the coastal city of Caesarea to appear before
Governor Felix to answer baseless charges of desecrating
the temple and inciting others to violate Jewish laws and cus-
toms (Acts 23:12-35).  Kept in Roman custody for nearly a
week, Paul's hearing finally arrived (Acts 24).

     The stark contrast of the images must have been obvious
to everyone.  The well-educated, but simple tentmaker from
Tarsus was brought before the governor, escorted by Roman
soldiers and surely tainted with the foul smell of a Roman 
prison cell.  His adversaries -- Ananias, the high priest, and
others from Jerusalem, most assuredly dressed in ceremonial
attire to emphasize their postions -- waited for him, flanked
by Tertullus, the high-powered lawyer who was there to repre-
sent them.

     The man who opposed Paul out-manned him in number,
experience and influence, and Paul, from all appearances,
suffered a considerable disadvantage.  Powerful, astute peo-
ple accused Paul of false, but nonetheless serious, charges
that jeopardized his liberty and even his life.  Yet, he faced
his critics under daunting circumstances with humility and
grace (Acts 24:10-21).  Here we learn how he handled his 
pressure-packed chance to face his accusers and address the accusations.

PAUL KEPT HIS COMPOSURE: -- Significantly, Paul kept his
cool.  Read his defense.  He praised the governor, testified
about his personal conduct, mentioned the inability of his
accusers to prove what they said, noted the absence of those
who instigated the allegations, admitted his allegiance to 
Christ and confessed his hope for resurrection.  There were
no emotional outbursts; no personal attacks; no insults; no 
invective.  There was no vitriol, rancor or innuendo.  Paul did
not vent his spleen or fly off the handle.  He stay poised.  He
did not allow his behavior to dishonor God or permit his con-
duct to nullify his words.  He exercised self-control.

     Whether he was tempted to strike back with anger, rage
and malice, he did not do it.  He did not speak of other evils
his accusers had committed or use slander to discredit them
(Eph. 4:31; Col. 3:8).  He treated them as he wished himself to
be treated (Matt. 7:12).  He used kindness and gentleness in
the face of opposition (2 Tim. 2:24,25).

     Not a week before, Jesus had appeared to him in the night
and told him, "Take courage!  As you have testified about Me
in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome" (Acts 23:11).
Paul knew who was in charge of his journey.  It wasn't Ananias or Tertullus, 
or even Felix.  It was the Lord.  We must
remember that, too.

PAUL STUCK TO TRUTH: -- Paul defended himself based tot-
ally and completely on truth -- truth of the facts that had occ-
urred and truth of the gospel of Christ.  He spoke to the mer-
its of the allegations because, he recognized, that is what the
charges required, and nothing more.  Defense against an acc-
usation doesn't require destruction of the accuser.  When 
Paul stuck to the facts, he avoided that temptation.

     Additionally, Paul did not try to distance himself from 
Christ to save himself from his adversaries.  He unashamedly
seized the opportunity to speak about the resurrection.  And
in it all, he spoke not with arrogance, but with conviction and
humility (Acts 20:19; Phil. 2:3; Ti. 3:2).  Truth does not need
arrogance to be powerful (Rom. 1:16).

CLOSING ARGUMENTS: -- Unlike Paul before Felix, our critics
may be family members, co-workers, fellow Christians or others, but no matter 
the time, place or circumstance, when we deal with criticism and those who 
voice it, our behavior
and response to it reflects on God (Matt. 5:16).  In every situa-
tion, and especially before critics, discipline and self-control
are "must-have" qualities (Acts 24:25; Gal. 5;23; 2 Pet. 1:6).
Likewise, there is no substitute for truthful speech, whether
it is about our activities or about our faith (2 Cor. 4:2; 6:7).
Truth, spoken in love, without deception or misdirection, may
not always satisfy an adversary, but it will never disappoint
God.  (Eph. 4:15).   ------ David Lanphear in Biblical Insights,
Vol. 7, No. 4, April 2007.   </HTML>
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