Sermon Date: 2009/6/7

DATE: 2009/6/7
SCRIPTURE READING: Ephesians 4:11-16
SERMON: Speaking the Truth in Love
講道題目: 惟用愛心說誠實話

Many people claim that there is no such thing as Christian criticism. All would agree that criticism which is destructive of other person is completely inconsistent with the way of loving Christians. However Jesus himself was a critic of others. There is no way for you and me to live this life without criticizing others, but woe to us if we are not careful and loving in making our criticism to others.
(a) All criticism which is Christian must be made in the context of love for the person criticized. Paul uses the word “”edification.” (verse 12) That means “building up” other persons. Jesus never criticized any person except to lift and improve the other’s life.
(b) All Christian criticism is built on complete honesty and justice. You can never know all of the facts about another person. You have to be honest enough to get as many of the facts as you can if you truly desire to make any criticism Christian.
(c) Christian criticism always leaves the door open for the criticized to improve. No criticism that you and I ever make can be final. Only God can make final judgments. If your criticism is really to be constructive and helpful to other persons then it ought to challenge, to inspire those persons to newer and greater heights. Other persons will live up or down to the expectations we have of them.
(d) Christian criticism must always be in a spirit of humility. No matter what you may criticize in another person, you stand just as much in need of help as he does, even though perhaps in some other area of life. Christian criticism is never made from the level of superior to inferior. Christian criticism is always one sinner standing with another sinner on level ground beneath the cross.

It is difficult to criticize others in a Christian spirit in a constructive way, but how much more difficult it is to receive criticism in a Christian manner.
(a) Evaluate the criticism to see if there is anything valid in it at all, if there is any truth, profit from it. Use it as an experience of growth.
(b) Take your criticism, realizing that you are not on this earth to please men. It does not really matter whether you ever please another person, be he a critic or not. Paul said, “Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (Gal. 1:10)
(c) As criticism comes at you realize that by taking it you may be able to help those who criticize you. There are persons who need to get rid of the hostility which is in them. God’s spirit cannot work in the life of a man who is on the defensive. So if you can become like a blotter and absorb the critic’s hostility this may be opening the door for God to work in his life.
(d) As criticism is shot your way be certain you keep a sense of humor. Humor always cushions the shock of criticism. As Jesus faced his critics, the scribes and Pharisees, he tinged his replies with humor. In reality humor is the ability to get off and objectively look at self and laugh about it.
(e) When you face the criticism which comes to you in this society, don’t be surprised. Jesus has promised that you are going to be criticized. Take it in humility, but don’t take it with humiliation. Don’t let it crush you. Don’t let it agitate you. Stop to understand that Jesus has promised that all who live according to Christian convictions will be criticized. He even says that you will be happy or blessed when you are “persecuted for righteousness’ sake.”
(f) Even if you can follow all of these principles in facing criticism, there is one more important principle: pray for those who criticize you. (Matt. 5:44) Never forget that two wrongs do not make a right, two hates do not make a love, but sometimes when hate is followed by your love the result can be two loves.
Synopsis
Is there such thing as Christian criticism? Yes, if we speak the truth in love.
How do we give criticism in a Christian way?
(a) All criticism which is Christian must be made in the context of love for the person criticized.
(b) All Christian criticism is built on complete honesty and justice.
(c) Christian criticism always leaves the door open for the criticized to improve.
(d) Christian criticism must always be in a spirit of humility.
How do we receive criticism in a Christian way?
(a) Evaluate the criticism to see if there is anything valid in it.
(b) Take your criticism, realizing that you are not on this earth to please men.
(c) Realize that by taking it you may be able to help those who criticize you.
(d) Be certain you keep a sense of humor.
(e) Jesus has promised that you are going to be criticized.
(f) Pray for those who criticize you.

讲道大纲
究竟有没有基督徒的批评这回事呢？是有的！如果我们能够用爱心说诚实话。
如何以基督徒的爱心作出批评：
甲． 一定要在爱的考虑范围中作出行动。
乙． 要建立在诚实和公正的基础上。
丙． 让被批评的人有改善的门径。
丁． 要用谦卑的心互相提点。
如何以基督徒的爱心接受批评：
甲． 评估那批评是否属实。
乙． 接受批评因为你不是要讨人欢喜。
丙． 接受批评因为你或者可以帮助这个批评你的人。
丁． 最紧要保持幽默感。
戊． 耶稣保证你一定会被人批评的。
己． 为批评你的人祷告。
Pastoral Prayer:
Almighty and ever-living God, on this Trinity Sunday we praise you for the strong consolation that we find in your love. We rejoice in the thought of your aggressive grace, ever seeking us, ever giving us blessings if we open our hearts to receive them. We gather together to praise your name in this time of holy worship, to honor you as our living God and the God of the entire universe. We praise you in the name of our Savior who is the Lord of Lords and King of kings. We praise you in the name of the Holy Spirit dwelling in our hearts as comforter, strengthener, and friend and guiding us in the way of life.
We thank you fro the privilege of being called to be your colleagues in strengthening and advancing the holy cause of the kingdom of Christ in our time. Give us guidance and direction. Give us spiritual strength that we may see what is to be done and have the power to do it. Above all give us that deathless spirit of love which was in Jesus Christ and grant that as we love you and love our Savior we may learn to love one another and make this a world after the pattern of your holy will.
We ask your special blessing upon those of our fellowship who are sick. We thank you for the privilege of turning to you for healing and help, and now we ask that your blessings may come into the lives of those who have distress, who have physical illness, who have depression of spirit or problems of mind. Be a healer and helper to all, and through the very hours of trouble you bring the shining light of an eternal hope.
We pray for parishioners who are seeking for jobs or are in between jobs. May the blessing and promise of Jehovah Jireh be assured in their steadfast faith. May they know that your faithfulness will never fail them and that you promise them you the Lord of grace will provide. We pray for Sister Hao Shu Ge, as she had taken her nursing graduation test last Thursday. We look forward to her passing the exam and commencing her professional career soon.
We pray for China as we remember it was the 20th anniversary of the June 4 movement last Thursday. May the passion and warm blood of the patriotic students continue to prevail in China. May the spirit of liberty and democracy continue to grow in China despite the crack down of the up rising 20 years ago.
We pray for world liberation from tyranny and dictatorship. Yesterday we celebrated the liberation of Europe from the Nazi occupation through the invasion of Normandy by the Allies into France. We remember the courageous soldiers who gave their lives for the liberation. May the world continue to maintain and enjoy the peace they established through the sacrifice they made.
We would remember the faith that led our fathers to settle this country, establish its laws, fight its battles, share its goods, and declare its faith. Whatever was true in their lives, whatever was honorable, whatever was just, whatever was pure, whatever was lovely, whatever was gracious, whatever worthy of praise, let us think on these things and be thankful.
In Christ name we pray. Amen.