For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
1 Peter 2:21-24
Though Samuel Brengle was a powerful preacher and spent many years with the Salvation Army, that did not render him immune from criticism. In his book Spiritual Leadership, Oswald Sanders recounts Brengle’s response to a particularly harsh attack on his character and holiness: “I thank you for your criticism of my life. It set me to self-examination and heart-searching and prayer, which always leads me into a deeper sense of my utter dependence on Jesus for holiness of heart, and into sweeter fellowship with Him.”
No matter how committed we are to the Lord and His work and how diligently we work for Him, we should not expect that to mean that everyone will be happy with us. It is normal to experience criticism and judgment, often from people who do not fully understand our circumstances. Yet while those moments can be painful, they do not require us to respond with anger and harsh words. We should instead take the opportunity to look inward and see if there is truth to the words. If there is not, we can simply leave the matter with the Lord.
Jesus set the pattern for us when He refused to speak evil to those who were lying about Him in order to secure a conviction in a sham trial. Everything bad said about Him was false because He was perfect, but He did not respond in kind. “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” (Matthew 5:44).
