How To Deal With Haters Series

I’ve shared before that my grandfather served in World War II and as a result, I’ve always been drawn to stories and movies and books about WWII. My grandpa died while I was in college and one of my biggest regrets is that I never got to hear very many firsthand accounts of the war. In fact, like many soldiers from The Greatest Generation, he didn’t share very much with ANYONE about his experiences.

I’m probably not the only one in the room this morning that’s enamored with the military history of WWII. One of the reasons that the interest in WWII is high is because there is still a remnant of the population that was alive during that period, not to mention the profound impact that this war had on world history. But it’s also a popular genre of history because it produced some notable historical characters. And one of the most prominent is certainly Sir Winston Leonard Spenser Churchill.

Churchill and the Allied Forces were going up against a very evil-minded group called the Axis Powers, and he had to make decisions based not only on highly classified intel, but also based on his own intuition. Looking backwards, Churchill led boldly and decisively, but at the time, his decisions were highly controversial meaning he had to navigate an incredible amount of criticism from many of his own countrymen.

And let me just say this, when you are leading on any level you will be criticized. It doesn’t matter if you are leading your family, a company, a Bible study, or even a Girl Scout troop, your leadership will most likely be criticized. Someone wise once said, “If you want everyone to like you, go sell ice cream!” And I love what Churchill once said about leadership and the criticism he received. “You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something sometime in your life.”

And if you’re a follower of Jesus, then what should mark your life is a willingness to lovingly, but firmly, stand on Biblical convictions. But be warned – criticism will always find you. And because, over time, this has always proven to be true, then we need wisdom in how to respond in a way that glorifies God. Turn in your Bibles with me to 2 Corinthians 10 where today we are going to learn how to glorify God in the face of criticism. As you are turning there, I want you read to you one commentator’s thoughts regarding the importance of chapter 10:

"It could be argued, and is quite possible, that chapter 10 is the high point of the book and the main thing Paul seeks to say to the Corinthians in this letter. [Perhaps the whole point of his letter is this]: Spiritual power flows through surprising channels. Paul will speak in this chapter of tremendous spiritual strength using military imagery, and yet he goes on to acknowledge how outwardly unimpressive and even ridiculous he is made out to be by his opposers. But both are generally true in the kingdom of God. God’s divine strength interlocks with human weakness."

In other words, not only is learning how to deal with criticism in a Christ-honoring way a really practical skill, this chapter is significant in the entire study of 2 Corinthians. So let’s start out this morning by looking at the first 6 verses together as we make our way through this passage.

2 Corinthians 10:1-6

I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!— 2 I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

Let me remind you of what’s been going on in the background of Paul’s letter. He had some fierce opponents to his ministry. He was being opposed by a group known as the Super Apostles, who were actually false teachers. The reason they were called Super Apostles is because even though their teaching was false, they were outwardly impressive. They had swag! And Paul was just the opposite. Theologians have found some historical descriptions about Paul that are dated back to the second century in a historical account called The Acts of Paul: “A man of middling size, and his hair was scanty, and his legs were a little crooked, and his knees were far apart; he had large eyes, and his eyebrows met, and his nose was somewhat long.” Here’s a paraphrase: A bald-headed, bowlegged short guy with a huge nose, and a unibrow that looked like a dead caterpillar on his forehead.