We have been working together on bringing into focus the vision that God has for your life, and for our church. For Nehemiah, it was represented by a wall to be built around the city of Jerusalem. Hopefully, through our first month of exploration you have been able to start to understand the passion, the area of concern, the vision that God is specifically calling you to.
But as we move forward together with our individual and corporate visions, there are some landmines that lie ahead. Over the next couple weeks, we are going to explore some of them together. The first one is a difficult truism of life. In fact, if you have ever shared a passion, a vision, an area of concern with someone you have probably seen this truth come to bear.
The truism: Visions are easy to criticize. In fact, visions even attract criticism. They can be very difficult to defend against criticism. And often, that criticism will result in the death of your vision. There are a number of reasons why this is true. This reality that visions are easy to criticize. One of the reasons is that visions are often equated with change. Whenever you suggest or introduce change into people’s lives, that will often stir up negative emotions that will be reflected as criticism.
Another reason visions go hand and hand with criticism is that they often have gaps. Two weeks ago we talked about the “how” question. How will the vision get done. And there will always seem to be holes in the plans from the perspective of those outside your vision. Why? Because a divine vision will require divine intervention. So the people around you won’t have a clear enough picture of “how” you are going to fulfill the vision. The nature of vision is that it has gaps. Just think about this, if the vision didn’t have gaps, if there were no holes in the vision, somebody else would have already done it.
It is just a tough fact that visions are easy to criticize. They attract criticism, and they are often very difficult to defend against criticism. Now, this criticism or opposition to your vision can take on a number of different forms. Let’s look at some of the ones that Nehemiah faced.
Turn to Nehemiah chapter 3. We are going to look at a number of verses today, so you will want a copy of the book of Nehemiah opened in front of you.
Just to bring you up to speed, in Nehemiah chapter 1, Nehemiah gets a picture of the condition of Jerusalem, and cries out to God with the concern burning in his spirit to be a part of fixing it. In chapter 2, Nehemiah goes to King Artaxerxes and boldly asks for the opportunity to change the way things are in Jerusalem. Nehemiah heads to Jerusalem, views the condition of the city firsthand, and then calls on the people to rise up together and rebuild the wall.
Then you come to chapter 3. We aren’t very far into the job of rebuilding the wall, fulfilling Nehemiah’s God given vision, before the criticism and opposition kicks in (read verses 1 through 5). Did you catch that? Things are cruising along. People are taking care of their areas of responsibility, and then you come to the Tekoite nobles. (re-read verse 5).
One form of criticism or opposition that your vision might face is. . .
1. APATHY
Some people just don’t care about the vision. In verse 5 we see that there are nobles who just say, “Ain’t gonna do it. Not sweating and loosing sleep over this. Someone else can do it.”
This is often a great challenge I face with my vision. There are a lot of people out there that just don’t care that other people are lost and going to hell. I can share my passion with other pastors, and they will look at me like I’m crazy. Like, why worry about that. They will say to me, “You’ve got a good paying job. Keep the people happy. Quit stirring up the pot. Don’t get so emotional about lost people. Collect the check and move on.” Other pastors say these things.
Some people just won’t care about your vision. Another form of opposition you may face is. . .
2. ANGER
Chapter 3 continues to share more of the different families and groups of people that go about their work on the wall. Then you come to chapter 4 of Nehemiah, and we get introduced to some real characters in this story. Sanballat and Tobiah. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, and for lack of better terms to use from the pulpit. . .these two guys are real turkeys. And look at how they respond to Nehemiah’s vision. Chapter 4, verse 1 (read).
Now let me tell you a little bit about Sanballat. I like how Dan Southerland puts it, “If you have read Nehemiah recently, you will remember that Sanballat is Nehemiah’s greatest critic and number one enemy. Let me put it plainer than that. Sanballat is a leader from hell. I have not looked it up, but I am convinced that the Hebrew word for Sanballat means leader from hell.”
Well, that’s close. His name actually means, Sanballat is directly translated as, “Sin gave life to him.” What a name. “Sin gave life to him.” I bet that endeared him to his parents. But he was the governor of Samaria during this period of time, and he is sensing a little territorial infringement taking place. A little political threat welling up. Understand, he isn’t being expected to work on this wall, or partake of the vision. But just seeing someone else being motivated to do something. Seeing people rallying around Nehemiah’s vision infuriates him.
It happens in the church. People become angry by the visions that can be communicated in the church. Ask any church leader and they will tell you about the emails, the phone calls they receive accusing them of lying, manipulating people, playing psychological games.
I’ve just finished reading this book (show), “Rick Warren and the Purpose that Drives Him.” It is a look at the life of Rick Warren, and written to answer some of the attacks that he has faced. Some of the criticism. He’s been called a New Ager. A pantheist. People have said that he promotes false teachers. And most of these comments have come from inside the church. From other pastors. For some reason, when you have a vision, a passion, a concern, it draws out anger in certain people.
Usually, and it makes sense when you think about it, the anger comes from people who lack vision. I was picking up papers in the pews one Sunday, and found a note passed between two parishioners during a given sermon. The note asked from one to the other, “Have we made lost people God around here?” Could sense some anger in their response to the message. Your vision might face apathy, or it may even face anger. And it will probably face. . .
3. RIDICULE
It wasn’t enough that Sanballat “exploded in anger,” or as the New King James Version says it, “was furious and very indignant.” That he was mad. To top it off, look at what it said he did. He “mocked the Jews.” That word taken literally means to trouble, to rage against, to be indignant toward. We would call it making fun of, putting down, and being sarcastic.
As you move forward with your vision from God, you will probably face a Sanballat. Someone who will oppose whatever you propose. Someone who will hate whatever you like. Someone who will say stop every time you try to say go. Unfortunately, they will often be someone from your own home, your own family, or even your own church. I wouldn’t recommend you call them a leader from hell, but you may just want to murmur under your breath. . .”Sanballat.”
Apathy, anger, ridicule, and. . .
4. CRITICISM
Chapter 4, verse 2 (read through verse 3). Nice guys, hey? They are standing there shouting, “This isn’t going to work? You can’t pull this off?” These boys obviously weren’t raised in the church or they would have been shouting, “We’ve never done it this way before. You think you are rebuilding this city? Come on, some stupid little animal could climb up on that wall, and it will fall down? Give me a break? What are you thinking?”
There was a family driving home from church together. On the drive home they were critiquing the worship service. The dad said, “The sermon was too long.” The mom said, “The music was boring.” The teenager added, “The whole thing was long and boring.” Then the five year old chirped in, “I thought it was a pretty good show for a buck.” People will be critical, and people will criticize the vision.
One more. And I hope it doesn’t come to this, but unfortunately, it often does. The opposition to your vision might take on the form of . . .
5. A FIGHT
Verse 4 (read through verse 8). There is a fight brewing. But this is really interesting, because even in churches today, the fight takes on this form. Verse 10 (read through verse 11). Did you see their plan for the fight? Look at how another version gives us verse 11, “They will neither know nor see anything, till we come into their midst and kill them and cause the work to cease.” Taken very literally, they wanted to infiltrate their ranks. To get in their midst.
You see, often in the church, a vision won’t get destroyed because the school system won’t let us in schools. It won’t get destroyed because the Supreme Court won’t overturn Roe vs. Wade. It won’t get destroyed because legislatures allow same sex marriage. That is just what the church likes to focus on. We like to communicate and act like we are unsuccessful at fulfilling our vision because the world has made it too hard for us. But that usually isn’t how it works.
In fact, Jamie was participating in a choral festival at EKU, and almost every song this all-star kids choir sang talked about God. It’s usually not the outside forces that kill our vision. It usually works that our visions die because the apathy, the anger, the ridicule, the criticism, even the fights, well up within our own walls. Our visions are usually destroyed because we just can’t get on the same page together. So the enemy comes into our midst, and the work ceases.
Most people are prone to be critical. Prone to exhibit a critical spirit if you will. We talk a whole lot more about the music that is too loud, the carpet that is too dirty, and the pews that are too uncomfortable than we do the vision God has for us. Listen to this report from a Pastoral Search Committee to a local congregation:
“We do not have a happy report to give. We’ve had trouble finding a suitable candidate for this church, though we have one promising prospect. We do appreciate all the suggestions from the church members, and we’ve followed up each one with interviews or calling at least three references. The following is our confidential report on the present candidates.
“Noah: Former pastorate of 120 years with no converts. Prone to unrealistic building projects.
“Abraham: References report he offered to share his own wife with another man.
“Joseph: A big thinker but a braggart; believes in dream interpreting and has a prison record.
“Moses: A modest and meek man, but poor communicator, even stuttering at times. Sometimes blows his stack and acts rashly. Some say he left an earlier church over a murder charge. Also had an inter-racial marriage.
“David: The most promising leader of all until we discovered the affair he had with his neighbor’s wife. Also thought to have murdered her husband and used the power of his office to avoid the charges.
“Solomon: Great preacher but our parsonage would never hold all those wives.
“Elijah: Prone to depression -- collapses under pressure.
“Hosea: A tender and loving pastor, but our people could never handle his wife’s occupation.
“Jeremiah: Emotionally unstable, alarmist, negative, always lamenting things, and reported to have taken a long trip to bury his underwear on the bank of a foreign river.
“Isaiah: On the fringe? Claims to have seen angels in church. Has trouble with his language.
“Jonah: Refused God’s call into ministry until he was forced to obey by getting swallowed up by a great fish. He told us the fish later spit him out on the shore near here. We hung up.
“Amos: Too backward and unpolished. With some seminary training he might have promise, but has a hang-up against wealthy people -- might fit in better with a poor congregation.
“John: Says he is a Baptist, but definitely doesn’t dress like one. Has slept in the outdoors for months on end, has weird diet, and provokes denominational leaders.
“Peter: Too blue collar. Has a bad temper -- even has been known to curse. Had a big run-in with Paul in Antioch. Aggressive, but a loose cannon.
“Paul: Powerful CEO-type leader and fascinating preacher. However, short on tact, unforgiving with young ministers, harsh and has been known to preach all night.
“Timothy: Too young.
“Jesus: Has had popular times, but once when his church grew to 5,000 he managed to offend them all and his church dwindled down to 12 people. Seldom stays in one place very long. And of course, he’s single.
“There is one strong possibility, however. His references are solid. A steady plodder. Conservative. Good connections. Knows how to handle money. We’re inviting him to preach this Sunday. He just might fit in. His name is Judas.”
Many good, Godly visions within the church die due to our bent towards criticism and opposition. So how do we deal with all of this? How do we keep the Sanballats and Tobiahs of our lives from destroying our vision? From de-motivating us? From leading us to the point of just giving up on the whole thing as a pipe dream?
Two simple, and yet very difficult truths from Nehemiah. First. . .
A. DON’T TAKE IT PERSONALLY
And that is very easy to say, and very hard to do. Despite what some may think, I am a people pleaser by nature. I want people to like me. I want people to want to work with me. I want people to share in the vision that God has given me. So when people speak out against that vision, or don’t catch on to it, or don’t seem interested in it. . .it is very difficult for me not to take it as a personal attack.
But I read a truth some time back, and I am trying to learn to apply it to my life. It simply says this, “You will be criticized regardless of what you do – so you might as well be criticized for doing what God wants you to do.” It’s so true. No matter what path you take in your life, what choices you make, what plans you attempt to fulfill. You will be criticized by others. So why not be criticized for pursing that vision that God has burned in your heart?
Look at what Paul writes in Galatians 1:10, “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.”
We have to understand that we can’t please everyone. Even the ones you can please some of the time, you won’t please all of the time. But we can please God. As you encounter the Sanballats and Tobiahs of your life, don’t take it personally.
And secondly. . .have an undying resolve to. . .
B. STAY ON TRACK
How do you do that? By keeping on in a few different ways. Look at what Nehemiah did. Same thing he did way back at the beginning of the book. He kept praying. Did you see it in verse 4 (read). Verse 9 (read). He had started with prayer back in the palace in Shushan. . .and he continued to pray as the opposition increased.
Listen to Southerland again, “Prayer is vital in the vision process. Prayer fuels your vision, ignites your vision, and preserves your vision. The reality is that criticism and opposition will drive you somewhere. Let it drive you closer to God and you will become better; let it drive you away from God and you will become bitter. The choice is up to you! And the choice often begins with prayer.”
Keep on praying. Nehemiah moved straight from the criticism into prayer. Prayer was his initial response to the critics. That’s why his prayers are kind of aggressive. Read them this week. These aren’t prayers of blessing on his enemies. That’s because it was his initial response. He didn’t take time to cool down or collect his thoughts. He just said, “God, this is what I’m hearing. It’s your vision. So the how isn’t my problem, it’s yours. Take care of them.”
Keep on praying, and keep on working. When we get down in life, it is easy to slow down. And when we slow down, the vision can shut down. So when you are facing the challenge of criticism, keep praying and keep working. Look again at verse 6 (read). In the face of Sanballat’s anger and ridicule, they kept on working. They kept a mind, a heart to work.
Keep on praying, keep on working, and keep on encouraging. Verse 14 (read). Nehemiah encouraged the people. Literally, that word means to put courage in someone. To “in”courage them. Keep on encouraging yourself, and keep on encouraging those who have bought into the vision.
Jerry Falwell says, “You can define the greatness of a man by what it takes to discourage him.” Keep on encouraging.
And finally, keep on watching. If you want to stay on track, you have to stay alert. Look at what happens after Nehemiah’s encouragement. Verse 15 (read). Sounds like they beat down the discouragement, right? Nothing more to worry about, right? Verse 16 (read through verse 22). Keep on watching. Critics rarely leave the area. They are often just watching for the next opportunity to pounce. The next chance to say, “See, I told you so.”
The challenge of criticism can kill your vision. Ben wants to see his daughter come to faith in Christ and return to a lifestyle in keeping with the word of God. But his ‘friends’ are constantly saying, “Leave her alone. Kids are different today. That worked for you. She’s got to make her own way in this world.” It makes sense to Ben. And his vision dies.
Jim and Linda are buried under a pile of debt because of a series of poor decisions early in their marriage. As a result of something they read, they catch a vision for debt-free living. Then they make the mistake of sharing their vision with Linda’s parents. “That’s unrealistic,” they say. “Everybody has debt. Besides, by the time you get out of debt, you will be so old you won’t be able to enjoy it.” Jim and Linda walk away discouraged. A day or two later, they abandon their plan.
As a Christian single, Chris was always appalled by the adultery in his office. It appeared nobody was faithful to his wife. And it didn’t seem to bother any of them. When Christ got married, he vowed to be different. He envisioned a lifetime of faithfulness to Jenny. But the guys in the office had a different agenda for Chris. They were determined to bring him down to their level. Eventually Chris believed the lie. Nobody is faithful anymore. At a conference in Detroit, Chris gave up on his vision. What he didn’t realize was the in doing so, he extinguished Jenny’s vision as well.
Pete, a college freshman, shows up for classes with a vision for making a difference for Christ on his campus. He envisions starting a Bible study for the guys on his hall. Three weeks into the fall semester he is sitting alone in his dorm wondering why everyone is avoiding him. His roommate sticks his head in the door and said, “Give it up, Pete. I know you mean well. But nobody’s interested in all that Jesus stuff right now. Come on, let’s go grab a beer.” Pete grabs his jacket and follows his roommate into the night. And the vision is snuffed out.
Keep on praying. Keep on working. Keep on encouraging. Keep on watching. As you focus in on the vision, you will have to face the challenge of criticism. Don’t take it personally, stay on track, and keep on doing those things that God would have you to do. Be prepared for the criticism and opposition you will face, and be able to live out those words from James chapter one (read verse 2 through 4).
(Major inspiration for this sermon was derived from Andy Stanley’s "Visoneering", and Dan Southerland’s "Transitions".)
