Criticize by Creating
Permission to speak frankly?
One of the things that drives me crazy is people who criticize by criticizing :) Don't point out a problem unless you're willing to be part of the solution! You know what I'm saying? The Pharisees criticized by criticizing! There was nothing redemptive or constructive about it. Jesus was a truth-teller and grace-giver.
I'm just not into boycotting--a form of criticizing by criticizing. Paul could have boycotted the aeropagus because they were worshipping false gods. But he decided to compete for the truth. I'm not saying there isn't a time and place to boycott things, but I think the church is called to present better alternatives across the board.
I can't believe I've never read this before as much as I read, but I just came across a Michelangelo quote. But it's more than a quote. It was Michelangelo's modus operandi. He said, "Criticize by creating." I love that. Alot.
That gets so close to the heart of what I believe. I think God wants to redeem and sanctify our competitive streak just like he wants to redeem and sanctify every other part of us. We're called to compete for the truth! The church ought to be the most creative place on the planet.
Let's not just curse the darkness. Let's light a candle.
Let's not just criticize. Let's create.
One of the things that drives me crazy is people who criticize by criticizing :) Don't point out a problem unless you're willing to be part of the solution! You know what I'm saying? The Pharisees criticized by criticizing! There was nothing redemptive or constructive about it. Jesus was a truth-teller and grace-giver.
I'm just not into boycotting--a form of criticizing by criticizing. Paul could have boycotted the aeropagus because they were worshipping false gods. But he decided to compete for the truth. I'm not saying there isn't a time and place to boycott things, but I think the church is called to present better alternatives across the board.
I can't believe I've never read this before as much as I read, but I just came across a Michelangelo quote. But it's more than a quote. It was Michelangelo's modus operandi. He said, "Criticize by creating." I love that. Alot.
That gets so close to the heart of what I believe. I think God wants to redeem and sanctify our competitive streak just like he wants to redeem and sanctify every other part of us. We're called to compete for the truth! The church ought to be the most creative place on the planet.
Let's not just curse the darkness. Let's light a candle.
Let's not just criticize. Let's create.
10 Comments:
i like this a lot- but the key is the actual carrying out of this creative- we cannot as the church afford to be complacent on issues worthy of our examination-
*hasler
PM- This is great. Thanks for posting that. I love that quote- Criticize by creating.
Great Post!
Awesome quote!
And if you think about it, part of our DNA is to be creators! After all, we were made in God's image, and He loves to create! In fact, one of the first commands He gave to man was to create!
This is good stuff. I love that you read so much b/c I just read what you read, and than I don't have to actually read. Brilliant!
PM this is so awesome!! I love this post!!!! It's like Bill Johnson says, "don't point the finger, point the way." You're doing a good job at that. Heidi
Funny. Someone asked me today what prompted this post. Was someone complaining about something? The answer is no :) I just liked the quote--criticize by creating!
I am amazed at the way NCC is so non-critical. We've got an amazing church culture. Every pastor experiences criticism along the way and it is often helpful and often warranted :) I love it when someone challenges my thinking! Iron shapens iron! What I don't like is a "critical spirit."
Here is my litmus test for criticism. I got it from Erwin McManus. He said, "Don't let an arrow penetrate your heart unless it first passes through the filter of Scripture." If it goes through the filter then it needs to pierce our heart :) If not, then we need to deflect it and not let it deflate our spirit.
That was a long comment wasn't it :)
That was a great comment though. I really appreciate the quote by Erwin McManus.
Love it. Criticize by creating. Yes... I think that's so true... finding it in our own church. Don't like something... do something about it... pay for the upgrade...by a new one... which stirs up the question in my heart right now.... "what if we are the plan?"
Great post! Of course if I criticized I'd have to do a lot more work in writing my own post and then making sure it was better than yours, and then....
As far as I know that quote is not 100% proven to have been written Michelangelo, so maybe that's why you haven't read it. I thought the same thing when I read it in another site this week. But it's still ingenious.
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