The Help of Jerks

A phrase I heard years ago (2009 in fact) that I’ve sought to pursue is: “A mature Christian is easily edified.” I am hard to encourage, to move my needle from negative to positive. But I do try to find something to learn and be thankful for, whether in conversation or from a sermon or book. All are yours.

This also works for criticism. Just because someone has a complaint against you doesn’t make it true. False accusations are bad all around. It’s also true that often someone with a complaint has a bad attitude, a mean spirit, and either doesn’t know, or refuses to go through, the proper channel to communicate. He might not even know exactly how to describe the problem. But even if the critic is an enemy, it’s still possible to learn something. All are yours.

Jonathan Edwards preached a sermon in 1733 about self-examination, based on Psalm 139:23-24 (”Christian Cautions; or, The Necessity of Self-Examination”). We want God to search us, and sometimes He uses confrontation agents to bring us an answer.

It’s not just from those who care about us, but from those who care about making their point. Edwards said:

“For though what is said, be said in a reproachful, reviling manner, yet there may be too much truth in it. When men revile others even from an ill spirit towards them, yet they are likely to fix upon real faults. They are likely to fall upon us where we are weakest and most defective and where we have given them most occasion.”

It’s the old, “kernel of truth” observation. Maybe there is no kernel, or maybe a little more heat will make the kernel pop. It’s worth considering so that you can be more holy. Are you easily edified?