The mission was daunting. God called me to pastor the church my grandfather founded. In the 1990s, they called it the “Lakewood of Galveston.” But in 2011, it was far from its heyday. After Hurricane Ike and a church-split, the fellowship was on life-support. When I arrived, the honeymoon ended quickly, and many were critical of my leadership decisions. They remarked I was too young and inexperienced. Pastoring them felt like herding cats. God called me, but this was crazy hard. And on top of this, even their judgments were minimal to the critical voice I was facing within. The enemy said you made a mistake. This church is dead. You’re not going to make it.
We all encounter criticism meant to derail us from God’s promises. How do we overcome these thoughts? It is crucial not to compromise, but cast out that critical spirit. One of my favorite passages dealing with the critical spirit is Mark 5:21-43. Jesus is accosted by a religious ruler, Jairus, to heal his daughter from sickness. On the way, a woman is healed, and Jairus witnesses this miracle. And yet in the midst of this mighty move of God, his own situation goes from improbable to impossible. He receives the words, “Don’t trouble Jesus, she is dead.”
A common tactic of Satan is to increase pressure when we make an initial decision to believe. We said yes to God’s promise. Jesus is with you in the journey, and yet the situation goes from bad to worse. The devil is a bully. Why does Nebuchadnezzar increase the fire seven times hotter for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? The initial flame would still do the job. Satan intensifies intimidation to move you from faith to fear.
The first step in crushing the critical mindset is to believe. Jesus encourages Jairus, “Don’t be afraid, only believe.” It is paramount in the season of intimidation, to meditate on the words of Jesus. This is not a time for Netflix and chill or to veg out on the latest video game. In our trials, we should not pacify problems with addictions or ill-advised relationships, but press into His presence through fasting and prayer.
Secondly, we must renew the vision. Jesus says she is not dead but sleeping. And for Jesus to raise the dead promises in our life we must see the issue through His eyes. I have a tendency to throw in the towel when the situation goes from bleak to beyond reach. But, remember that what is impossible with men is possible with God. A renewed vision is key to resurrection power. In the midst of my struggle as a pastor, the vision began to blur. The promises of God went from destiny to distant to death.
In my sixth year, I sought Him, and in these moments of persistent prayer, God birthed His vision in me. The desire to just “grow a church” transformed to reaching community and changing a culture. My favorite church became Wal-Mart. And when we went outside of our building to touch a hurting world, revival sparked. My grandfather commonly remarks that he is witnessing all of the things God revealed to him in the 1980s. And the simple vision to start it all was “Be Like Jesus.”
Finally, even with Jesus in the room, the critics must leave for Him to raise the dead. When Jesus said that the girl was not dead but sleeping, the funeral attendees ridiculed Him. Really?! You made fun of the Creator of the universe? I don’t get that, but a critical mentality can make us illogical. Notice, Jesus doesn’t argue or convince them. No need for compromise, He cast them out. And as a believer, we need to kill that critical voice inside.
When we learn to cast down every thought against God, it transforms our reasoning to make the impossible seem like the most likely of outcomes. How could it not happen, we say, the Lord is on our side. This is the mindset of overcoming faith and resurrection power. Let God renew your heart today and crush the critical spirit keeping you from His power and promises.
