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I've been doing more study on the constant critic(s) that every church leader deals with. Its amazing how a steady group of 2-5 critics can really tax a leader's health and impact them way beyond their numbers. ie, more than 3 feels like 'legion' to a leader.
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All vocations face criticism of course. I wonder if church criticism is unique because a) church leaders tend to conflate personal identity and church health more than most and b) critics falsely think they know about leading a church because they attend a church.
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ie, Doctors face criticism. People come into a Doc with diagnosis from Internet etc. But I wonder if attending and serving in a church makes someone more confident that they know when they really don't know.
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I've often marveled, and been hurt by how strongly someone has an opinion about something they've had zero training in. Or they are oblivious to how broad a church is - they think everyone thinks the same.
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One reason they think this is because their phantom mob is usually like minded people. A handful of passionate people agreeing, so they say, 'everyone thinks' but actually it is less than 1% of the church.
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I have felt this especially keenly lately because I am learning more and more what it is like to be an HSP. I take things so personally and have to work on not. It comes in waves.
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But also because of COVID and Black Lives Matter. If your church has political diversity, you are likely hearing passionate critique from both sides. As a church leader, you're probably already on fumes. This last 6 months has taken a toll on leader's emotional health.
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And because our culture is generating so much anxiety, people are needing to dump it on someone. So in this season you might be running on fumes, but the criticism is coming sharper than usual. It's a double hit.
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I've been paying close attention to my own wellbeing, practicing radical self acceptance. I'd describe this season as, 'my leadership shock absorbers are low, I bottom out quicker than normal.'
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We have to be so kind to ourselves, leaders. And we have to avail ourselves of the love of our Good, Good, Father and work to balance the brutal with the ever present goodness of God that often comes in friendships.
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Soul health has always been important, but never as much as now, in my opinion. I have worked more on soul health practices to keep the wild swings more manageable. And it has also helped not to trust the wild swings and know that they too shall pass.
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But anyway, the nature of church criticism. It is its own beast and has to be named and managed. Peace of Christ to church leaders today.
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