By, Jennifer McGee
"He that saith he abideth in him ought
himself also so to walk, even as he walked."
1 John 2:6
When my ministry friend and I give each other a knowing glance and humorously say, “Quack, Quack!”, you know that we are reminding ourselves of an important truth. It may seem like an odd phrase, but these 2 words can be very helpful. So what in the world does it mean? It means when humans act like the sinners they are and spew out unnecessary criticisms, or when they gossip, or when they major on the minors, we just say, “Quack, Quack!” to remind us to treat it like “water off a duck’s back”. These words are not magical, but when the heaviness of criticism wants to weigh us down, they keep things light and funny.
People can be so cruel, can’t they? It seems like women are especially “good” at this. Why is this? Why do we go into every situation feeling like we are both judge, jury, and executioner? We give ourselves so much grace, but are the first to call someone else out for their faults. We truly feel that we can do things better than someone else, despite never having walked in their shoes. I’m speaking solely to true, born-again believers in Jesus right now - which includes myself.
This ought not to be so. This should not define us because Jesus has given us a greater calling. We are to be like HIM. Jesus was humble. Jesus was thankful. Jesus put others’ needs before his own. Jesus gave so much grace and forgiveness. It was the self-righteous “religious” ones who He called out the most.
Just today, what words have exited your mouth? Have they been gracious, kind, uplifting words? Or are you the type that sits back and criticizes those who are actually trying to serve Jesus?
Let me speak specifically of church right now - Some of the most dangerous and ineffective people in a church are those that sit back and criticize or gossip about those who are actually serving. Are you known as the one who sits back with arms folded, curling your lip or turning up your nose at those who are serving Jesus but it’s not “your way”? Surely everyone knows that if YOU were in charge, you would handle everything SO much better. The schedule would have been smoother, the food would have been better, there would have been zero mistakes. If only YOU had been the one running the show. [insert hand slapping forehead].
If this describes you, please humbly tell Jesus and others that you are so sorry for not being a good representative of Him. Serve the Lord with gladness and humility. Serve Him because you love Him. Not because you need recognition, not because you like controlling things, not because you need credit. Just serve Him. Don’t be the critical one that makes everyone else miserable.
Now speaking to those being criticized - Understand that humans will be humans. Humans are judgmental and sinful by nature. Satan wants nothing more than to take their cynical remarks and make you stop serving Jesus. He wants you to be useless for Jesus’ cause. Satan wants you to think that “to avoid criticism, you should say nothing, do nothing, and be nothing”. Eventually he will turn you into a pew warmer who “retires” from serving Jesus and turns into a cynic just like those who once offended you.
Let’s be honest - You have been both the criticizer and the criticized. Ask God for forgiveness. Ask God for His help to bridle your tongue and to shut down your negative thoughts. Give grace to others. Recognize that they are spiritually immature, but to put it plainly, the Holy Spirit doesn’t need your help to change them. Focus on the things about yourself that need to be changed. Talk to God, meditate on Scripture, and run your thoughts and words through the Philippians 4:8 filter.
Then as you continue serving Jesus, just smile and say those 2 helpful words, “Quack, Quack!”
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