Nobody likes to be criticized. Everybody appreciates a compliment. These are the two most non-controversial statements ever written on this blog. But they are true.
Pastors get their fair share of both.
One thing that I am learning as a pastor is that the good friends actually bring both.
There will always be people to criticize you when you preach the Bible, deal with sin and frankly, are a sinner yourself. They will make mistakes and get mad at you. You will make mistakes and they will get mad at you. This is life in a fallen world.
At the same time there are a lot of people who are just kind. They give compliments, affirmation and always say nice things. You rarely hear them speak critically.
At first glance (and with all honesty) we might prefer that our churches be filled with the later and devoid of the former. It seems like this would be a much nicer and more tolerable climate.
But would this be a good gospel climate?
In my short pastoral life I have found that the best gospel friends are those who bring the pins as well as the perfume. In other words, the people that help me the most are people who understand and value gospel motivated encouragement. They know when to speak of the gospel with the pin that pops the pastoral pride. And they know when to speak of the gospel with the perfume that affirms ministry faithfulness.
The fact of the matter is that we have all been radically critiqued by the cross of Christ. There is nothing worse that could be said about me that has not been said by the cross. I am wicked, worthless, and evil. Apart from Christ, I am guilty, condemned and doomed.
Therefore, any critique of me just drives me back again to the cross. It ‘piles on’ the already sky-high trash heap I have constructed. It drives me to Christ and his righteousness, which is my resting place.
When I receive the perfume of praise I have to be reminded of the fact that if it is truly impactful for the kingdom of Christ then it has been bought by Christ and is done through the Spirit of God. My flesh is not doing anything glorious! It is God working in and through jars of clay for his eternal purpose.
So you see, whichever way we turn we are driven to Calvary. These good gospel friends who pack the pin and the perfume are gracious chaperones that drive us back again to the cross. I am truly thankful to have several of these types of folks in my life. God is good.