Criticism can kill you.
Maybe not physically. But it can keep you from experiencing the fullness of what God has for you. It keeps you from worship, hinders your faith, and turns your attention inward.
When you step into corporate worship this Sunday, be sure to check your criticism at the door.
Sometimes it’s hard for me to worship. Actually, when I’m leading, it’s easy. But when I’m in the congregation it’s an all out war between my criticism and my worship.
The War Between Criticism And Worship
They just don’t agree.
They simply cannot get along.
I’ve tried to reconcile the two, and nearly lost my life in the process.
Criticism grips me. I complain, compare, and comment my way through a worship service. It goes like this:
- I can sing better than that
- I’m a WAY better worship leader
- My anointing could beat up his anointing
- I can even drum better than that guy
- I’ve done a much better job training MY team
Before I realize it, the service is over and the only worship I’ve given is to myself. I lifted up myself at the expense of others. I only thought about me.
I fed my addiction.
Criticism centers on me…Worship centers on God
This is a particular struggle for worship leaders and musicians because we are performers – we want to be good at what we do. It makes us feel better to criticize.
Not all criticism is bad, but when it becomes a roadblock between me and the God I desperately need to worship, there’s a problem.
When criticism cripples my ability to hear what the Spirit is saying to church, there’s a problem.
When criticism captures my attention more than the glory of Almighty God, there’s a problem.
5 Tips For Killing Criticism
1. Prepare your heart before church – what would it look like if you prepared your heart before you went to church? Well, beyond killing criticism, you’d go into church ready to worship with God’s people. You’d be more inclined to contribute rather than consume, be less distracted, and engage more deeply.
2. Preach the Gospel to yourself – we musicians will jump at any chance we get to show how awesome we are. Kill this tendency. Meditate on the Gospel. Stop being impressed with yourself by becoming more impressed with God. Trust me, when you become more familiar with your weakness and depravity, you’ll worship more because you know your weakness…and God’s glory.
3. Silence criticism instantly – right from song #1 (or even before song #1), start worshiping. Start lifting your voice and declaring the goodness of God. Don’t allow the voice of criticism to control you. Kill it right away. Slay that awful beast with the raised voice of your worship.
4. Go compliment someone – criticism takes too much root because we don’t encourage others – we don’t compliment the good things we see in them. Practically speaking, after a worship service go compliment the worship leader or a musician – anybody but yourself. It’s a simple way to kill criticism. Murder your pride. Develop a pattern of noticing the good in others and talking about it, not just thinking it.
5. Go to God after church – so often we pray and prepare before service, but ignore God the rest of the day. Another way to kill your criticism is to spend time with Jesus afterwards. Thank Him for His presence. Thank Him for the Word that was preached. Thank Him for the privilege of approaching His throne in worship. This will keep you humbled, thankful, and trusting.
Don’t let criticism keep you from worship. Kill it and press into His presence like never before.
Question: Do you agree that criticism can keep you from worship? Why or why not? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
For further reading: “Hearing With Faith On Sunday”
Sometimes when you begin to look for faults in another person’s music you’ll almost certainly begin to also look for faults in that fellows private life and that is one to to disrupt unity. And we all know what disunity can do in the church.
Interesting perspective, David. So important to maintain unity. Welcome to the comments!
You got me there man, totally, ouch ouch! Personal worship also helps to keep the C monster under control…most times at least 😉
Indeed, it does. I don’t think there’s a worship leader on earth who doesn’t struggle with this.
So, so, so, so good. I have been in this exact place before. Preparing your heart is key. If we are constantly filling ourselves with the awe and wonder of God during times when we aren’t in corporate worship we are far less likely to criticize when we are in corporate worship.
Well said, Ryan. How often do you have a personal worship time? Is that the same as your devotions or something different?
Hi David;
Thank you so much for all you share with us in these blogs. This one particularly hit home for me. This is something that I struggle with. I thank you for the teaching on this. I pray that I will have the wisdom to put this into practice.
Me too, Sandi. I definitely need to do this. Thanks!
I love it david! Great Post!
I’m too guilty of this myself…it is a out right war! I keep thinking ugh, i can do it better, or ooops they messed up …or whatever can grab my attention, other then Christ!…
So true!
Great post. Love the honesty. Something we all struggle with, but rarely talk about.
Seriously, one of the toughest, but best disciplines, is to shut your eyes and keep them shut. I love watching, but when you’re already distracted by all things audio-wise, the visuals can kill you. I know we all love looking at the beautiful Taylor/Martin/Gibson/McPherson (for those who have really arrived), the electric guitarists sweet setup, the deadly backdrop we helped create, or all the things that can be going wrong. But it’s not about that. I’m good at keeping my eyes closed for about 30 seconds before I open them again. I need some sun glasses that just black everything out.
Haha! Have you arrived at the McPherson level?
Always love your writing, Justin. Even your comments are great 🙂
Whoops,
I totally struggle with this. I am at a constant battle with myself.
This tips are great, practical, and true…
Great post.
Thanks man
No problem, John. Thanks for reading!
Really great post. #1 hit me right between the eyes. Because I’m always leading, I rarely get to just go and worship. But I feel like if I prepared myself beforehand, it would help get my mind focused on God and keep the attention off the other junk. Very practical post and well said, my friend. Thanks!
Picking apart other musicians is a common sport, it feeds our fragile egos.
What has helped me is to remember the golden rule and intercede for that leader and team, that God would bless them with way more anointing, and the fullness of God’s purposes would be accomplished …
Great tip. When you find it hard to pray for other leaders – that’s when you need to do it most!
I would say that this article is DEAD on right!!!!
Thanks, Sean!
thanx ive gotta teach on it Sunday LOL
Awesome, where do you lead worship bro?