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Criticism versus Mistrust ...

Thursday, Nov 14, 2013. When a group of people needs to work together to reach one or several goals, there will be some discussion about these goals and also about the way to reach them. We need to be critical, we need to sincerely search good solutions. This also means: we need criticism. But there is a point when criticism turns into mistrust.

Have we reached the point of mistrust already? …

When you are in a friendship, usually it is not a problem to say something critical. You say: I do not like this. Or: I have a problem with this or that, can we do it differently? And your friend will take care of the problem. But when you do not know how friendly someone else really is, then things get more difficult.

The problem comes on all levels of our life. It can come in your work environment. And it can come in your faith community. Where ever humans work together, and where they have different expectations, misunderstanding and frustrations can lead to mistrust.

I believe that we cannot completely avoid the problems. When you act as a responsible part of any community, there will also be difficulties which can lead to sincere disturbances of your human trust and human relationship! I have seen it everywhere, in hospitals as well as in political parties, in Universities as well as in state institutions.

The only solution I know is to know the Lord. The only key I know to deal with the challenges is to be in a deep relationship with God, to read his word, to pray, to fight for a balance which comes from above. HE is trustworthy. The bible tells us to trust God, not to trust men. It tells us that God will help us, but we need to be trustworthy and full of trust, we need to stay honest and calm, we need to be influenced and filled by his peace!

Biblical templates …

The bible gives us various templates, how to deal with the daily conflicts which arise when different humans come together. Paul teaches Timothy, for example, in times with a lot of discussions about right doctrine. Let us listen:

6 If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters,1 you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. 7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 9 This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. 10 That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.

(1. Tim 4: 6-10)

We need to go to the source of our salvation. We need to go to the source of what is good and sustainable, which is everlasting. Here, we get the strength and the distance and the wisdom, which we need to deal with the daily questions, challenges and problems. We put our hope in the living God! (Roland Potthast) ... more texts