I have had something on my mind lately and I just can’t shake it. Why is it that some “leaders” in churches are unreceptive to critique and/or confrontation?

I’ve noticed that I have, at times, been labeled as “marching to the beat of my own drummer.” It’s really odd to me. Throughout the years, I have tried to be completely up front and honest about how I feel about various issues within the church and have offered my opinion of things often. If I have an issue with something that someone has said or done, I go straight to them (an amazing idea, I think…not that I came up with it…ehmmm, Matthew 18).

The problem is, oftentimes “leaders” aren’t receptive to hearing other ideas or being confronted about things that they have done. In one of my previous churches, I was told I had an “authority issue,” despite following everything they asked me to do. In another, point blank…I was forced to resign because I warned our “leader” of issues that I heard staff rambling about.

So what’s a man to do? I think it’s time for leaders to put their pride to the side and embrace critique and confrontation. When someone confronts me, it often tells me a few things:

1) They care about me. If they didn’t care about me, they would go to others before coming to me. They would talk about me behind my back. I have had a couple of cases that students came to me with their concerns over some small things. It was amazing! I knew they actually cared about me. It wasn’t an authority issue…it was an act from the heart.

2) I have to always evaluate what I do. There is ALWAYS room for improvement. Some of the best ideas will come from those around you.

3) I have tons of room to grow. I don’t have all of the best ideas and many of those around me know a lot more about some things than I do.

4) They are handling it biblically. There’s some great guidelines in Scripture. Maybe we should spend some time living it.

If you don’t have anyone around you sharpening you, your setting yourself up for failure. If you can’t listen to other’s critique, perhaps you’re already failing. Thoughts?

UPDATE: Wow…amazing blog about critiquing church environments by Tony Morgan that you can find here. I gotta admit…I critique like crazy in a church environment.