How Do We Respond To Criticism?

How Do We Respond To Criticism?

by Rev. GINA ATENCIO

(Bread of Life Ministries)

1.      Understand first of all that there is God.  (Acts 21:10-11)

·         When God allows it, He has a plan behind it.

2.      Do not allow your emotion to be controlled by your critics.  (Acts 24:10)

·         “A Christian who loses his temper is simply revealing who he  is.

3.      Understand that your critics are God’s tool in order to bring fruition. 

            (Philippians 1:14-18)

4.      Review the criticism against you and look at yourself objectively. 

            (2Corinthians 11:16)

·         Welcome an enemy.

·         With God accident is not accidental and adversity is not adverse.

5.      Understand that critics in fact may be seen as a rest of your being in the truth.  (Luke 6:27) – LOVE your enemy.

6.      Release your critics to God.  (Hebrews 12:15)

·         Bitterness causes troubles and defiles many.

7.      Trust God for your reputation.

·         It really boils down to your faith.

·         Biblical faith rests solely on God.

Lord, give me understanding enough to make me kind,

so I may judge all people with my HEART and not my mind.  

– Helen Steiner Rice -

Recognizing Cults or False Church

        It is always been heartbreaking for me when a so called  Christian cannot distinguish a cult or false church from a genuine one.  I am by no means a theologian.             God has just been very gracious to me to reveal His truth; to lead me in the right path - the mere Christianity.   

        Satanic ritual alone cannot be the determinative factor in identifying cults. It is mostly the DEVIATION from Biblical Truth. Some cults are:

1. A cultic/false church that is still under the LAW.

- Even though its doctrine is very close to the real Christian doctrine, its members are brewed in strict conformity to the Law of Moses/Mosaic Law (from Exodus to Deuterenomy) e.g. health laws that define clean and unclean meats, etc.

BIBLICAL TRUTH:

- Christians are under the Grace of God.

Romans 6:14

¹⁴For sin shall not be your master, 

because you are not under law, but under grace.

Galatians 5:18

¹⁸But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.

Romans 10:4

⁴Christ is the end of the law 

so that there may be righteousness 

for everyone who believes.

2. The Cults on Salvation by WORKS.

- Cults attach something to the doctrine of salvation which is: “by Grace of God through FAITH in Jesus Christ”.

    To illustrate the cults’ false doctrine:

    FAITH + baptism or good works or obedience to laws = SALVATION

BIBLICAL TRUTH:

    - Faith is the only key to salvation.

Ephesians 10:4

⁸For it is by grace you have been saved, 

through faith—and this not from yourselves,

it is the gift of God— ⁹not by works, 

so that no one can boast.

3. A cult that does NOT recognize Jesus as God.

- A Cult believes Jesus as human or prophet only.

BIBLICAL TRUTH:

- Jesus is Lord and Savior.

Isaiah 9:6

⁶ For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

4. The Cults on Heaven and Hell
-  

- Heaven is just a state of mind in cults and hell is nonliteral.

BIBLICAL TRUTH:

-    mere Christianity teaches the glory of Heaven as the reward for Christians (John 6:47) and the hell as the eternal damnation and punishment for the non-believers. (Revelations 21:8)

5. Oneness Cult
-  

    - Cult does not believe in the Trinitarian concept of God instead it holds to a oneness view of God.

    

    BIBLICAL TRUTH:

- Christians believe in the Doctrine of Trinity.  God is eternally existing in three distinct persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit, yet they are all the one God; co-eternal in being; co-equal in power and glory (Matthew 28:19-20).

2 Corinthians 13:14

¹⁴May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, 

and the love of God, 

and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

        I also get so concerned when a believer, either man or woman, is engaged in what some call:

evange-LIGAW;
DATE-cipleship;
bible stEdy;
disciple-CHICKS;

        It is the practice of sharing the gospel to his/her “special” non-christian boy/girl for personal gain; trying to fix the non-believer and hoping that his/her mind will let go the false doctrines in order to conform to the “do not be yoked together with unbelievers”.

            We should realize that we do not become Christian with the mind but with the SOUL.   Salvation depends on the grace of God alone and not on our human efforts.  As the song goes:

“Only by grace can we enter.
Only by grace can we stand.
Not by our human endeavor.
But by the blood of the Lamb.”

      

How To Control Emotions

I got this funny e-mail a couple of years ago and this is so true!

HOW TO CONTROL EMOTIONS

This would give you guides on how to control your emotions towards your better-half, friends, officemates and all the people around you, especially your "boss". The rules of practicing "ugaling langit, ugaling kaaya-aya" :

#1 Ang naunang magalit ang may karapatang magalit. Pag naunahan ka na ng galit niya, tumahimik ka na lang muna.

#2 Walang taong nag-aaway mag-isa. Pag hindi kayo sumagot o pumatol, titigil din daw ang taong nakikipag- away sa inyo.

#3 Ang taong galit, 'bingi.' If someone is angry, wala raw pinakikinggan, so, don't try to explain and fight back. Hindi ka niya iintindihin dahil wala siyang naririnig kundi ang sarili nya.

#4 Ang taong galit, 'abnoy.' Ayon sa pastor, Biblical daw ito? because the Lord said when He was crucified, "Father, patawarin mo sila dahil hindi nila alam ang kanilang ginagawa." Modern term for these kinds of people are abnoys, so you better not get angry para huwag kang matawag na abnoy.

You should also know and realize that the persons who make your day bad are jewels, because you need them for you to mature. Hangga't andyan daw sila at kinaiinisan mo, ibig sabihin, immature ka pa. God will not take away those people; it's for you to take away your bad feelings towards them. You'll know na mature ka na pag dumating 'yung time na hindi ka na naiinis sa mga taong ito because you have learned to accept them and to have patience with them.

#5 Finally, the best part of this is to tell yourself na, because of this person, "I will grow mature," and that DAHIL SA CONTRIBUTION NIYA SA MATURITY MO, KUKUNIN DIN SYA NI LORD. Hahaha! joke joke joke! wag naman baka mawalan ka ng trabaho!

Pray for LuzViMinda

Pray for LuzViminDa...pray for the Philippines....

LuzViminDa prayer recharge station has several booths where you can individually pray for our country. It is located in the heart of Quezon City. Feel free to come. http://www.crossroad77.com/

Crossroad77
77 Mother Ignacia Avenue cor Scout Reyes
Quezon City, Philippines 1103

w/ my BS group..

The Star of Christmas: Jesus or Santa?

The day before Christmas, I overheard the woman next door instructing her daughter to make a wish with santa. It sort of annoyed me. Then as I handed my gift to the child, I asked her, “whose birthday it is, anyway?” My heart sank when the mother had to coach the lassie.

On Christmas Eve, I hosted parlor games for the kids of my neighborhood. I asked the same question upon giving them presents, once again, to my dismay, the mother has to coach the answer that it is Jesus Christ birthday!

Obviously, santa claus is more popular than Jesus among the children on Christmas season (now it's BRO here in the Philippines) because even the parents have no understanding of the real meaning of Christ's birthday. In some countries, it is called Holiday season; Christ is no longer the Star of the season.

I also do not like the tradition of the Filipino parents exploiting their kids for begging presents. It creates pressure on the giver. Gifts must be freely given and cannot be earned just like our salvation in Christ!

Related Article:

Donation and Salvation: the similarities & differences

Giving is Thanking

I am greatly thankful I stayed home last Saturday and my place had neither floodwater nor brown out. (I would surely hate to leave it if ever). My loved ones in different places are all safe too.

So those like me who were not severely affected by typhoon Ondoy should step out of the comfort zone to aid people who were extremely devastated. Generous giving is also the best way to thank God. Relief goods, money or any assistance we can extend will be of great help! Well, then start contacting now Charitable Institutions that are mobilizing funds for the victims.

2 Corinthians 9:7

"Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, NOT RELUCTANTLY OR UNDER COMPULSION, for God loves a cheerful giver."

A Beautiful World

I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty and joy to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble. For the world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of tiny pushes of each HONEST worker.

- Hellen Keller - (the first DEAF-BLIND known to have earned a Bachelor of Arts degree)

The Law of God is My Delight

Psalm 1

¹ Blessed is the man…..

² (whose) delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

DELIGHT means something or someone that provides a source of happiness; "a joy to behold".

In the of the book of Psalm we can reap many benefits of delighting in the law of God.

Psalm 119:24, 105

²⁴ Your statutes are my delight;
they are my counselors.

¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light for my path.

Jewish and Muslim traditions posit that the Psalms are the work of David (seventy-three Psalms are with David's name), for which reason, it is known as the Song of David. He is known as The Man After God’s Heart. David did delight in the law of God, because the law of God is within his heart. He delights in the law, and the law is delighted in by him.

Romans 7:22

²²For in my inner being I delight in God's law;

By inner being, we understand that it is the hidden man of the heart, the “Christ is in you”. Hence, it is a spiritual delight or an abiding delight that we Christian must take in the law of God. His statutes must be in our hearts in order to be engaged in the obedience that the law requires. Putting His law into our hearts denotes that we truly love God for we are willing to know and obey His commandments.

William Burkitt said: “To delight in the law of God is to love for its purity and spiritually, because it makes holiness our duty; to take pleasure in the knowledge of the law, in meditating upon it, and in practicing every good duty contained in it, and enjoined by it.” - where this is lex in corde, there will be cor in lege.