The Doctrine of Humankind
Southwestern Journal of Theology
Volume 63, No. 2 – Spring 2021
Editor: David S. Dockery
By Joel R. Beeke and Nicholas J. Thompson. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2020, 177pp., $15.99
This is a subject that no pastor wants to talk about, but every pastor wants to hear. Pastors and Their Critics is a book worth reading.
The authors represent a unique perspective in their writing. The book combines the extensive experience of Beeke, president of Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary and his forty years of pastoral experience, with the freshness of Thompson, a recent graduate of Reformed Theological Seminary who was pursuing ordination at the time of this writing.
This is a work for criticized pastors and critical church members. It primarily targets those in ministry as well as those preparing for it. However, its application to all believers is apparent.
The book is divided into four parts. The first part lays out the biblical foundation for dealing with criticism. Part two gives practical principles for coping with criticism. Part three outlines principles for the church in practicing criticism. Part four focuses on Paul’s example in casting a vision for the church in dealing with criticism.
The strength of the work is its ease to read style, practical advice, and excellent use of illustrations. The transparency of the authors is evident throughout. Using biblical examples as well as their own experiences, the authors show the frequency of criticism in ministry and describe its real and potential dangers. It is also evident that they have sought to live out the principles they advocate in the work.
Beginning with a focus on examples in Scripture, the writers trace criticism to the garden but spend most of the section on the OT revealing those leveled at Moses, David, and Nehemiah. Focusing mainly on the attack against Moses and Aaron by Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and On, the authors show how God’s servants endured accusations of crime, false pretenses, personal aspiration, and failure in leadership (pp. 24–25). Next, Beeke and Thompson point out the unjust verbal assault of David by Shimei (pp. 27–28). While the criticisms of Moses and David were from within the covenant community, those leveled against Nehemiah came from outside the community of faith. Sanballat, Tobiah, and Gesham attempted to discourage Nehemiah, mock him, threaten him, and distract him (pp. 31–34).
What is evident from the examples of Moses, David, and Nehemiah is the faithfulness of their responses. Moses and Aaron turned to the Lord and interceded for the people (pp. 26–27) demonstrating their personal trust in God and their love for God’s people. David submitted to the sovereignty of God and responded with humility (pp. 28–29). Nehemiah sought the Lord, took wise measures, and challenged the people (as well as modeled for them the need) to get back to work (pp. 34–35).
In the section on the Christological foundations for coping with criticism, the authors demonstrate how Christ obediently responded to criticism. His silence, meekness, inner strength, obedience, and faith serve as a perfect model for all Christians in the face of unjust attacks.
Part two deals with practical principles for dealing with criticism. In this section, the authors point out biblical principles for dealing with criticism realistically, with humility, with sober judgment, and with grace. One of the key takeaways of this section is understanding when criticism calls for silence and when it demands a response (pp. 94–98). Ultimately, Beeke and Thompson remind us that critical attacks highlight our desperate need for the Lord.
Part three alone is worth the price of the book. Its worth is substantial. Few works have been written on how to criticize others in ministry. While more specific instructions on how Christians may appropriately criticize others would have been helpful, the emphasis on creating a culture where constructive criticism is fostered is well-taken (pp. 144–46).
Part four returns to the subject of dealing with criticism and argues that Paul casts a vision for the church in facing criticism in a way that glorifies God, maintains an ultimate focus, and highlights an eschatological hope. The authors exhort pastors and church leaders to exemplify this vision in their ministries and cast it before the people they serve.
It is ironic to criticize a book dealing with criticism. Nevertheless, while the value of this book is significant, some practical and organizational adjustments might have added to its impact. The principles on dealing with criticism in part two are relevant, biblical, and sound. However, given that part one highlights examples of criticisms against leaders and tracks the obedient responses of those leaders, the principles listed in part two would have been clearer had they been directly taken from the examples recorded in part one. Nearly all of the content covered in part two overlaps the lessons learned from parts one and four and would seem to have carried more authority if presented as lessons learned from those biblical examples. Other biblical passages that are recorded in part two could then have been elucidated to compliment the lessons learned from Moses, David, Nehemiah, Jesus, and Paul. Thus, the principles recorded in part two seem redundant to the lessons learned from the responses of those five examples in parts one and four.
Organizationally, the flow of the book seems a little cumbersome. While the intent of part four is to cast a vision for the church, its content seems to more naturally follow part one than part three. Instead, parts two and four sandwich part three and overshadow some of its impact. Parts one, two, and four could have been combined to make the flow of the work more clear. Since part one covers both OT and NT examples, the section in part four on Paul appears awkwardly isolated from the section on biblical foundations. Separate chapters on the OT, Christ, and Paul under one section might have improved the flow. Those chapters could have then been followed by a chapter on practical principles drawn from those biblical examples. Thus, a two-part structure giving practical examples from Scripture in part one on coping with criticism and principles in part two for practicing criticism would seem more efficient.
Overall, Pastors and Their Critics addresses a vital subject in ministry and exposes a conversation that every church needs to have. The Bible resounds with examples and instructions for giving and receiving criticism that all believers need to hear and follow. This book is an encouragement to pastors and a valuable contribution to an often-overlooked issue in the church.
