The best kind of criticism is the kind that is correct (the criticism is an accurate statement) from a right heart and attitude (it is delivered by people who are for us, have our best interests at heart, and is communicated in a positive, loving, and life-giving way).

It’s still not always easy to respond well because most of us don’t like criticism in any form. But this kind of criticism is easy to navigate from the sense of mentally knowing the right way to respond even if it is difficult to practically carry out.

When we received criticism that is accurate from a heart and attitude that are right, we must course correct ourselves and do so expressing humility and gratitude to those who have corrected us.

We desperately need people who love us to see our blind spots and point them out. We need people in our lives who love us but love Jesus more. And when they see something in our lives that needs course correction, we should listen, submit, apply, and thank them.

“You can be mean sometimes.” That statement came from a very good friend. And actually, they didn’t say mean. They used a different word. But “mean” would be the word appropriate for a Christian leader blog post. A couple days later, I found myself acting in a way that epitomized meanness. I got a laugh at another’s expense. I have a problem with that. My poor sister has endured 35 years of such behavior. I rarely ever intend be mean and get a laugh at another’s expense. And most of the time, it’s good natured and even the victim finds it funny. But sometimes, it’s just plain mean.

Course correction needed. I asked both the person who pointed it out and the victim from this most recent episode to start pointing out when I do this.

It’s not always easy to hear. But we need correct criticism from the correct heart. And as criticism goes, it’s the best kind we can get.