Anonymous Criticism is Cowardly - Both for the NY Jets and in the Church

Anonymous Criticism is Cowardly - Both for the NY Jets and in the Church

An article was published today about Tim Tebow and the NY Jets, titled, "Tim Tebow Feels Frustration...Sadness" Over 

Jets' Criticism. This article addressed how Tebow felt about a news article in which a number of his teammates ripped him anonymously, calling him "terrible" and other things. NY Jets Coach Rex Ryan ripped into his team after the article came out, rightly calling those who made these anonymous criticisms to the newspaper "cowardly."

We should expect this type of behavior in the world. But does it also happen in the church? I can remember Dr. Don Vinzant, one of my dear professors at Oklahoma Christian University, talking about this in one of our ministry classes. He said, "If you ever get one of those nasty, anonymous letters . . . ." I thought, well, who would do that? In the church? Of course, this was before I had really been in ministry very long and witnessed these types of things.

What in the world is the point of critical, anonymous letters? It is only to wound. It is so that someone can lash out without having to face the consequences of their actions (at least in this world--God knows and sees everything, and we will have to give an account of every action). It is, indeed, cowardly.

I can remember being asked to participate in a business style survey in a church in which the leaders were encouraged to trash one another anonymously.  I refused to participate. I asked the person conducting this survey how this could be justified--that if we had a problem with someone, should we not go to them as Matthew 18 says? He said that that we needed to do this to get "honest answers." Hogwash. 

Jesus says to go to the people that we have an issue with so that the matter can hopefully be resolved. Christ wants good relationships and loving, kind behavior between his people. He is not interested in people trashing one another behind their backs. All this does is wound the person. He or she has no one to confront. No way to respond. No way to resolve the issue. And as the article writer points out, it can cause a person to waste emotional energy, trying to figure out who wrote the letter.

What was the point of criticizing Tebow in this way anyway? It is widely acknowledged that he is one of the hardest working people around. So he may not be the best quarterback in the world. So what? He was not brought in to start for the team, as the coach points out. Some apparently resent his fame anyway and feel that he does not deserve it. This points toward envy and jealously. Why should we care if someone else is lauded? Usually, that is a sign that we feel that we are not getting the praise and attention that we deserve. The Bible has a word for this--envy.

If you have thought about sending an anonymous, critical note or letter, don't. Instead, be a man or woman and go to the person that you have an issue with. Talk with him or her with love. Be clear about the offense, if there is one. But also make clear that you want to resolve the issue, resolve the relationship, and work together for Christ. 

Otherwise, we are no better than a New York City tabloid.

Why do you think that people send anonymous letters? How can we encourage better behavior?

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Comment by John Dobbs on November 15, 2012 at 2:06pm

Love that James!

Comment by Lynn S. Nored on November 15, 2012 at 12:01pm

Good post.  Whatever we say, we should be able to say person to person to person or it shouldnt be said.

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