“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”
— James 1:19–20
Quick to Hear, Slow to Speak
It speaks volumes about our consumer-driven Western culture that so many professing Christians are quick to criticize those who preach God’s Word.
There’s no question—every preacher is flawed.
- Moses blew it.
- Elijah blew it.
- David blew it.
- Paul blew it.
- Peter blew it.
Yet there’s a vast difference between a flawed man faithfully proclaiming a Gospel-centered, God-honoring, Spirit-led, biblically sound message—and a false teacher spewing prosperity poison or self-help heresy.
The difference isn’t perfection. It’s faithfulness.
The Berean Example
“Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.” — Acts 17:11
Paul tells us what made the Bereans “noble-minded” instead of consumer-minded:
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They received the message.
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They examined the Scriptures.
Those two verbs define spiritual maturity.
1. They Received the Message
Think about a wide receiver in football.
He doesn’t stand still yelling, “Hey, I’m open!” while the quarterback does all the work.
He studies the playbook, runs his route, sheds defenders, and positions himself to receive what’s thrown his way.
A great catch happens when both the quarterback and receiver are in sync.
Likewise, the Bereans didn’t sit in judgment with folded arms, sipping coffee, and critiquing Paul’s sermon delivery. They leaned in. They received the message with eagerness.
That’s biblical listening—active, humble, ready to respond.
2. They Examined the Scriptures
Receiving truth isn’t passive acceptance; it’s verified trust.
The Bereans didn’t swallow everything whole—they searched the Scriptures daily to see if Paul’s message aligned with God’s Word.
Today, too many churchgoers skip this second step. They’re quick to criticize but slow to open their Bibles. They want messages that entertain rather than convict, that affirm rather than transform.
Consumer-minded audiences have been conditioned to demand comfort, not correction.
The Plank and the Speck
If someone doesn’t know the difference between King Saul and Saul of Tarsus, or between baptism and the Lord’s Supper, or hasn’t grasped regeneration, covenant, and church membership, perhaps the first step isn’t critique—it’s repentance and study.
Before pulling the “speck” out of a preacher’s eye, check for the “plank” of ignorance and pride in your own (Matthew 7:3–5).
Study the Word—not to twist it into a Frankenstein theology that validates worldly thinking, but to humbly discern what the Author Himself has spoken.
The False Gift of Criticism
There is no “spiritual gift of criticism.”
Many hide their pride under polite phrases like “Bless your heart” or “With all due respect.”
But often those voices belong to people uncommitted to the local church—floating on the fringes without accountability, contribution, or service—yet eager to critique pastors, elders, musicians, and volunteers.
The church is not Walmart.
The “customer” is not always right.
The body of Christ is made up of devoted members, each part serving under the headship of Christ and the authority of His appointed shepherds.
If that’s not you—hush.
Criticism without responsibility isn’t discernment; it’s sin.
Guarding Against Friendly Fire
Paul described the Armor of God (Ephesians 6) immediately after describing the unity and maturity of the Body (Ephesians 4).
Why? Because most of the armor is defensive—the shield, breastplate, and helmet protect us not only from Satan’s attacks but also from “friendly fire” inside the camp.
Christ said the world would recognize His disciples by their love and unity (John 17:21)—not by their nitpicking or gossip.
When you criticize a brother or sister’s faithful effort to serve, whether in preaching, singing, or pouring coffee, you may be doing the devil’s work for him—stealing, killing, and destroying.
James says, “Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger.”
That’s not politeness—it’s spiritual warfare.
Before You Speak
Before voicing a complaint, ask:
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Is my motive to edify or to elevate myself?
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Have I examined Scripture first—or just my preferences?
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Am I speaking under conviction or out of irritation?
If your words don’t build up the Body, don’t honor Christ, and don’t align with Scripture, then they are noise—not righteousness.
“The anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” — James 1:20
Be Noble-Minded, Not Consumer-Minded
We need fewer critics and more Bereans.
Believers who eagerly receive the preached Word—not because it tickles their ears, but because it pierces their hearts.
Believers who examine the Scriptures daily—not to prove the preacher wrong, but to confirm the truth and live it out.
That’s the posture of a mature disciple—humble, teachable, and slow to speak.
Blessings and love,
Kevin M. Kelley
Pastor
BigIslandChristianChurch.com
