If you have no will to change it, you have no right to criticize it

Criticism is something we can avoid easily by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing”
Aristotle

From my last post:
Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires courage.” Ralph Waldo Emerson.

A comment on post:
I have been visiting often now, and I must say - that quotation got to me. We are readying ourselves to take this journey God has put before us and the thoughts of how to deal with those who tell us that we are wrong... that bothers me the most right now. Thanks for the thoughts!

More thoughts:
I have heard this kind of story more than once lately. The story of a person or a family, trying to do the right thing, feeling lead by God, but the critics decide to voice their opinion. I do think that people are doing this "voicing" because they want to help, but clearly they don't understand the impact of their words. They want to protect me, protect the do-er. But in the process they are losing sight of the needs of those I am trying to help. There are many of you who want to help, who feel lead to help... indeed there is always a critic. Give the critic respect, but you don't have to take their advice. If you are directed by a higher power, by The Higher Power, then a critic is only a critic. It's not their mission, it's not their calling. When the critic comes, you can ask them to pray. Ask them what God would tell them about the situation.


I wanted to throw a couple of verses out. They are random and out of context... I am open to hearing why these verses don't mean what I think. But here are some words I felt lead to :

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27
So, help me understand. Is it even possible to be out of God's will in wanting to care for an orphan, a fatherless child? "Pure and faultless," is looking after orphans and widows... I think that means that caring for orphans is not only good, but required... but that's just me. You decide for yourself.

Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other.' Zechariah 7:10
Is the critic oppressing the fatherless when the critic points you away from caring for an orphan. Is the critic going against this verse? It says we should NOT oppress the fatherless or the widow, should I hinder the work of someone who would care for these?


And say before the Lord your God, I have taken all the holy things out of my house and have given them to the Levite, and the man from a strange land, and him who has no father, and the widow, as you have given me orders: I have kept in mind all your orders, in nothing have I gone against them: Deuteronomy 26:13
Interesting, it appears to me God says even what is set aside for Him should be give to the orphan. - see the next verse.

When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied. Deuteronomy 26:12

"When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not go over it again; it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow. Deuteronomy 24:21
Should the first of what is set aside for God and the last what we have belong to the orphan? I think these verses tell me, some of the first fruits and some of my last fruits do belong to the orphan.


I would ask you to challenge yourself to ask, is caring for this orphan what I want to do for me, and will God bless that (I think he will), or am I carrying out God's command and honoring what has been asked of me. Then you will be able to respond to your critic.


“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”
Theodore Roosevelt