Is Being 'Sensitive' a Form of Hypocrisy?

By Gary L. Cox

But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.  For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judges me is the Lord.  Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.  (1 Cor. 4:3-5)

   One of the most difficult human endeavors is to serve others and receive criticism instead of appreciation.  Most everyone knows the pain received from harsh judgments that are motivated by petty popularity among believers.  What an unfair thing for me to suggest that being hurt by the unkind judgments of others may make one an hypocrite!  And yet being overcome with pain from rejection has great potential to affect how one responds in the future to avoid being criticized .  Paul's simple doctrine here stipulates that the criticism of others must be small to the Christian that wishes to be free from potential hypocritical control by that criticism.

   First, lets examine when such criticism is 'big' to the hearer.  When criticism means too much, the receiver of it is tempted to sin two ways. First, he is motivated to expend great energy and effort 'explaining' himself to correct the erroneous judgment of critics.  Second, he also is subtly motivated to avoid future behavior that may be so labeled in the future.  And so hypocritically, he will conform his behavior to the expectations of the critics, to avoid their condemnation.  While this may be undetectable to him, God sees the "hidden things of dishonesty" that corrupt the ministry of the oversensitive (2 Cor. 4:2).

   Jesus defined hypocrisy in terms of the scribes, pharisees and teachers of the law.  He warned believers that their righteousness must exceed the righteousness of the scribes and the pharisees who do their righteous works so as to be seen of men (Matt. 6:1).  Indeed, many times the pharisees restrained their condemnation of Jesus because they feared the people who saw his works.  Simply put, being sensitive to unwarranted and harsh criticism has great potential to influence the believer away from godly living and works so as to avoid criticism.  This is how being sensitive can cause hypocrisy.  If you are controlled by the criticism of others you reveal that you desire them to think better of you than that which opens you up to the motivation of being 'seen' of men.

   Paul's reaction to his own ministry being criticized and rejected by the Corinthians is very valuable for the believer who finds his/her labors under attack by disgruntled fellow-saints or sinners.  Paul begins with the foundation of pure motives: But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment.  The Greek here for 'a very small thing' means 'the smallest matter'.  Paul does not deny the pain of criticism, he simply notes the priority of its source.  Personal opinion of men is at the bottom of the list when it comes to the work of a believer being evaluated.  To allow it to be any more important opens up the servant of Christ to hypocrisy.  We are commanded not to  judge another man's servant (Romans 14:4-5ff).  This command includes the expectation that we do not respond to another's judgment as well.  If we are fully persuaded before God, we not be moved by the persuasions of others.

   How does one make criticism by others a very small matter?  Yea, I judge not mine own self.  For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judges me is the Lord (vs.4).  The text indicates that recognizing who will judge you gives proper priority to the matter of judgment.  Prioritizing your fear is the key to prioritizing the judgments that are made by man as 'very small'.  Jesus said, And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matt 10:28)  Caring, sensitive people cannot simply deny criticism or ignore it outright as a matter of course.  (You would have to become insensitive to do that!)  They key to avoiding hypocritical influences of criticism is to prioritize the sources of it and give preeminence to God's legitimate judgment so that you are motivated by His opinion of your service and not others.  Your service is not of you, but by the Lord through you, only the Lord can evaluate his work through you.

   What does fearing God look like?  Obedience and faithfulness.  Paul says, Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. (v 5)  It is too early for judgment.  Judgment is the final thing done when the Lord returns.  This truth reveals the error of hypocrisy: judging matters too early, based upon appearances and not by everything that God sees and evaluates.  Hypocrisy (or over-sensitivity) is quick to judge a matter from superficial standards. You and I are to have nothing to do with such judgment. 

   Serving the Lord is a process that covers an entire life.  God is at work, purifying the saint in the process of that saint's work and service to the Lord.  Many a thing that God is correcting is hidden by darkness of the saint's subtle motives, God sees and corrects along the way.  He engages the counsels of the heart and changes the work of the saint into a more perfect work over time.  God is able to make you stand!  (See Romans 14:4b)  The last phrase, and then shall every man have praise of God, gives you and I reason to be confident as the servants of the Lord.  When God finishes his work through me he is also finished with his work in me, and that work is worthy of his praise.  When we see the final tapestry of God's good work through each of his servants, He is going to get praise for every one!

   So what is the conclusion?  Go out to that field of labor which he has appointed for you and do the work he has called you to do by His grace .  Do it to be well-pleasing to Him and not to men.  Diffuse every idle criticism that stings your heart by remembering that the critic's opinion is not important and that today is not the day to give final evaluation.  This will protect you from pride when you are praised by men, and it will keep you from condemnation when the appearance of your work is criticized by mere men.  Serve where God has called you and be not distressed when your critics hold court.  Yours is a serious and significant labor to strive to be well-pleasing to God in every matter as you do your everyday duties of labor that he has called you to.  Don't measure, don't calculate.  Trust God with your shortcomings and failures.  Continue faithfully in the field he has called you into and seek to be pleasing to Him alone.  Remember these simple exhortations from the Lord: He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much (Luke 16:10); and, Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he comes shall find so doing (Matt. 24:46). 

May Jesus find you faithfully doing what he has called you to do!