Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

Proverbs 27: 6

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

Proverbs 12: 15

Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.

Ecclesiastes 4: 13

A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

Proverbs 1: 5 - 6

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

Philippians 3: 12 - 15

well-known Christian periodical recently published a sermon in which a pastor told a story about two dogs. The story goes something like this: There were two dogs, a big dog and a small dog. The small dog was barking at the big dog. The big dog ignored the small dog, and so the small dog got discouraged, gave up, stopped yapping and went away.

The moral of this story is, of course, that you should ignore your critics. If someone is criticizing you, then the obvious solution to the whole problem is simply to ignore them. Just mind your own business, continue doing what you are doing, and eventually the whole problem will simply resolve itself, because the critics will tire of their criticism and peace will be the natural outcome.

The obvious problem however is that this tale only works from the perspective of a false standard. More correctly, it only works from the perspective of an unbiblical standard. If dogs are your standard, if you are called to be dog-like, if you are called to live in imitation of canine behavior, then it works. But if you are called to a different standard, if there is a higher calling, the high call of God in Christ Jesus on your life, if you are called to be Christ-like and to imitate our Saviour and the Apostolic example set forth in Scripture, then this parable falls utterly short.

Let me give you a counter-illustration. Scriptural answers and Biblical rebuttals no longer seem to be in vogue anymore, so perhaps a story will provide the necessary theological insight for the correction of error. Here it goes...

Once upon a time, there was a mighty captain of a successful professional football team. The living picture of raw power, said football captain possessed a physique like an upside-down pyramid. His neck ran directly into his collarbone in a straight line, with no right angles. His shoulders, biceps and pectoral muscles bulged with tremendous strength. In play after play after play, his powerful arm launched the pigskin across the playing field with pinpoint precision, delivering victory after victory after victory.

One day, however, said football team captain visited the gymnasium on Wallace Street. How impressive it all was! The gymnasts moved with such elegance, such grace, such beauty! Right then and there, Mr. Football-team-captain decided that he would be more successful on the football field if he learned to borrow the techniques of the acrobats on Wallace Street and incorporate them into his game.

Came the next big game. The spectators filled the stadium. The band and the cheerleaders seemed to be competing with each other over who could perform with greater gusto and vigor. The sportscasters eagerly made their predictions about the success of Mr. Football-team-captain. The very air crackled with enthusiasm and excitement.

Came the moment that Mr. Football-team-captain had been anticipating. He was to run the ball for a crucial touchdown. Everything hung on how this play was performed.

The ball snapped into play. Without warning, Mr. Football-team-captain cartwheeled down the playing field! The opposing team froze, staring in utter disbelief! Then, like a single man, they went into action. Mr. Football-team-captain was just about to execute a triple-spin back flip, when out of nowhere, a bone-shattering tackle drove him back several yards. Staggered by the impact, he lost his grip on the

ball, which was immediately snatched up and run all the way to the end zone to score a touchdown for the opposing team, winning them a decisive victory.

For weeks, Mr. Football-team-captain heard nothing but criticism. It came from everywhere. The head coach, the sports journalists, the commentators, the talk show hosts, even his biggest fans. Headlines blazed piercing rebukes and scathing denunciations. Some even called for his termination.

The criticism hurt. Underneath his tough exterior, Mr. Football-team-captain felt grieved, wounded. But he had his mind made up. He wouldn't listen to the critics. After all, who were they? What did they know? Were they the ones out there on the playing field? Did they have his experience, his record of previous success? Had they won championships? Had they led teams to victory after victory after victory? Did they have entire walls lined with trophies and newspaper articles celebrating the wins of bygone days? Who were they to criticize him? No. He wouldn't listen to his critics. Let them yap. He would be the bigger dog. He would just keep doing what he was doing. After all, if he could just master this new spiraling aerial somersault that he was currently working on, he was sure to win games.

So went the season. While Mr. Football-team-captain practiced with the acrobats on Wallace Street, the mail truck dropped off bag after bag after bag filled with angry letters and even threats. Autographed memorabilia bearing his signature was returned. His fan base deserted him and at the end, Mr. Football-team-captain lost his contract, his sneaker deal, and every single endorsement that he had lined up. Head held high in a feeble attempt at dignity, he walked off the field for the last time, taking comfort in one consoling fact: he had never listened to his critics.

The moral of this story is simple, my friend. It is this: sometimes your critics are right. When you come to the place where you will no longer receive criticism, when you come to the point where current failure is justified by past success, then you have come to the place where you can never learn, never grow and never improve. You've reached the point of stagnation. And all that's left after stagnation is deterioration, petrification, isolation and desolation. May God keep us all from reaching that point. May God give us the humility of mind to examine ourselves constantly in the light of Scripture, humbly submitting to its authority, and, forgetting those things which are behind, reaching forth to those things which are before, pressing on towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.