THE BLIND EYE AND THE DEAF EAR

In over 32 years of ministry I have received a large share of compliments and criticism in my relationships with others. Oh how vulnerable we are to be influenced by man's opinions and words about us! Recently I have been the victim of some criticism and slander that has brought to my attention my failure in my response and the attitude and response that God would have me to have exercise towards my critics. I have learned the importance of what Charles Spurgeon calls having one blind eye and one deaf ear. It is good advice not only for pastors but for us all.

He bases this on Ecclesiastes 7:21, "Do not take to heart all the things that people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you." When words are spoken do not let them weigh with you, do not notice them, or act as if you heard them. Spurgeon writes in his Lectures to My Students:

You cannot stop people's tongues, and therefore the best thing is to stop your own ears and never mind what is spoken. There is a world of idle chit- chat abroad, and he who takes note of it will have enough to do. He will find that even those who live with him are not always singing his praises, and that when he has displeased his most faithful servants, they have, in the heat of the moment, spoken fierce words which it would be better for him not to have heard. ..Tacitus describes a wise man as saying to one that railed at him, "You are lord of your tongue, but I am also master of my ears"--you may say what you please, but I will only hear what I choose.We cannot shut our ears as we do our eyes, for we have no ear lids, and yet, as we read of him that "stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood," it is, no doubt, possible to seal the portal of the ear so that nothing contraband shall enter. We would say to the general gossip of the village, and of the unadvised words of angry friends--do not hear them, or if you must hear them, do not lay them to heart.'

When stepping into a new congregation that is laced with backbiting and gossip, Spurgeon said,
It is the extreme of unwisdom for a young man fresh from college, or from another charge, to suffer himself to be earwigged by a clique, and to be bribed by kindness and flattery to become a partisan, and so to ruin himself with one-half of his people. Know nothing of parties and cliques, but be the pastor of all the flock, and care for all alike. Blessed are the peacemakers, and one sure way of peacemaking is to let the fire of contention alone. Neither fan it, nor stir it, nor add fuel to it, but let it go out of itself. Begin your ministry with one blind eye and one deaf ear.

Spurgeon encouraged for ministers to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear towards gossip, false reports, about yourself, and criticism. He applied this by warning those commencing on a new ministry that, “As soon as you enter your pastorate you may be waited upon by persons who are anxious to secure your adhesion to their side in a family quarrel or church dispute; be deaf and blind to these people, and assure them that bygones must be bygones with you, and that as you have not inherited your predecessors cupboard, you do not mean to eat his cold meat.”

He goes on to advise, “The blind eye and the deaf ear will come in exceedingly well in connection with the gossips of the place” ...Never hear what was not meant for you” ...To opinions and remarks about yourself, turn also as a general rule, the blind eye and the deaf ear”...In the case of false reports against yourself, for the most part, use the deaf ear” .

His advice was clearly given from personal experience drawn from years of pastoral ministry and those of us who follow in his steps would agree with his conclusion, “I have one blind eye and one deaf ear, and they are the best eye and ear that I have.

I recently read again the biography of another pastor who turned the blind eye and the deaf ear named Charles Simeon. He was wronged by Christians in so many ways during his 54 year service as the pastor of Trinity Church in Cambridge England. His policy towards compliments and criticism was the same: "My rule is never to hear or see, or know what if heard or seen or known, would call for animadversion from me. Hence I dwell in peace in the midst of lions"

In otherwords, it is best in life not to be too concerned what other people think or speak about us. When others speak well about us or flatter us, it can swell our heads with pride and self exaltation. Conversely when others criticize us or speak poorly of us we can become easily discouraged. If they lie or slander us, we can become angry and bitter. All these responses are sinful. Therefore, it is best for us to simply turn the blind eye and deaf ear and allow God, His word, and close friends to be the measure of our self assessment.

"Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God." 2 Corinthians 4:5

"For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends" 2 Corinthians 10:18

Seeking to turn the blind eye and the deaf ear and desiring only commendation and approval from God alone,
Pastor Bill