When Should We Answer Our Critics? — Shane Idleman

When to Answer Critics: Biblical Wisdom and Faithful Stewardship

The title this morning is an interesting topic. When should we answer our critics? Ouch. When should we answer our critics? And we're in 1st Corinthians. The series is answers for a confused church. The church was very confused in Corinth and Paul was giving them a lot of direction.

And we left off in 1st Corinthians chapter 3. So if you have your Bibles you can turn to 1st Corinthians chapter 3. I think we're gonna start at 21 but I actually want to read from last week if you just want to listen here at verse 18.

Let no one deceive himself. We talked about last week and we reminded ourselves that deception can come upon all of us and we deceive ourselves. And Paul said if anyone among you seems to be wise in this age let him become a fool that he may become wise.

We talked about not making decisions based on the world standard but making decisions based on what does God's Word say. And you know there's two opposing forces there don't you? The world's mindset and what God's Word says.

And their kingdoms colliding was the title of last week's message. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written he catches the wise in their own craftiness. And again the Lord knows the thoughts of the wise that they are futile.

So he's contrasting the world's wisdom with God's wisdom and it's just it's just foolishness to believe there's no God. Foolishness to discount his biblical principles. And I will even submit to you that the reason our nation is in the condition it is in is because we have drifted from those biblical principles.

We think we're wise and we're becoming very foolish. Everything falls apart. Every every topic out there. Think of all those topics. Healthcare, borders, president, Republican, Democrat, this, that, the budget.

All of those have biblical answers. They all do. And when you begin to drift from those answers you begin to a chaos begins to enter in. So that's the context. And then we pick up right at 1st Corinthians 3 21.

Belonging to Christ Rather Than Boasting in Leaders

So Paul says therefore and the reason I read the beginning is is you want to know what the word therefore is there for obviously. Therefore let no one boast in men. Basically don't boast in what the world boasts in.

For all things are yours whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas. Now remember the week prior to last week people were saying I'm of Paul. I'm a follower of Cephas or I'm a follower of this. And don't we do that even locally in our churches?

Well this is my church. This is my path. And we'd like you know we're better. It's like this competition. And thank God for all Bible believing churches. It's really not a competition. It's complementing one another.

But all of us can fall into that you know category or camp sometimes of defending our theological positions or wanting to elevate our favorite speaker. But Paul said all things are yours. As heirs of Christ Jesus all things that God gives us are yours already.

There's no need to boast. And even on that note I wrote that there this this morning so I wouldn't forget anything we do for God is because of God's sheer grace. And you run into people you'll see people out there like they're so anointed.

Look what they're doing for God. Don't ever think for one minute that they are doing that. That they get the credit. Look at them. They've got they're such a great person. Such great character. Such great.

Now they might have character qualities but it's God's Holy Spirit working through them. That's why we don't elevate man. We elevate Christ and what he does through man. So he said all things are yours in Christ Jesus and you are Christ and Christ is God's.

So again don't elevate men. You are all heirs of God's blessings. Matthew Henry said this. In our opinion of ministers as well as all others we should be careful to avoid extremes. Apostles themselves were not to be overvalued for they were ministers.

They were ministers not masters. They were stewards not lords. They were servants of Christ and no more. And I like it. There's a book John Piper wrote many years ago Brothers We Are Not Professionals.

It was written to pastors about you know being CEOs and and running a church like a Fortune 500 company and and we have this. Oh look at that. It's just servants of the Lord Jesus Christ. All of the same body.

So what people do in the hospital homes and ministering and helping others are no different than what I'm doing here. At the end of the day God doesn't go wow that Shane really did a great sermon. He's boy I really look at him up here and these other people what are they.

No no no it's all what have we get has he gifted us to do. What has he given us the ability to do. A single mom caring for her children raising them ministering to others and doing things for God is no different.

We're all ministers of the gospel. And then 1st Corinthians 4 he goes right into let no let a man so consider us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. So he's basically saying listen we're just stewards of Christ and we steward the mysteries of God.

What I think he means by that is not a mystery in the sense of who you can't know it. You know it's there's a mystery out there. But there are a lot of things about God that we just don't know. We steward what we do know.

We steward and what the world calls a mystery and many Christians even the mystery of God meaning God has not revealed it yet. So we are simply stewards of what God has revealed and even the things he hasn't revealed the nature of God the character of God and in all its complexity we still preach those things.

Moreover it is required and stewards that one be found faithful. So what was Paul doing here? He's building up a case because these people are critiquing him and judging him and putting him down. Did you know people put down the Apostle Paul?

So you don't feel too bad when people put you down because they put down the Apostle Paul. They put down the disciples. Much of the the fights and the struggles in the early church were over Paul's authority.

Paul and not his character but his authority. Who are you? We don't like this new teaching and really it wasn't a new teaching it was just confirming what the Old Testament already been proclaiming for for many years.

He was a fulfillment of that. The New Testament don't don't ever think the New Testament Old Testament different. It was that God must have changed his mind in the New Testament. It's it's well that was the Old Testament.

Oh thank God. It's just all one story. God's operating the same way. Thank God for Jesus though because that satisfied God's wrath. It was satisfied on the cross. The beauty of the cross. It's where judgment meets mercy.

That's really what the cross is. We see God's justice meeting God's mercy. What would you tell... I just heard an example of this. Paul Washer actually gave it yesterday on one of his videos that if if you knew somebody was guilty and they were a terrible person and they went to court and that judge just let them go.

That would not be a good judge. Same thing with God. His goodness. His holiness. So he can't just well just let it go. Why can't just God just let things go? Know that it requires justice. Hence the justice of God.

Sending Christ mercy and grace meet on the cross. It's a wonderful picture of God's attributes coming together. But it is interesting here. He said it is required of stewards. Now are you a steward of God?

Let me go let me do this for you. If you are a believer you are a steward of God. You are an ambassador. You are a servant. You are a minister of God. Maybe not in the ordained sense but we're all ministers for God.

So here's one major requirement. It's amazing he doesn't go into a lot of other things but it's all found in this word. It's required that stewards that you and I are to be found faithful. Faithful. What does that mean?

Well I'm glad you asked. Loyal. There's a whole bunch of words. I just I just chose the top three. It means to be loyal constant and steadfast. Don't you like steadfastness? Don't you like those who are constant and steadfast and faithful and true to their word?

Boy have we changed three or four decades ago. Even when I was little growing up my dad, I've told you before, their contracts were not pieces of paper. They were this. Handshake. A man's word meant a lot.

You didn't need a sign here. Why? I already said it. And there was something about that. So it's loyal. It's constant. It's steadfast. So if you're here this morning and you're saying, you know, I don't even know where to start, Shane.

I've drifted off course. I'm just lost somehow. I haven't been going in a good direction. I haven't been leading. Maybe leading my family. I just am lost. Return to this word loyal. Steadfast. Get back to God's word and God will honor those who are steadfast and loyal.

It's interesting. God told the prophet Micah in the Old Testament, he said, what does the Lord require of you, oh man? What does God require? Just to love mercy, to love justice, and to walk humbly before your God.

And so that's a very simple way of getting back on track this morning. You could say, you know what? I haven't, God, been faithful in these areas. I've been drifting. I haven't been a good steward. I'm coming back.

I'm going to be faithful. With that loyal, constant, steadfast, when we say something, we mean it. And that's a hard part for churches sometimes. When you have employees, you can make this point a little bit more, you know, you can make this a strong point.

But with churches, when there's volunteers, you'd be amazed at how many people say, I'll help. I'll be there. Guess what happens? Now, this church is great. Let me get that out there. But many churches I've been to, right?

Oh, I'll sign up for children's ministry. I'll sign up to go serve there. I'll sign up to do that. Or I'll be there. And then what happens when the day comes? It's almost like nowadays we say something, and it really doesn't mean I'll be there.

It means, well, I'll check my schedule when the day gets there, and then I'll make a decision. But God's Word is clear. Make the decision now and stick by your Word. Blessed is the man who swears to his own hurt.

Meaning, I said it, I must perform it. Maybe that's a good word for someone this morning. God will honor that. God will bless it. He doesn't bless us backing out of our Word. And that's why I learned a long time ago, be careful what I commit to.

Yes, I'll be there means, yes, I'll be there. Many cases and many times. Unless, of course, you know, obviously if you're sick or something comes up, emergency. But it's required that stewards be faithful.

And we're not seeing that a lot in the church. People aren't loyal or constant or steadfast. And then in verse three, but with me, but with me, Paul's saying, it's a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court.

In fact, I don't even judge myself. So Paul's saying, it's a pretty funny thing you're judging me. I don't even judge myself, for I know of nothing against myself. Paul says, I haven't done anything worthy of judgment, yet I am not justified by this.

In other words, it doesn't matter what I say, but he who judges me is the Lord. He knows my heart. Therefore, judge nothing before the time until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsel of the hearts.

Then each one's praise will come from God. So it appears that Paul was being wrongly judged. And I actually wrote on this, if you Google, doesn't the Bible say judge not? It'll probably come up on my website.

Doesn't the Bible say judge not? Because there's that view out there that, well, we shouldn't judge. You Christians are a bunch of judgers. And I hope you see what's going on in our nation. It's not necessarily the Christian that people are upset at.

It's the Christians who dare to speak what God's Word says. Going forward, if there's persecution, you'll be fine if you say, well, I'm a Christian and that's it. Do what's good for you. Just worship your God.

I'll worship my God. Kumbaya. Let's just all get along. You're not going to upset anybody. But if you start to say, hey, God's Word is clear on these issues, we're actually called to discern between right and wrong.

So you are, as a believer, we are actually to judge. When Jesus said in Matthew 7, judge not, he goes on to say, first remove the plank from your eye, and then you can judge your brother. So the whole point he's addressing there, ironically, is a critical spirit.

We are supposed to discern. We are supposed to. And it's amazing all these corporations trying to silence Christians, trying to silence the voice of truth. And you see what's happening in Los Angeles.

They have the big gay pride parade. And they have just pride in large letters. As long as you don't say anything, you're okay. But if you start to say, hey, God's Word has something to say on this, you're not to judge me.

That's what you'll hear often. Who are you to judge? The Bible says, judge not. No, actually it says, I am to judge. Once I get my heart right, look at my own sin, my own failings, my own faults, and take that to the cross, and then discern between what is right and wrong.

Jesus had a lot to say on discerning between what is right and wrong. So we are to judge things that are clear, but not rush to judgments. And that's what's it. The irony is, the flesh wants to rush to judgments.

Did you see that person? Did you see what's going on? And rushing to judgments. And I'm hoping to do a sermon in the future entitled, The Devil Whisperer. Because that's what he does, doesn't he? He whispers.

Everything could be fine. You see someone, maybe they're kind of in a bad mood. Do you ever get in a bad mood? We don't know all the background. We don't know what they just went through. The phone call they might have received.

And instead of the devil whispering, oh I'm sure they're going through a difficulty. Just give them grace. What does he whisper? See? See? They don't like you. They're arrogant. They're mean-spirited.

They must have it out for you. What kind of Christian are they? And do you ever fuel that? And it starts to lead to more anger? More animosity? That's why that phrase comes from, don't work yourself up.

Because you can get your thoughts worked up. And that's why the Bible says to take those thoughts captive. And err on the side of grace. Now unless it warrants, you know, some looking into. But many times the devil is going to plant those seeds.

Why didn't they get back to me? Why aren't they responding to me? Why did they say that? Isn't it funny how we often hear those comments and we make those comments, which I actually agree with them, is it's not good to communicate certain things on email or text.

Praise God, right? Oh, learn some lessons the hard way, right? But often the enemy will use those and plant those seeds. Did you see how that was? Are they being rude? Are they being short? Are they mad?

And then here we go. Here goes the firecracker, getting ready to explode. So that's how, that's why as you see, you see mature Christians. I can spot them a mile away. They've learned to take their thoughts captive, haven't they?

I'll brag on some people. I'll brag on my mom since she's not here at this first service. Talk about someone who just lets it go for a season. Like, doesn't that make you mad? Well, I'm sure they didn't mean it.

I'm sure that wasn't, I'm sure they're having a bad day. I'm like, oh, wow. Now that can, that can be, your blessing can also be your curse, too, if you're just always naive and never addressing anything.

And what do they call it? It's just, it's just sweeping under the doormat. And we never, that's not biblical either. It's hard to find that balance. But Paul was being wrongly judged. So here's the key we can learn so far.

Don't allow opinions to sidetrack you, but learn from constructive criticism. There's an old adage out there, I think about a hundred years old or so, that I've seen a few times. Most of us would rather be ruined by praise than helped by criticism.

I don't think you caught that, so I'm gonna repeat it. Most of us would rather be ruined, ruined by praise than helped by criticism. If all you get is praise, it will ruin you. I'm telling you right now, if all you get is praise, oh, oh, just praising you, praising you, and never, never iron sharpening iron.

You will not grow, you will not mature. Because what happens? You start to get puffed up. And then God will sometimes allow that constructive criticism to go in and sharpen and mold and shape us. You have to be open for both.

Discerning Which Criticism Deserves a Response

Now, boy, this could, this sermon could take a lot of rabbit trails. I'm hoping to get to this in a minute. But what do you do when you're someone, like myself, who receives negative stuff every single day?

Every day, every day, every day. And on some days it makes up for the whole year. Well, two things. Number one is, who is it coming from? Where is it coming from? Of course you're going to upset our culture with these kind of messages.

Hello? And right now at 10 a .m. the messages from a few weeks ago are airing in New York on top of the Trump Towers yesterday and today. You think those are gonna just all positive stuff? So first you look at who's it coming from.

Who's saying that? Number one. Number two is, how are they saying it? How are they saying it? See, when someone says, hey, we appreciate Westside Christian Fellowship. Have you ever thought about this?

It kind of comes across wrong. Or, oh, the tone. See, the tone, the demeanor, that you can tell they might truly care. But also you would look at those who respect you, who you know, those closest to you, those who love you, will speak the truth into your life.

So, for example, since I'm being transparent and the target this morning, I would look towards those who care about the church, care about the ministry, and would want to truly offer constructive criticism.

I've shared this before, I think a few weeks back. The lady who transcribes these sermons puts them out on paper and transcribes them and helps with editing, a lot of different things. She said, Shane, the Lord put on my heart really strong and I hope you take this okay.

And I'm like, oh no, I'm reading the email. What is this? She goes, but when I'm transcribing the sermons, different things. Sounds like you're really pushing the 6 a .m. worship and you're forcing people to be there and they might be coming for the wrong reasons or wrong motives.

It's like you're really just driving that point home. So I didn't get mad. I said, you know what? You're probably right. That's something I don't want to do. Now, I'll still encourage it, but I don't want to push it on people.

And what happens is I get so excited, so passionate about something. I'm like, come on, you've got to be guys, you've got to be here. This is life-changing. God really spoke to me this morning on the altar.

But it becomes where it's pushing it too much. So those kind of things. Spouses can offer good constructive feedback. And hey, you're this with the kids or you seem short. So you have to be open for that.

So most of the criticism out there, I won't even look at. I won't even read. It's like you have two inch thick skin now, like a rhinoceros after the years go by. It's expected to do that. That's what expected to happen.

YouTube comments. Oh my Lord. How can people cuss and say such hateful things on YouTube? Nobody edits these things. And something you might find in your bulletin when you get home, if you're signed up for it, is we sent out this morning, I had an almost an hour discussion with a Democrat politician.

The audio was just sent to you. We talked about the issues from borders, to Trump's past, to security, to health care, to abortion. Is that going to cause a little bit of negative? But see those, I should expect it.

There's a battle. There's a war. There are enemies. Yes. So you prepare yourself many times. But I'm assuming a lot of that doesn't have to do with the majority of people listening or in this room. But some of this does.

I like what happened with Dwight Eisenhower. You remember him? General Dwight Eisenhower. When he was about to implement a battle plan, this is well known, he would take it to his critics. And someone said, why are you wasting your time showing your plans to your critics?

Instead, take them to your advisors. He answered, because my critics helped me find the weakness in the plan so I can correct them. I wonder if anyone's ever thought, that's why I often talk to the other side.

That's why I talk to the other side on issues, to find out, ah, let me see where you're coming from so I can better fence in our argument. I can better understand where you're coming from. Isn't that what those of you who have a sales background, isn't that what you do?

You anticipate the argument before it comes? And the same thing applies to us. Now when Paul's talking about judgments here, it's very interesting. He talked about three different judgments. And William Barclay, in his commentary, that's a good commentary, I'd recommend that.

He speaks of three judgments every man must face. He must face the judgment of his fellow man. An ancient philosopher used to say, there are only two people who can tell you the truth about yourself. You ready for this one?

No, it's not your spouse, although they can. It's an enemy who has lost his temper, and a friend who loves you dearly. Because when a person loses their temper, boy, doesn't it come out. You're never there for me.

You're always busy. You're always on your phone. You always put work first. We know. It comes out. Not everything that comes out of a person's mouth is false when they're angry. Many times it's stuff they've been holding back and holding down.

And it comes out. And also, a friend who loves you dearly. And then number two, he must face the judgment of himself. Paul knew very well that a man's judgment of himself can be clouded by self-satisfaction and by pride and by conceit.

Doesn't, can it? We can't leave our judgment up to ourself. Because what clouds our judgment? Self-satisfaction, pride, and conceit. Because we're not often open for constructive criticism. However, the Bible doesn't let us off the hook.

But in a very real sense, every man must face his own judgment. We must face our own judgment. That's why Paul would, in one of the epistles, he would say, examine yourself. Possibly in Corinthians, if we keep reading, Paul said, examine yourself.

Examine yourself. Is Jesus Christ really in you? Self-examination. Peter writes on examining self. Look at your heart. Look at what, what are you allowing into your mind and what the words you're speaking.

Many times I believe my sermons are designed to help us examine ourselves. When it hits, oh, that hit, that hurt. Why? Because examination hurts. And also, finally, he must face the judgment of God. We must face the judgment of God.

God is the final, God has the final say, the final judgment, for two reasons. Here's why. Only God knows all the circumstances. He knows the struggles a man has had. He knows the secrets that a man can tell no one.

He knows what a man might have sunk to and also what he might have climbed to. And God also knows the motives. Here's the key. Man sees the deed, but God sees the intention. That's why Paul would also say, who are you to judge another servant?

To his own master he stands or falls. So that type of judgment, we're not to go around judging other servants of God and having this pious attitude, this critical heart, and always judging and looking at the wrong and being sin-sniffers.

That's where that comes from. Can you smell the sin in here? Is it over here? I think it, want me to walk down? Man, there's a lot in here. He says remove that judgment, judgmental, I can have some fun with that one, but I'm not gonna go there.

Man sees the deed, but God sees the intention. Listen, everyone in this room, this is a wake-up call. If we've been playing games with God, it needs to end today. If we've been fooling man, fooling man by our actions or by not saying something or by saying something and having this facade, and look, I've got everyone fooled.

I'm living in sin, but I've got everyone fooled. Oh no. What a man sows, he will reap. It will be exposed. And when it's exposed, it's a lot worse. See, there's something interesting that happens when a person comes clean and says, you know what, I haven't been honest, I've been struggling in this area, and I need to just confess and repent.

There's mercy and there's grace, and something beautiful happens. But if you get caught or found out, all hell breaks loose. Marriages can be saved. Things can be saved when confession takes place. So let me just, I'm sure you're wondering, when should we answer our critics?

When Not to Answer Critics

Well, I'm getting to there, getting to that. I actually wrote an article, you can Google that as well, when should we answer our critics? If you don't have it in hand, I'm not sure if you do. I think you do, but those listening will not have it on hand.

When should we answer our critics? Well, we cannot always give people an answer. Just remember that. You cannot always answer everyone. If that's what I did, I would be busy every day answering people.

But there are times when we should answer our critics, answer those who have questions. Now let me say this up front. I do have concerns about the attitudes behind some of the judgmental websites, vindictive videos, and Pharisee blogs that are out there.

You know those armchair quarterbacks, they write, you know, standing for the truth, and they just blast everyone. They've got such an arrogant, critical heart. They not only throw people under the bus, they like driving the bus.

And this is a strong rebuke to those. I know people like that are listening. They listen to these types of messages because they love the truth, but they don't like humility. They like to pull everybody down, every church down, every worship team down, every worship song down.

If it doesn't fit right within their doctrinal parameters, you are on their hit list, you've got a target. And that's not what I'm talking about. Also, I think it's important to discuss when we don't answer before we talk about when we do answer.

Thom Rainier, it actually spells his name T-H-O-M, Thom Rainier, he writes tremendous articles on church growth and church issues. He said, don't answer your critics when you have already repeatedly responded.

Amen. This happens to me all the time. Somebody asked me a question, what Bible translation is best, or why do you use the New King James? It's from hell. You can only use the King James. Well, here's an hour-long message I did on translations.

Yeah, but, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Okay, well, here's this. Yeah, but, but, this guy's just like, he's never gonna stop. Why? Because often they're contentious. They're not looking for answers. They're looking to fight.

So that's very important. If you've already responded, you've clarified, I'm sorry, sir, but I must move on. And to be honest with you, people listening here, well, I'm honest with you the whole sermon, but this is an extra, extra, extra, extra honest point.

This is one reason why I just don't feel led often to respond on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, podcast, YouTube. Like, how do I disable all these comments? And people say, no, you can't do that. Nobody will, nobody will pay, people all want to comment.

But this is why I don't, because many people are not sincerely looking for answers. I'd say one out of ten. They just want to go back and forth and get their point across. And who has time for that? So that's very important.

If you've already responded, and you've already clarified, does this happen in family issues? Family dynamic? Oh, there's some head shaking on this one. This happens in family dynamics a lot. We've already talked about this two or three times.

We've, we've, we've went through this. This is it. I can't keep going back and forth. We've clarified it. Also, don't answer when the critic intends harm. That's a given. Also, don't answer when the critic, critic will not reason with you.

That pretty much goes back into number one, what I was saying. They won't, they're not open, they don't want to reason. When the criticism attacks your character. See, it often shifts. They'll be at a point on something, and then they shift your character.

Like I saw one recently, I just deleted it from YouTube, even though I don't usually see them. He's like, on this one video, he goes into this whole rant, says, you're, you're only in it for the money, and you're, I'm like, do you know my past?

Do you know he just uploaded all my books for free, as free downloads? Do you have any clue? And they just, they just, now, now he goes from a question about a sermon topic to, now you're just in it for the money.

You're misleading people. You're like, what's this guy's problem? Where does he come up with that? See, they just throw it out of the, just throw it out there. Just throw it out there. And so, you have to, you have to use wisdom here.

We're really not supposed to attack a person's character, unless you have valid reasons, of course. But if you're talking about different issues, you don't switch the issue, and then go to your character, necessarily, if it doesn't apply.

Five Biblical Reasons to Answer Critics

Here are some points to consider when answering our critics. Ready for this? Or do you want to do this next week? No? Okay. Number one, when they are genuinely seeking answers. We see this from Paul, as he was writing, in different areas, when they are genuinely seeking answers.

What happens a lot, especially, this won't apply to a lot of people here, but the, in the Christian community, some of the leaders out there that a lot of us know, they don't answer their critics, often.

And they're, they're proud of it. And I think, for good reason, they don't need to. But sometimes, they often say, well, Jesus, Jesus didn't. He just did ministry. Well, no, he did. He actually responded quite often to people.

And when he was hit on the cheek, he didn't turn the other cheek. He said, what evil have I done? Why did you slap me? He confronted, often. He didn't remain silent all the time. Other times, he spoke out.

He clarified. He lovingly challenged them. They would say something, he said, oh, you, you stiff-necked people. You try to do this, and try to do that, and, and he would clarify things. So, it's okay to do that.

But you have to make sure God's in it. You're not, you're not excited about clarifying that. So, when they are genuinely seeking answers, it's good to respond to your critics. Let me tell you one thing.

I hope this is okay. I might be getting myself in trouble here this morning. But I've got letters on this, and emails, and one lady was actually very genuine. I explained it. You know, sometimes when I get fired up, you know, I'm going with this one, huh?

Man, I'm just preaching. I go, oh, Lord, help us. People respond, and they say, you, you're taking the Lord's name in vain. You're blaspheming. No, I'm just saying, Lord, help us, Lord. Oh, God, help us.

Lord, help us. That's not taking the Lord's name in vain. So, I really, okay, Lord. So, I send it to the elders, too. Hey, is this, is this, is this, I'm open. Is this taking the Lord, I mean, do I need to work on this?

I just get excited, and God, help us. Oh, Lord, we help. This is not like saying, OMG, or something derogatory. I've had to work on that, too. People call me on that one. You can't say, oh, my God, that's, like, oh, yeah, okay.

Hold on. I go from construction, potty mouth to this. Come on, give me some grace here. Things might slip out sometimes. You used to communicate with cuss words. Go get that. It was, and I know Spanish cuss words, a lot of them, from telling people things in my past.

So, there's not a lot of grace, though, in the critics. So, when I do that, oh, Lord, oh, God, it's not taking his name in vain. It's calling out, God, I need you. God, oh, God, have mercy on us. And the person responded and was actually, oh, that makes sense.

Now, I understand. So, but you have to, but see, here's what I, what's so hard, too, I've got 60, under 60 minutes. Every word I say is being scrutinized. Every scripture reference I give is being double-checked and triple-checked.