Are Christians allowed to deliberately avoid criticism?

[Ashley755]

I imagine there is a good chance that being afraid of what someone might say about you could be addressed as fear of man, which is a sin.

Yet, if one feels confident that something they will say could promote criticism and harshness (maybe they don’t even fully trust this person not to criticize them yet) should they just tell them regardless, or are we allowed as Christians to avoid emotional pain deliberately without being guilty of the fear of man?

In the same sense, can we keep secrets from people to spare ourselves pain as long as those secrets don’t do anyone any harm being under wraps and/or dishonor God?

Keep in mind, I’m not talking about not sharing one’s faith for fear of criticism—just little details about oneself, like the things you tell a person that you are opening up to.

Thank you.

 

[Aldebaran]

I imagine there is a good chance that being afraid of what someone might say about you could be addressed as fear of man, which is a sin.

Yet, if one feels confident that something they will say could promote criticism and harshness (maybe they don’t even fully trust this person not to criticize them yet) should they just tell them regardless, or are we allowed as Christians to avoid emotional pain deliberately without being guilty of the fear of man?

In the same sense, can we keep secrets from people to spare ourselves pain as long as those secrets don’t do anyone any harm being under wraps and/or dishonor God?

Keep in mind, I’m not talking about not sharing one’s faith for fear of criticism—just little details about oneself, like the things you tell a person that you are opening up to.

Thank you.

I think there is a time and place to share certain things about yourself that is better than others. Some people are turned off if you share too much too soon.

 

[eleos1954]

I imagine there is a good chance that being afraid of what someone might say about you could be addressed as fear of man, which is a sin.

Yet, if one feels confident that something they will say could promote criticism and harshness (maybe they don’t even fully trust this person not to criticize them yet) should they just tell them regardless, or are we allowed as Christians to avoid emotional pain deliberately without being guilty of the fear of man?

In the same sense, can we keep secrets from people to spare ourselves pain as long as those secrets don’t do anyone any harm being under wraps and/or dishonor God?

Keep in mind, I’m not talking about not sharing one’s faith for fear of criticism—just little details about oneself, like the things you tell a person that you are opening up to.

Thank you.

Depends on who you are talking with a brother or sister in Christ .. or not.

Proverbs 9:8

Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.

 

[~Anastasia~]

I imagine there is a good chance that being afraid of what someone might say about you could be addressed as fear of man, which is a sin.

Yet, if one feels confident that something they will say could promote criticism and harshness (maybe they don’t even fully trust this person not to criticize them yet) should they just tell them regardless, or are we allowed as Christians to avoid emotional pain deliberately without being guilty of the fear of man?

In the same sense, can we keep secrets from people to spare ourselves pain as long as those secrets don’t do anyone any harm being under wraps and/or dishonor God?

Keep in mind, I’m not talking about not sharing one’s faith for fear of criticism—just little details about oneself, like the things you tell a person that you are opening up to.

Thank you.

It usually depends on the situation. Sometimes the right and Christian thing to do is to avoid conflict or avoid stirring someone else to what might be sin for them.

The surest guide is to think what is best for the other person, and take that into consideration. Then we are acting in love, and that always fulfills the law.

But there is nothing that says you must say everything in every case (that could actually be bad for you and others), nor that you take it upon yourself to always offer criticism.

 

[Dave-W]

What you share about your self will depend greatly on your relationship with whoever you are sharing with. A person you do not know or do not trust should not be given very personal information.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

QUOTE="Ashley755, post: 73274948, member: 412125"]I imagine there is a good chance that being afraid of what someone might say about you could be addressed as fear of man, which is a sin.

Yet, if one feels confident that something they will say could promote criticism and harshness (maybe they don’t even fully trust this person not to criticize them yet) should they just tell them regardless, or are we allowed as Christians to avoid emotional pain deliberately without being guilty of the fear of man?

In the same sense, can we keep secrets from people to spare ourselves pain as long as those secrets don’t do anyone any harm being under wraps and/or dishonor God?

Keep in mind, I’m not talking about not sharing one’s faith for fear of criticism—just little details about oneself, like the things you tell a person that you are opening up to.
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MSG
During the time he was in Jerusalem, those days of the Passover Feast, many people noticed the signs he was displaying and, seeing they pointed straight to God, entrusted their lives to him. But Jesus didn’t entrust his life to them. He knew them inside and out, knew how untrustworthy they were. He didn’t need any help in seeing right through them.

PHILLIPS
While he was in Jerusalem at Passover-time, during the festivities many believed in him as they saw the signs that he gave. But Jesus, on his side, did not trust himself to them—for he knew them all. He did not need anyone to tell him what people were like: he understood human nature.

VOICE
But Jesus saw through to the heart of humankind, and He chose not to give them what they requested. He didn’t need anyone to prove to Him the character of humanity. He knew what man was made of.