Put two or more Christian men in a room together after one of them has just used their gifts to serve the kingdom and its almost inevitable that there’ll be a session of “iron sharpening iron”… it’s biblical.
I think the notion is healthy. But I think at times we can jump straight into thinking of one another as a robust elemental substance. We can forget that it’s person sharpening person – and sometimes assume that our critique is what they want to hear almost immediately. I suspect sometimes we’re geared up to be “iron” and the other person is a little more brittle. Even in designated “critique sessions” we jump straight in as though our criticism is ordained and automatically appropriate. It’s not always the case.
I’ve been sitting on this post for a while – just in case anybody who has critiqued me thought I was talking about them. It’s born more out of my own desire to provide “constructive” feedback after every talk I hear.
Comments
I find the whole phrase a bit presumptuous actually. What makes either party think they are iron? Nikko pen defacing chalk?
Once upon a time students would preach at the College chapel service.
Then, after we'd finished, (in a different room) the sermon would be critiqued.
The process was something like iron sharpening jelly.
It should have been done the next day or something.
My recent post Presbyterian Theological Center Sydney Announces New Lecturers