Monday, September 08, 2008

Poison of Complaining

Complaint, complaint, complaint…Words screaming from youth and even adults. “That’s stupid”, “Why are we doing that”, “Oh my, what a moron”, “That’s so dumb”, “Why can’t we do it like this”. Complaint, complaint, complaint.
When will this poison stop killing the church as it is today. It has already suffered so much, and the poison keeps spreading.
I used to be among the top complainers of my day. However last year I was notified of this sin in my own life and drastic changes had to be made. Do I still complain? I am no where near perfection. However, by the grace of God, my complaining is a lot more rare to catch. I like how C.J. Mahaney put it, complaining is saying God, I don’t trust you. I know your way is not best. However, Lord…I have a solution! My way oh Lord is better…
I hope you see how sick, twisted, and perverted this is. How dare we as created beings talk back to God and say we don’t trust a sovereign God who works everything for good!

Now, some of you may be wondering what the poison is in reference to. We are going to dissect how complaining has effects on the complainer and the ones who hear the complainer.

Phil 2:14 says, “Do all things without
grumbling or questioning”

We may ask “Why”

God replies in the following verse,
“that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God”

So even God warns us against complaining. As I said earlier, when you complain you are telling God you don’t trust in Him and His sovereign will is meaningless. So what does it say to others? The exact same thing.

Complaining is very catching. Say we are in a group and something doesn’t go my way. And I speak loudly and complain about it. What is that going to do to the others in the group? Will my speech point them back to God? Scratch that idea. You will be taking them down with you in sin.
Complaining can also hurt others and may shun them from every speaking up. The picture of my youth group comes to mind. Say a close friend gives input about an upcoming idea and I say, “That was the dumbest idea yet…”
That comment could hurt my friend but it is a lot more deadly then that. A more quiet person is never go to speak up because you caused them to be afraid and need your approval.
If you are the complainer you are not helping out at all. You are a vessel being used to spread this deadly poison. You are not only corrupting the group or friends you are with, but you are also corrupting your very being.
The world is not going to want to join the church if all we ever do is complain. Are we as believers showing Christ and acting like little Christ’s if we are complaining? Since when has complaining ever achieved anything for the good? When has someone come to the Lord because of a complainer?

This poison has got to stop corrupting the church today. When will it stop?

Here is my solution: I am going to echo what I’ve heard from a conference by C.J. Mahaney.

1. Take one bit of scripture.
-In this instance, memorize and or meditate on Phil. 2:14. “Do all things without grumbling or questioning”

2. What is the truth in this verse?
-Answer, do not complain.

3. Within the next following days, evaluate yourself after each night. When you feel the need to complain, remember the Scriptures, it’s your only cure!

(I also urge accountability, confess your sins to one another; James 5:16.)

Will you be the cure or will you just contribute to the poison?


In Prayers,


-AgapeTheologian

13 comments:

preacherman said...

Wonderful post.
You do a fantastic job with your blog. Keep up the great work! I am looking forward to reading more of your blog in the future. It is awesome!

Anonymous said...

good job!! i was thinking about how upset God got at the Israelites and their complaining. they had MAJOR consequences!!!

Shep Shepherd said...

Am I correct in reading that... you are complaining about complaining?

Sorry, I couldn't resist. ;-)

Kade said...

Cool blog!
-Kade

AgapeTheologian said...

Sorry guys, I haven't posted in what feels like "forever". I tried to post today what it seems like I keep getting an error message. Weird, huh?

-AgapeTheologian

P.S. You caught me AspiringTheologian ;)

Erik B. said...

Good post! Sadly, what you wrote is so true. I think you hit the nail on the head when you said, "The world is not going to want to join the church if all we ever do is complain."

Looking at the example of Christ we find he did not complain- even in the face of the cross. Most of us will never face anything like He did so why should we complain?

Felicity said...

So... are you like some of us who never post on their blogs?

Interesting post by the way... we really should stop complaining about Bennett! :P (just in case you read this)

AgapeTheologian said...

Haha Felicity...but I am not sure what you are referring to.

Yes, my blog has had many errors on it, so I may have to revamp it or something.

-Justin

Felicity said...

You're so far behind the times...

My comment about Bennett was a joke. And I posted that months ago.

Lexi said...

WOW! Awesome post! I just found your blog through The Rebelution. So true..and so sad.

A little leaven can ruin the whole lump! We need to close our mouths and edify each other..not bring others down by our careless words!

Thanks for sharing!

lauren said...

sao when are you going to post next?
I think I was on here a year or two ago and there had been no new post.
then I geton again after forever and an age and hey look and new post from months ago. =)

Kaitland Conley said...

Great post, J!

I agree with others on here, that you should keep up posting! I know you don't have time at the moment but when you do will you do a post? Please? :D

~Kay

Kyle said...

Interesting... I just heard a sermon about Complaining this past Sunday. x)