January 09, 2007
Grumbling
Not too long ago on Fox News a former CIA Senior Analyst was asked about CIA leaks. The analyst noted he wasn’t nearly as worried about the leaks as he was about what the leaks revealed. I wouldn’t say we in the church leak…but we do grumble. Certainly our desire is for the church to be peaceful, with everyone in agreement and of one accord. However the reality is that we, like the early church, have conflicts and differences of opinion. It’s easy to point the accusatory finger of grumbling at each other, but grumbling may be a symptom, not an illness. I think the question we should be asking ourselves is, what does the grumbling reveal?
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Gail;
----Merriam-Webster seems to think grumbling is muttering in discontent. Paul doesn't think we should grumble (I Cor 10:10), and neither does James (James 5:9). As many legitmate matters as there seems to be to grumble about, I guess that response should not be. But neither does it seem right to sit back and become a contented spectator to the many inappropriate attitudes and behaviors that will inevitably happen among the oblivious. So maybe some complaint should be made.
----Merriam-Webster thinks that complaining is to express grief, pain, or discontentment. It seems to be the same activity as grumbling, but with a better attitude. Peter tells us to be joyful in our pain and grief (I Pet 4:12-13), and Paul thinks it is good to be contented in any circumstances. Paul told the Philippians to do everything without complaining or arguing. (Phil 2:14).
----It is obvious that our response to the sins around us should not be for the goal of our comfort or bliss. We are called to carry a cross as well, to die to ourselves, and to concern ourselves with others. Therefore the suffering caused by the trashy treatment of some calls for patience and perseverence. But not deceit.
----Paul tells us that we are to speak the truth to one another in love. Love is not a perfumey emotion. It is an alignment with attitudes towards others and towards reality. It looks for what is right and seeks to do what is right for anyone within your proximity. Otherwise love is phony.
----When I see people being significantly mistreated by other people it makes me hurly-burly mad, because Paul, and Peter, and James have called the wronged ones to contentment irrespective of the situation, and the wrongdoers are taking advantage of their sheepliness.
----Thank God Paul also says that a spiritual man should gently attempt to restore those sinning offenders (Gal 6:1), and King Lemuel's mommy taught him to speak up for those who can not speak for themselves and for the rights of the destitute. James says that if any man knows the good he ought to do and does not do it, to him it is sin (James 4:17).
----Peace is not a state of being that happens when one side of an issue overpowers and dominates into silence the other side. Two things may sit side by side in absolute silence, but not both be peaceful. A child asleep on his favorite Christmas toy, or a helpless man mugged and maimed into unconsciousness, neither stirs, but only one has experienced peace.
----So, I don't think there needs to be grumbling or complaining in the church. Just kind and gentle, but firm and honest exposure by the truth. Over, and over, and over, and over, and over. The Greek of Ephesians 4:15 is present tense, which means continous action. Keep on speaking the truth in love, and do not lie so as to cover for those who call themselves led by God, yet step on their brothers and sisters to reach what they truly think God has called them to do.
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