Grumbling
Grumbling—it comes naturally for all of us. That’s why we need to be reminded over and over again that God hates it. God hates grumbling because grumbling destroys relationships. Grumbling destroys churches. And perhaps most important of all, grumbling destroys worship. It’s impossible to complain and offer praise to God at the same time. Grumbling and gratitude can’t co-exist. Paul reminds us that God judges grumbling. In 1 Corinthians 10:9-10 he tells us what happened to the Israelites in the wilderness when he warns, We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.
Grumbling—the possibilities are endless. We can grumble about our spouse. We can grumble about our children or our parents. We can grumble about our jobs and our circumstances. And, of course, we can grumble about our fellow believers—we can grumble about the church. Have you ever done that? Even now, do you find yourself grumbling about something or someone in your church family? Maybe you’ve grumbled about the pastor. Maybe he’s made a decision you don’t agree with. Maybe he’s wronged you or let you down. Maybe he wasn’t there when you needed him. So you grumble. We can grumble about a Sunday School teacher or the youth leaders or the church board. There are too many special offerings. There aren’t enough special offerings. Too many hymns. Not enough hymns. The music’s too loud. The music’s not loud enough. Grumble, grumble, grumble…
Our churches are led by sinners saved by grace and filled with sinners saved by grace. Believe me, I know—there’s plenty to grumble about. There always will be. Even so, this fact remains—God judges grumblers. He judged grumblers in the wilderness. He’ll judge grumblers in His church. That being the case, we’d be wise to address our frustrations in a different way. God shows us his way in Scripture. Colossians 3:12-13 instructs us, Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
Please stop and ponder. When we are hurt, angry, or disappointed with each other, rather than grumble, God commands us to bear with one another. He commands us to forgive. In the book of Matthew Jesus tells us what steps we must take to make forgiveness real. In Matthew 5:23-24 Jesus says, …if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. Be reconciled to your brother… In Matthew 18:15, He adds, If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.
Whether our brother has something against us or we have something against our brother, God’s instructions are clear. We must not grumble. We must go! Don’t talk about your brother or sister. Talk to them. And please, don’t allow a fellow believer to talk about someone else to you. Send them to the one who has offended them so they can forgive even as they have been forgiven in Christ. If we hold each other accountable in this, we will be blessed.
Backbiting, gossip, and grumbling are sin. God will not long tolerate these things in His Church. Is there someone you need to talk to today? Is there someone you need to forgive?