We’ve been in California almost three months now and I’m pretty sure our search for a new church home is over; though I toyed with the idea of leaving before the service started this past weekend when I saw the sermon title – “The Sin of Complaining”.  Sin is such a harsh word!  Yet scripture makes it very clear that there is no other way to address the expressions of a dissatisfied heart.  The upside to conviction is that when I respond with confession and repentance about those areas in my life where the Holy Spirit is directing His laser pointer, God is quick to forgive and release His power to begin some serious house cleaning (1 John 1:9).

Some years ago, I was working at a job I kind of enjoyed, for an employer whose personality was quite abrasive—good news, bad news, but I believed that God led me there.  I remember sending my daughter an e-mail one time “sharing” some of the difficulties I was experiencing with the job and the boss.  She replied with a scathing rebuke, essentially saying that, if things were so bad, why did I stay there? (our kids can be so smart sometimes!).

My response was something along the line of saying that I was just sharing my feelings, not complaining, because I believed I was where I was supposed to be.  Classic Denial, with a touch of Blaming God for my problems.  Here is the thing about my spiritual journey, there has been a lot of emotional healing and some counseling along the way, and a part of my growing process was to “get in touch with my feelings” and to express them.  The biggest problem with that is, when I attempt to roll the burdens off my shoulders by thinly disguising my complaints as “expressing my feelings” someone else is often in the way and if not careful, gets knocked over by them.

I think most Christians are familiar with the misadventures of the Israelites wandering their way from Egypt to Palestine; everything went wrong and nothing seemed to make them happy.  Very often their circumstances appeared overwhelming, yet they belonged to a mighty God who parted a sea, sent manna from heaven, and turned bitter water sweet—however, they did not act or talk like it.  Numbers 11:1-15 records Moses’ response to their continual complaints (“just kill me now!”) and God’s opinion of their attitudes (“his anger was kindled”).

The writer of Hebrews tells us “without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).  Unfortunately, I am more inclined to take the easy route by complaining or harboring faithless thoughts and attitudes instead of diligently seeking God.  I’m sure I’ve found different wrappings for my gripes such as “but I’m so frustrated” or “I can’t help it if I feel that way”; however, no matter how we package it, complaining is evidence of unbelief.

The apostle Paul writes, “Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:14).  I find a couple of interesting things in this verse—the first is there are no caveats!  He tells them “do all things without complaining….”  There are no exceptions; he excludes no person or situation from this command.  The other thing I find significant is that our refusal to complain in the midst of difficult situations sets us apart from the rest of the world.  Or another way to look at it is, when we voice discontent and complaints, we extinguish our ability to be light in a dark world.

Paul also confirms to the church in Philippi, “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content” (Philippians 4:11).  I’m suspicious that Paul did not immediately become content the moment he “saw the light”; instead, it was an attitude he learned throughout the difficulties he encountered as an uncompromising follower of Jesus—he also recognized the spiritual basis for some of his challenging encounters with people when he wrote, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood…” (Ephesians 6:12).

There are some things to keep in mind when we are inclined to complain:  First off, if there is something we can, in love and with the approval of the Holy Spirit, do about a difficult situation, then do it!—don’t just complain about it.  Second, take Peter’s advice to cast (and continue casting) all of your cares on Jesus, because “He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).  Third, believe Jesus, who said, “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’…But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:31, 33).  Fourth, and I think the most important, is to follow Paul’s instructions to the Thessalonians, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

My heart echoes the words of King David who wrote, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).