Complaining

​The Early Church in the Bible was confronted with a relationship hindering, unity busting issue in its congregations: Christians complaining against Christians.
 
Sad to say, it is no different today. Churches are packed with complaining Christians.
 
Everything from the length of the Pastor’s sermon, his personal style, his family’s lifestyle, the worship team’s performance, ministry workers care for children, to campus décor, expenditure of God’s funds, fellow church members apparel, and on and on and on…. all are subject to subjective judgment by self-righteous, sanctimonious believers who take upon themselves the mantle of judge, jury and verdict.
 
The word complain means groan, murmur or bear a grudge. Ouch! Do we really realize what we are doing when we complain against a brother? I think not. For if we did, I think we would think twice before murmuring against our brothers and sisters in Christ.
 
You and I should be deeply ashamed of ourselves. I will admit I have done my share of complaining over the years. I am not proud of my murmuring and complaining. But goodness gracious, how much damage have I, and maybe you, inflicted on our relationships with fellow believers in Christ because we have complained against them?
 
I have concluded there is no biblical justification for me passing judgment on any Christian brother by complaining about them.
 
James had a word from God for the Christians in his day and ours. It is important that you and I heed his admonition.
 
“Do not complain, brethren, against one another, that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door.” James 5:9
 
James might as well as said, let me be perfectly clear, DO NOT COMPLAIN AGAINST ONE OTHER.” Complaining and murmuring was and is out of bounds according to God’s Word.
 
Brothers, do not complain against your brothers. Why? Because when you do, you will be judged. The Judge, God Almighty, the Judge of all judges, will pass judgment on you for passing judgment on others. Note “the Judge is standing right at the door.” The Judge is Johnny on the spot! Right at the door. Listening to our words.
 
Criticizing, complaining, murmuring, gossiping, griping, groaning and moaning against one another is an unholy scourge and demonic curse in the church. Complaining is immature at best, sinful at the worst.
 
James tells us in chapter 3, verse 17 “Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin.” We know as Bible-believing Christians to complain against our brothers is not right. So, if we do it, according to God’s Word, it is sin. Pure and simple. It is sin because we are judging one another and we are commanded not to judge each other. (Matthew 7:1-5).
 
How many of our brothers and sisters have been hurt and disheartened by complaining? How many churches have been torn apart by strife and division because of complainers? How many pastors have been discouraged and burned out having to deal with constant criticism from the people they serve?
 
News Bulletin: Criticizing and complaining is not a spiritual gift.
 
Ten Simple Steps To Cease Complaining
 
            1. Do you like it when others complain against you? Probably not.
            2. Take your complaint to God and pray for your brother.
            3. Forgive your brother for all offense against you.
            4. Control your tongue. Resist the fleshly temptation to murmur against a       `                      Christian. (James 3:1-12).
            5. Never, never tear down your fellow Christians. Always, always build them up.
            6. Speak highly of your brother or sister in the presence of others.
            7. Check your motivation. Why are you complaining against a brother?
            8. Is it Christ-like to complain against fellow Christians?
9. Stop and think. What will my complaining against a brother or sister do to him/her, the body of Christ, and my witness to an unbelieving world?
            10. Remember:  you are accountable to God for your treatment of your brother.
 
Think with me for a moment. If Christians stopped complaining against one another:
 

• The devil would have one less opportunity to divide the body of Christ.
• Strife, unity and division in the body of Christ would expire.
• Believers would have clear consciences toward one another.
• Energy given to complaining would be directed to soul-winning.
• The world would be attracted, not repelled, by Christians and the church.
• The Lord would be pleased with how we treat one another.

 
Are you a complaining Christian? Do you have such a critical attitude toward others that you hardly realize that you complain against your fellow Christians? Would those who know you best say you are infected with a complaining spirit?
 
Is there someone you need to go to with a humble heart and ask for forgiveness for complaining against them? If so, go.
 
Maybe, just maybe, spiritual revival and renewal would come to the church of the Lord Jesus Christ if we stopped complaining against our brothers and sisters in Christ.
 
Just a thought.
             
“And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against another, just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. And beyond all these things, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.”                                                                                 Colossians 3:12-14
 
“Do not judge lest you be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. And why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, “Let me take the speck out of your eye” and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye? Jesus, Matthew 7:1-5
 
A Word For Your Week: Stop judging other Christians by complaining about them.