‘But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let’s follow the Spirit as well. Let’s not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.’ Galatians 5:22-26
Three things have become commonplace in our culture that will stifle any real growth in our lives. They stifle development and will also hold us back from growing closer to the relational or spiritual goals we have set.
One of the things that breaks my heart the most is that “Christians” will engage in these activities and wonder why their lives do not reflect the blessings that God promises those who submit their lives to the Lord.
This post will focus on three words: criticism, complaining, and comparing. Let’s tackle these one at a time.
Criticism is the expression of disapproval of someone or something based on perceived faults or mistakes.
This world has enough critics. I almost didn’t write this post because I didn’t want to criticize anyone for it, but I will attempt to do so with “truth in love.”
‘Do not participate in the useless deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; ‘ Ephesians 5:11
This is one of the verses I have heard quoted on YouTube as the reason someone does videos that expose “false” teachers. Don’t get me wrong; there are people mentioned in these videos who I feel are twisting the Word of God for personal gain.
Unfortunately, twisting the Word of God to expose those twisting it doesn’t seem right.
I believe doing this exposes their message and gives them another opportunity to get it out in the open.
You may say, “John, how is God’s Word twisted to expose “false” teachers with the verse Ephesians 5:11?” Well, it becomes apparent when you take the verse a little further.
‘Do not participate in the useless deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. ‘ Ephesians 5:11-13
As I read this verse, I understand we should not give the people we feel are being “false” prophets a platform. In other words, we give no credence to what they say. The way that we expose these people is by living our lives submitted to the Lord. This light exposes the darkness around us, not by calling them out on a video you piece together in a one-way message.
What I know about YouTube is that you can earn an income if you can garner enough followers for your channel and get enough views for your videos. And let’s be honest, people love to watch a reasonable disagreement. Why do people tune into the news channels at night?
I honestly think I would respect them if these people spent as much time helping their neighbors as they do making these divisive videos. Still, as I look at these videos, I only see the desire to get views and money from people watching their videos.
What I won’t do is name the people I am referring to with this post, but I will give you words to look out for when suffering on YouTube:
“… from a Christian perspective.”
“… a real Christian point of view.”
This list could go on and on.
What are we to do with people not correctly using God’s Word?
‘The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, skillful in teaching, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.’ 2 Timothy 2:24-26
I feel that in this world of critics when we add to it as Christians, we are simply conforming to this world. This is especially true when we start criticizing things outside our ability to change what we criticize.
Satan has been referred to as the accuser. He is up there pointing out all the ills of this world, our sins and theirs included. Thankfully, God sent Jesus to die for those sins. The question is, will they accept His gift of grace?
As long as oxygen is in our lungs, God’s grace is available to even those “false” teachers.
So what do we do? We pray.
Complaining is a statement that something is “unsatisfactory” or “unacceptable.”
In our culture, complaining seems to be a natural way of life. The question is, are we in a position to improve the situation?
I’ve taken this view of complaining. I picture a circle of about three feet around, and I am in the middle of that circle. Unfortunately, I really only have control over where I find myself in that circle, and even that is questionable.
Sometimes, I think things I don’t want to think, and I say things that I wish I didn’t say. My control over myself is questionable at best.
‘For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am fleshly, sold into bondage to sin. For I do not understand what I am doing; for I am not practicing what I want to do, but I do the very thing I hate. However, if I do the very thing I do not want I agree with the Law, that the Law is good. But now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that good does not dwell in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. But if I do the very thing I do not want, I am no longer doing it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. For I joyfully agree with the law of God in the inner person, but I see a different law in the parts of my body waging war against the law of my mind, and making me a prisoner of the law of sin, the law which is in my body’s parts. Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.’ Romans 7:14-25
Let’s go back to the circle. Even with limited control over myself, I choose to focus on the people and circumstances that I have absolutely no control over. The problem with this is that God is in control over all of the things that I concentrate on in a complaining way.
In other words, I am complaining against God. So, I am saying that the people and this world God created are not good enough in my eyes.
Unfortunately, it almost sounds like the sin that caused the fall is still alive and well. And that sin is pride.
‘Do not complain, brothers and sisters, against one another, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door. As an example, brothers of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful. ‘ James 5:9-11
Are there problems that we have a hurting heart for in this world? Yes! But if we are complaining without taking any meaningful action to correct it, without violating the will of others, our complaining is meaningless.
Comparing is estimating, measuring, or noting “similarities” or “dissimilarities.”
When we compare ourselves to those around us, we can limit our growth moving forward. Two things will happen when we engage in comparing:
- We will think that we are in a better position than the person we are comparing ourselves against, leading to the idea that we have it made.
- We will think that we are in a worse position than the other person, leading to the idea that we can never get to that level, and we give up any effort to improve.
‘For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. For just as we have many parts in one body and all the body’s parts do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually parts of one another. However, since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them properly: if prophecy, in proportion to one’s faith; if service, in the act of serving; or the one who teaches, in the teaching; or the one who exhorts, in the work of exhortation; the one who gives, with generosity; the one who is in leadership, with diligence; the one who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Love must be free of hypocrisy. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor, not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.’ Romans 12:3-13
We have all been gifted by God to build up the church, but there is a propensity to give one gift a higher standing than another. But they are all important. It is our fleshly nature that causes strife and jealousy amongst ourselves.
This world tells us that we need to be in the limelight and be important, but in the Kingdom of Heaven, we must submit our wills and utilize the gifts the Lord has provided us to serve those around us.
I pray this post will give you the courage to escape this culture of criticizing, complaining, and comparing. As Christians, there is only one thing we should compare our lives against the Holy standard outlined in His Gospel.
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your grace, mercy, and forgiveness.
I pray that You give me the courage to stand for Your Gospel by my humble submission to Your Word. Give me the humility to look at others and see how You see them.
I pray that You soften my eyes and help me to boldly proclaim Your Gospel through my thoughts, words, and actions.
In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray, Amen!!
