It seems Christians complain as much as unbelievers

For the past two years it seems all I have heard in media and from friends is about the downward spiral of the secular culture. All I hear when I get around my Christian friends is about the U.S. presidential candidates, the turmoil over transgender bathrooms and in the last few weeks the tragedy in Orlando. I agree there are many problems in the world today, but society has always, since the beginning of time, faced many problems. It is good to think through and process the implications of these societal problems. But as believers in Christ I am beginning to wonder if we differ in any significant way from our culturally conservative, but unbelieving neighbors? It seems we complain as much as the rest.

It’s easy to complain about how society is disintegrating around us. It’s easy for us old enough to recall the 1950's middle-class America and imagine that everything would be better “if only we could go back to the nation we once were.” But Christians are called to be salt and light. It seems many Christians have no problem “being the salt”, but have some difficulty “being the light”.  We complain, criticize and judge as much as the unbelievers and offer few suggestions.

Do we still believe God is all knowing and is not surprised by any of the wickedness in the world? Do we still believe God is sovereign over evil and yes even using it for our good and the glory of his name? Do we still trust God? Have we given up hope - if we have we have lost faith in God.

Christians should be praying for our leaders, our nation, our families and neighbors. We should be trying to make wise and informed decisions with the help of the Holy Spirit. We should be willing to serve and to sacrifice. We should not be judgmental, prejudice, know it all bigots.

We are commanded to rejoice, even though, for a little while, we are grieved by various trials. For we are not without hope. We have an imperishable, perfect, unfading inheritance waiting in heaven for us. (1 Peter 1:4–6). God’s promises to us should make us different than the unbelievers that surround us. There is light at the end of the darkness, but I am witnessing some Christians who know the most about God, loving and doing the least – why? We should be doers, endeavoring great acts of love for others regardless if they believe as we do or not.

Griping, grumbling, whining, murmuring or belly-aching regardless of the word we use to describe it always has the has the same symptoms. The dictionary defines it as “an expression of unhappiness, dissatisfaction, or discontent.” Complaining is the outward expression of discontent from within.

In the Old Testament God always considered complaining as an act of unbelief directed toward Him. When they complained about their circumstances, their type of food, and even at Moses, God was displeased because they weren’t thankful for what He had provided them. He was disappointed that they refused to trust in Him to provide, protect, and direct the order of their lives. “Now when the people complained, it displeased the LORD; for the LORD heard it, and His anger was aroused. So the fire of the LORD burned among them, and consumed some in the outskirts of the camp” (Numbers 11:1). Do we think God views our complaining any differently? Regardless of whatever circumstances may cause discontent or dissatisfaction, complaining is always an expression of unbelief towards God.

Complaining is unbelief in God’s Word which says “...all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28). If we really believes that the Lord is in control of our life’s, and is working “ALL THINGS together for our good,” we will stop complaining and start thanking the Lord for the plan He is working together for us.

The Apostle Paul warned Christians to avoid the danger of complaining. “...nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer” (1 Cor. 10:10). In this Paul indicated that complaining actually gives place to the Devil in our lives and opens the door to destruction by Satan (the destroyer). The Devil thrives in an atmosphere of complaining. Complaining can literally invoke a curse of destruction as it did in the lives of the Israelite's who were destroyed in the wilderness.

Complaining is common-place in the lives of unbelievers who have no trust in God, but Christians should be people of faith, filled with gratefulness and thanksgiving. 

Complaining doesn’t change anything or make situations better. It amplifies frustration, spreads discontent and discord (which God hates - Proverb 6:16-19). Are we acting any different than unbelievers when we gripe and complain?

“What you're supposed to do when you don't like a thing is change it. If you can't change it, change the way you think about it. Don't complain.” ― Maya Angelou

Maybe we should begin to ask ourselves if morality is declining or changing. It is false to say that over the centuries Christianity has not adapted to a changing morality – do we still own slaves, are women still property of men, do women not wear jewelry and makeup, etc.? THINK!

Anger can be a motivator

I heard a minister preaching on the sin of anger. He said anger has no positive benefits and can only bring harm and often destruction to the person that is angry. He added that often the person you are angry with does not care that you are angry and may not even know that you are angry or what you are angry about. It brought to mind my own personal experience with anger. I agree when you keep your anger suppressed inside you the person you are angry with may not know you are angry, they may not care and may not realize they have done something to offend you, but I disagree that anger cannot be a motivator and have positive effects.

My father died when I was in my early teens. His oldest brother was a real jerk. After my father’s funeral he was standing on our back porch talking with some relatives and said, “I do not know what will happen to that boy. He has never had to work a day in his life, but I sure the hell am not going to help them.” He did not know that I was listening to him from inside the door.

My mother was in her bedroom with her sister crying. I went in and ask her to promise me one thing. She said I cannot promise you anything unless you tell me what it is. I told her promise me you will never ask anyone for any help. She asks why I would make such a request and I ask her to just promise me and she did.

My anger towards my uncle motivated me to succeed and with the help of God I accomplish all my goals in life and more. He never knew I was angry, but that did not matter to me. I was determined to have more money and be more successful than he ever was and I succeeded.

No one knew how I felt about him or what he had said until he died. My grandmother informed me he had died and wanted to know when I would be arriving for the funeral. I informed her I would not be coming to the funeral which shocked her. She asks why and I told her. I then called my mother and told her if our family send flowers for her not to put my name on them and she ask why and I told her.

Following my father’s death I went to work after school and on weekends. I finished high school, got a Master’s Degree in Theology with minors in psychology, government, philosophy and history. It took me eight years to complete college because I had to work and attend classes. We never ask or received any help from anyone, except God.

During my lifetime I have pastored a church, owned a grocery store, electronics store, café, janitorial service and still own stock in an automotive repair shop.  I never experienced a failure in my life. The secret to my success was the motivation I receive from the anger I had for my uncle. I give the Holy Spirit credit for giving me the knowledge to turn my anger into positive energy because I was young and would not have known it on my own.

Anger can create the most powerful energy that a human can have and if channeled in the right direction can work miracles.  Anger is not bad or good, what you do with anger will determine if it results will be bad or good.

Anger is like fire it can be helpful or harmful. You can use fire to destroy or you can use it to benefit you. It is what you do with the energy from the fire that determines if it is good or bad. The same is true with anger you can use the energy from anger to harm or to benefit. Energy cannot be destroyed, but it can be transformed for good or evil.  You determine how you will use the energy from anger.

You may keep your anger inside and think you have it under control, but the energy from anger is still there. It is inside eating away at you. High blood pressure, ulcers, colitis, and other digestive diseases are common in people who keep their anger inside of themselves. Or, you can put the energy from anger to work and produce a positive outcome.

I did not tell anyone that I was angry, but I did not keep it stifled inside, I put the energy from my anger to work for my good. You can share your anger with everyone you come in contact with and explain how you were wronged and each time you tell the story you add gasoline to the flames of your anger. You use your anger to produce more anger. It is nothing wrong with seeking help from someone that can help, but it is a waste of time just to rehash the same story over and over. I would have gone to someone that I knew could help, but I did not have a person like that in my life at the time. Nothing positive comes from using the energy from your anger to complain.

 I chose to use the energy of my anger to motivate me into creating a better situation. I discovered later that this is the highest purpose for the energy that comes from anger and is probably why God gave us the emotion of anger. It is the greatest motivator you can have. The energy from anger can give you the opportunity to create something better out of the situation that created the anger.

I was determined to set boundaries and earn the respect that I thought I deserved. I knew I was not worthless as my uncle thought. It is interesting that he lived in Florida and we lived in Texas and I had not even seen the man for a total of ten days in my life. My father avoided him because as I said earlier he was a jerk. I am sure he would roll over in his grave if he knew he was responsible for much of my success and had motivated me to be the most successful person in our family.

Do not be ashamed of your anger. Transform your anger energy into motivation so that you might discover ways to change the situation into one in which will benefit all those around you. The results from the energy from my anger has allowed me to provide good incomes for over one hundred families, support my mother, until her death, pay college tuition for deserving people, pay hospital bills for people that needed some assistant, do all kinds of charity work and brought me tremendous joy in the process. Don’t waste anger put it to good use!