Post details: Griping and grumbling (idolatry)

08/25/08

Permalink 02:13:43 am, Categories: GraceHead teaching, By Trent
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Griping and grumbling (idolatry)

Circumstances do not change what someone is, they reveal what someone is. ... and so it is written that as Paul was imprisoned unjustly - there was not a Roman that Paul saw at the other end of his chain.

Ephesians 3:1
"... I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus..."

Ephesians 4:1
"As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you ."

Philemon 1:9
". I then, as Paul–an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus"

And so on.

Where others saw a roman guard at the end of the chain, Paul saw someone different. Paul saw Jesus as the One imprisoning him, and he was happy to be wherever Jesus had him, whether on the open sea or in a dungeon - violating his Roman citizenship.

So trouble comes your way, as it does for all. That trouble reveals something about the others that have neglected decency, but our reaction reveals us, and God is not interested in dealing with anyone else but ourselves with ourselves.

Why try to change the circumstance by griping and shaming the offenders?
Why not be changed by the circumstance and soften the heart by running to the Lord?

Griping and grumbling is a false idol that I use to evoke a change or control those that make me uncomfortable. You can justify it all you want, but don't ask me to join you. There is no justification for me (or anyone else) to complain, for to do so is a complaint against Christ who holds the cosmos together with His might, and Who permits whatever circumstance that we might wish He would have prevented.

Comments:

Comment from: pam [Visitor]
I've been thinking about this post a lot the last couple of days. Your statement about Paul accepting his prison guards as Jesus has brought up all different kinds of comparisons. I couldn't help but relate this comment to what I've been thinking a lot about myself and that is Christ's seven warnings to the churches. We all want to be a part of that church of brotherly love and many of us go from church to church searching for that rare,genuinely spiritual atmosphere to no avail. Then when I read all those other warnings and how really vile those churches are with Christ's admonition not to leave but to hold on until He comes and it is a bit hard to swallow when I am so sick of the ambitions of clergy in place of the Holy Spirit. Your comment puts that in a new light for me. God has a reason for putting us where He wants us even if the place we are is completely opposite to God and what the Bible teaches the church should be. I am not sure though that we are to remain quiet while serving God in these difficult places. I think God does lead us, at times, to speak out against the evil that is often found in 'high' places. I know for those who are content with their nice little church clubs consider that whining and complaining. I end up after a couple of days considering this post that yes, God does put us where He wants us and it is best to accept it but the response to situation or even our response to a whining person is probably not so easy as a one size fits all. Just as we accept our circumstance when it is unpleasant as God's Will for us so too should we be willing to speak when He directs us to speak even when we would rather not.

We belong to Jesus and not ourselves and how we live in this world is under His direction. What we do may not always make sense as we are of the Spirit and it is not known to others where we come from or where we are going. They are unable to judge us because what we do is not always governed by human desire. Neither can we judge ourselves for often we are led to do what we don't want to do and we don't know beforehand what God will direct us to do. Rules can produce a kind of morality but they cannot replicate genuine Christian faith that is the believer living as an instrument of God with full knowledge of that fact.
Permalink 08/27/08 @ 22:13
Comment from: Trent [Member] · http://www.GraceHead.com
Pam,

Sorry so long in getting back on this.
I liked what you wrote.

you: """Just as we accept our circumstance when it is unpleasant as God's Will for us so too should we be willing to speak when He directs us to speak even when we would rather not."""

Agreed.

Nevertheless, it is once again not a "what to do" question ... but a "why we do it" question. For example, one might speak up because the Lord directs you ... and another might speak up in much the same way but it is a different motivation (for example, wanting comfort.)

... just to clarify.

You also: """Rules can produce a kind of morality but they cannot replicate genuine Christian faith that is the believer living as an instrument of God with full knowledge of that fact."""

While still in the moment of carrying out a specific directive placed in our hearts by the Holy Spirit there is nothing (including the ten moral laws) to consider. However, when there is no specific directive from God to obey or otherwise, then one is blessed as they keep themselves far from unrighteousness through carefully taking consideration of the law written on our hearts which is not different than the ten moral laws ... always fulfilled by love.

Wouldn't you agree?

Ripening,
-Trent
Permalink 09/03/08 @ 01:04

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