Apr 9

For  certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. These people are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage. These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. (Jude 1:4, 16, 19 NIV)

These selected verses from the book of Jude remind us that satan is out to thwart the work of the church. One of his weapons is people within the church. People who water down or change the gospel message; people who "pervert the grace of God into a license for immorality..."  Sound familiar?  There are many topics being debating within the church today that are simply black and white in scripture. Satan is winnig when we debate these topics in front of nonbelievers.  

How about "grumblers and faultfinders?"  Do you ever come out of church griping about the music, the temperature, the flat delivery of the message, or something else?  I've become particularly sensitive to the number of people who have some negative critique of church, but cannot recall the message.  You've done yourself and all of those around you a great disservice when you appoint yourself a critic and fail to grasp the message.  None of us are in a position to criticize!  We are all terrible sinners and deserve death. The fact that we are privileged enough to worship God freely and without persecution provides an opportunity to hear God speak, see him work in and around us, and worship him with abandon.  Failure to do so is our own fault, no one else's, so we all need to stop adding sin upon ourselves like heaping coals by thinking that God has appointed us a critic.  

The text goes on to indict those who criticize others in the church or constantly brag about themselves. These people just wear me out. They are obviously needy and insecure and somehow that is my fault or responsibility to address.  

So to all of us I say STOP!  Knock it off!  Shut your ignorant, critical mouth, and quit giving satan a foothold in your own life, the lives of those around you, and in the life of the church.   Recognize that we are all sinners and in need of grace. Look for what God is offering you through others and through the service rather than what doesn't "meet your needs". Scripture says you need to die!  That we are not struck down by a bolt of lightning is cause enough to celebrate!  

I challenge you to quit being so self centered that you feel even the urge to criticize.  Become so focused on loving God and loving others that His love overwhelms and even casts out your critical spirit.  Endeavor to walk away from church, SS, or encounters with others feeling blessed rather than deprived.  

A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. (Proverbs 11:25 NIV)