Stop Yer Complainin’ and Do Something!
By Shane Bennett
I had a challenging, even upsetting, conversation after church a couple weeks ago. I had promo’d the upcoming speaker and mentioned the guy would be talking, in part, about racism. I may have mentioned that if you didn’t want to hear that, you might choose to stay home.
Afterwards, a friend asked to chat and expressed concern. One point led to another until he’d given me his socio-political view of life. When he paused after lamenting how divided our country currently is, I jumped in. “What’s the solution, Tom? What can be done?” He replied, “I don’t know. But I do know the socialism that’s being pushed on us these days isn’t going to make things better!”
Maybe not. But deep inside my brain a circuit fizzed, smoked, and blew. I can still feel my frustration. How often do we complain, complain, complain, but don’t lift a finger in an effort for positive change?
This pattern is not wholly illogical. Some problems are so huge, intractable, and deep-rooted that we throw our hands up and believe there’s nothing we can do but object. Other problems are our own that we project on others. And addressing some problems come with such high social risk that we back off. It’s safer to vent to like-minded friends than risk their disapproval by beating our swords into plowshares.
On the other hand, the Bible warns us about grumbling and complaining. Paul recounts for his rascals in Corinth how God dramatically responded to Israel’s grousing (1 Corinthians 10:8-11). Jesus was pretty straightforward when he told the Jews (and us), “Stop grumbling among yourselves” (John 6:41-51).
So, here’s the principle I’m trying to live by. Don’t complain about something that you’re not going to take productive action to change.
Just don’t complain
unless you plan to do something.
(Tweet this.)
For instance, I don’t complain a lot about certain policy issues. I’ve learned they aren’t my battle, though my opinion about them play a role in how I vote. But the things God has called me to act on? I’m going to squawk about them! Intelligently. And graciously. And I’ll do my best to take the action God gives me to take, which I assume will often include equipping others to take godly action. Toward that end, two things people complain about and some positive action we can take.
Instead of Complaining about Church
Have you ever been a pastor? I haven’t been a real one, but I’ve played around with some part-time roles and know some of how people, including me, complain about church. You may have far deeper familiarity, present pain or more serious grounds for concern. I get that.
But how often many of us complain about what’s said and what goes unsaid. About the choice of songs and the volume at which they’re played. About what’s not getting done, and then when someone steps up, how it’s not done right. We grouse about who’s there and who’s not there, how little the church does for missions, or kids, or the poor… along with pretty much everything the leaders say and do. At least we don’t complain about someone sitting in our pew any more. (We don’t, do we?) What positive, change-oriented action might grow out of our complaints?
Here’s one I’m thinking about these days: Pray for our pastors. Deliberately, faithfully. You may already do this. Kudos to you. I’d like to see a groundswell of prayer for our church leaders during Pastor Appreciation Month this coming October. A dear friend of mine says, “Maybe a good starting point is to pray about something for the same amount of time you complain about it!” I say, “Who has that kind of time?” But I do want to pray for my pastor.
I plan to put together a one-page guide to praying for pastors. If you’re game, I’d love to hear what you pray for your pastor or what you think should be prayed for them. Click below to the list. If someone has already said what you were going to say, feel free to put an “amen” or “I agree” beside or below it. The guide will be available in next month’s Practical Mobilization article.
Share your thoughts
Instead of Complaining about Refugees, Immigrants, and Other “Others”
I live in a beautiful part of Colorado. That describes pretty much the whole state! I haven’t been here all my life. Yet I can get a little chippy about new people coming here. Also, about Texans speeding on the interstate (sorry, y’all!). And in my nation and maybe yours, I hear many complaints about outsiders moving in.
Without getting deep in the weeds about border security, who’s an economic migrant and who really needs asylum, and the degree to which someone must look and sound like me in order to qualify as “integrated,” can I suggest four positive actions we might take or kindly propose these to others who seem particularly stressed about these issues?
1. Have a conversation.
So much could happen if we simply asked some good questions and listened to the answers. Last week, an insightful and influential website, The Denison Forum, published an article I wrote on this topic of starting conversations. It would be great if you could give it a little boost simply by clicking through to it. If you comment, I’d be over the moon! The Denison Forum might be a good way to get some of what we all think out to a wider world. The article is about Muslims in particular, but the ideas would work with anyone somewhat different from you.
2. Have dinner with a refugee family.
Check out the Bridge Experience. I think you have to live near Lancaster, PA to experience this, but what a fascinating idea: They train refugee families to host local residents in their homes for dinner. Refugees make some money and the locals get to experience the refugee’s culture. I’d love to see this idea popping up all over. Want to try to make it happen where you live?
3. Watch films about the immigrant experience.
A high-quality movie about an immigrant or refugee experience can make a lasting mark on even a hardened heart. Going to the trouble of screening one at your church may have amazing results.
I love both The Good Lie and The Visitor.
If you have ideas for films that will open our hearts to immigrants, as well as ideas about how to get people to come out to see them, please share them below or on our Facebook page.
4. Take your kids to hang out with new neighbors.
I’m looking for three intrepid youth groups to visit (“invade”?) an American refugee community with me next summer. We’ll listen, play, and serve. Basically, we’ll stop our grousing about others and discover God’s up to amazing work in and through all sorts of people. Email me to learn more.
Thoughts?
Do you have another issue which is easy to complain about, but hard to take action on? Let the Missions Catalyst tribe take a crack at it! Comment below or on our Facebook page.
Stop Yer Complainin’ and Do Something!