The church is called to be a witness to the world concerning what Jesus Christ has done for us. We preach Christ and Him crucified as we deliver His gospel to the entire world. Moreover, we no longer live for ourselves but for the glory of God.
However, we still fall short in many ways, one of which is through our complaining. When it comes to complaining, I am always reminded of how the Israelites complained to Moses in the wilderness en route to the promised land. They were not happy being there, including expressing their desire to return to Egypt (Numbers 14:1-17). Ultimately, God would punish them by sentencing them to 40 years in the wilderness because they complained against Him (Numbers 14:27-35).
Later in the New Testament, the Apostle Paul cited the Israelite's punishment in the wilderness as one example written to the church for their instruction (1 Corinthians 10:8-11). Overall, we see how complaining ultimately resulted in God‘s judgment against them because they dishonored Him. Not only that, but their complaining is, as Paul said, written for our instruction because the same principle applies. Not only do we dishonor God, but we damage our testimony to the world, especially when we complain about the church. That being said, here are six ways complaining about the church damages our testimony:
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/praetorianphoto
1. It Undermines Unity
Unity is a characteristic of the church as being one in Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:28), and we are called to maintain that unity (Ephesians 4:3). When complaining takes place, however, that unity is undermined because there is conflict amongst brothers and sisters in Christ. Even the smallest difference can result in division in the congregation, with some even leaving the church. I believe a major factor in the division is the lack of conflict resolution amid the issues at hand. It is easier to dismiss those whom you are having an issue with instead of both sides wanting to make things right.
This certainly applies to complaining because there is never a resolution to that. If anything, complaining begets more complaining as you’ll always find something to complain about, whether it’s about fellow church members, church leaders, and so forth. And because there is no unity, there is no peace, which is a fruit of the Holy Spirit in the life of a Christian (Galatians 5:22-23). Complaining never brings peace since it is nothing but discontentment.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/VitezslavVylicil
2. It Damages Our Witness
Complaining damages the church’s testimony because we are called to love one another. Jesus tells His disciples that the world “will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). Love amongst the brethren is essential to maintaining public witness. Unbelievers have often said division in the church is one reason why they would not convert to Christianity. The Apostle Paul tells the church in Philippi to do all things “without grumbling nor disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:14-15).
The 19th-century preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon noted how complaining is incompatible with representing God to the world:
“Be careful, dear friends, that you do not misrepresent God yourselves. You who murmur; you who say that God deals hardly with you, you give God an ill character.”
When the body of Christ falls short because of murmuring, then it fails to shine as lights into the world. All complaining does is make believers repulsive, not intriguing to unbelievers. We fall short in carrying out the Great Commission because we are too occupied with grumbling and complaining. Not only does this taint our witness to the world as a church, but as individuals who do not practice what we preach and end up doing the opposite instead.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Pixelheadphoto
3. It Does Not Extend Grace
Do we not realize that every member of the body of Christ is a work in progress? From this side of Heaven, we are still struggling in our flesh as well as life itself. So, complaining about the church neglects the church’s imperfections. We become nitpicky in our spiritual family rather than trying to show grace. As Peter says, “Love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). This is a reflection of God’s love for us because He has covered a multitude of sins. Scripture also states, “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more” (Hebrew 8:12). If God extends forgiveness and grace to us, why shouldn't we extend the same to others and the church? Like I said, we’re all a work in progress so we must remember the church is made up of imperfect people serving a perfect God. They are also loved perfectly by God. Thus, we must pray that we will love them and serve them instead of constantly complaining about them.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/People Images
4. It Is Not Christlike
A salient point in the matter of complaining is that it is ultimately not Christlike. As Christians, we are to reflect our Savior in word, thought, and action. Understandably, we fall short time and time again, but we must always strive to live like Christ. When we complain, we are showcasing that we’re not at peace, which goes against the fruit of the spirit we should have.
Additionally, we will also receive criticism from unbelievers because we do not practice what we preach. You can know all the Bible verses yet still act like an unbeliever if you don’t apply what it says. We must ask God to be shaped like Christ in accordance with His Holy Word. Although we primarily live before the Lord, we also live before a watching world. Not only do we preach the Gospel through our words, but through our lives! As the Apostle Paul stressed, believers are to “be imitators of God, as beloved children” (Ephesians 5:1). And how do we become imitators? By following the Lord, spending time with Him, and taking His Word to heart in our lives.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Capuski
5. It Fosters Resentment
Another reason why complaining about the church damages our testimony is that it can lead to resentment. Some people have ended up leaving the church because they were resentful of the church leaders, congregants, and even God. On the other hand, some of those who are resentful of the church still maintain their faith, but would rather not be associated with anybody.
Both cases are sinful because resentment holds onto grudges rather than releases them, lives in unforgiveness rather than forgiveness, and, as said in my previous point, is not reflective of Christ, who has forgiven much. Let us not be like the unforgiving servant, whose large debt was forgiven by his master, but threw his fellow servant into prison for owing a smaller debt (Matthew 18:21-35). The one who is resentful will reap the consequences as they will be accountable to God. Forgiveness frees, but resentment is bondage to the one bearing it.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/PeopleImages
6. It Dishonors God
The final reason why complaining is unfruitful to Christian witnesses is that it dishonors God. We are created to know Him and to make Him known throughout all of the world. We are primarily mandated to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:36-40). The Greatest Commandments in all of Scripture are summed up in this one sentence: Love God and love your neighbor. You can’t have one without the other. In 1 John, the scripture says that if you love God but hate your neighbor, then you are a liar (1 John 4:20). The text adds, “For he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.” Imagine that? How can we say we love the Lord, whom we have not seen, yet not love our fellow brethren whom we see?
In the context of complaining, we end up dishonoring God because we fail to love His church. We cannot love through grumbling and murmuring. If one has an issue with one another, let there be a resolution out of love for one another. Recognize we are a witness to the world, which is evidenced by our love for one another (John 13:15). Let us maintain that even amidst our imperfections, and press on for the cause of Christ. Then, we will reach the world with His gospel.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/digitalskillet3
Originally published Wednesday, 29 January 2025.