As human beings, we are inclined to complain. The Israelites did it, even when God was providing for their every need, and had just delivered them from Egyptian captivity. It’s in our nature to complain, argue, be offended, and critical. I mean, really, we’ve pretty much perfected it.
Unfortunately, this type of behavior is completely unproductive. You would think that people would learn this eventually, but the truth is, we just shuffle it to another location.
NOTE: I’m talking specifically about people’s thoughts, and actions as far as they’re not physically harming or illegal. We can and should criticize criminal activity. But what I’m talking about here is the “grey area” stuff. You know: the Thought Police.
Let’s say I’m offended by bad drivers. (That’s a stretch, right? Lol) I feel guilty when I’m always criticizing bad drivers. It doesn’t fix anything, and only makes my mood worse. I’m still going to act accordingly, of course… I drive defensively because of it. Because I can’t control how others drive, even if it’s stupid and borderline illegal. I’ve done my fair share of stupid.
But the irritation has to come out somewhere. Our very natures are full of selfishness, which is the root of the problem. If we can’t let it out on other drivers, maybe we take it out on our kids. Or our spouses. Or random people who are too dumb to realize that the express checkout line is not the place to be asking questions about what items qualify for a certain discount. *Sigh.*
As a Culture War Pacifist I find it disconcerting when people complain about everything, especially when it doesn’t even concern them. Because complaining doesn’t fix the underlying problem: sin.
I could give you the biggest hammer in the world to stamp out every racist, every bigot, every misogynist, every misandrist, every hater. And you know what would happen?
There would be nobody left. Because everybody is prejudiced in some way. Everyone.
By taking up arms and declaring yourself the arbiter of “Politically Correct Behavior” you’ve unwittingly put a target on your own chest. Because it’s easy for us to turn a blind eye to our own sins… we’re comfortable with them. We rationalize them. But those guys! Ugh, they’re the worst! We have to stamp them out!
No. We are the ones with the problem. We are no better than them. This applies to both sides… the Social Wet Blanket Brigade, as well as their fiery Libertarian-leaning counterparts on the right. The solution isn’t to make everybody think like you! That’s not unity. That’s Totalitarianism.
Not surprisingly, Jesus had a few things to say about this.
“Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.” – Luke 6:42
When we approach others with the attitude that we ourselves are broken too, it changes the way we see them. All too often, I find myself accusing people of things I’m just as guilty of. Sadly, this is becoming more and more the social norm. I can’t stand injustice, but we have not been called to judge- only to serve.
“But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, they said to Him, ‘Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?’ They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, ‘He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.’ Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. Straightening up, Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?’ She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said, ‘I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.'” – John 8:1-11