Do Everything without Grumbling and Arguing

The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Philippi about not grumbling and arguing. “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’ Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.” (Philippians 2:14-16 NIV) What is grumbling and arguing? When does addressing issues in a relationship, in a job, a church, a community, or nation become grumbling and arguing? Grumbling and arguing is pointing out faults, problems, and obstacles without offering and working towards a solution. It is easy to point out faults, problems, and obstacles -- it is more difficult to suggest and seek solutions. People are grumbling and arguing in every stratum of society. People’s standard of living, their level of education, their faith background, or their political leanings, seem to be irrelevant. They all grumble and complain! They grumble and argue about COVID-19, BLM, the environment, the economic situation and outlook, and the fiscal policies thrust upon them. This grumbling and arguing are testing social structures and revealing the cracks at every level. Couples see the other person as a foe. Instead of working together to determine how they are going to get their boat through the rapids, they fight each other with the paddles. Children grumble and argue with parents and vice versa. Politicians and political parties grumble and argue, when they could collectively seek solutions that benefit the whole. They stonewall and blame each other, ignoring tested social structures. They are tasked with building a bridge to lasting change and solutions, but instead they grumble and argue about the bridge that is crumbling. What did Paul say? “Do everything.” Everything is a big word! It is only 10 letters but encompasses all of life. Everything means everything. Where does “do everything without grumbling and arguing” start? With me! With you! With us! With Jesus' followers! Jesus wants US to be the ones shining in our society like stars in the sky as we hold firmly to the word of life.