God’s will is that His children stand out from the rest of the world with their pure and holy lives. But how do they to stand out specifically? In the way they do not complain or argue, but seek peace and unity.
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No Complaining Or Arguing!
Philippians 2:14-16
Complaining and arguing seem to be two sins that Christians seem to tolerate the most. Perhaps you don’t even think of complaining and arguing as sins. However, let me assure you, that God most definitely hates these actions. 1 Corinthians 10:10 says, “let us not grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer.” Actually, when the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron, the Lord sent a plague which killed 14,700 Israelites. I would say that God takes complaining and arguing seriously!
The words in our text are “grumbling” and “disputing.” But to grumble about something is to complain about it. To dispute about something is to argue about it. And since we use the words “complain” and “argue” much more frequently than “grumble” and “dispute”, I will use them in this message.
From 1:27 through 2:13, Paul has been urging the Philippians believers to work out their salvation, particularly as it relates to their relationship with others in the church. He has urged them to be of the same mind, maintain the same love, be united in spirit and intent on one purpose. He desires that these believers live together in unity. Next, Paul attacks the enemies of unity – selfishness and pride. He goes on to show that Jesus Christ lived a life opposite to selfishness and pride. In fact, He modeled selfless humility. Finally, Paul urges them to work out the practical implications of their salvation in the life of the church, because God is at work in them.
In our passage this morning we first have a command: “Do all things without grumbling or disputing.” Then we have three reasons given for why we ought to obey this command: for our sake, for the world’s sake, and for our spiritual leader’s sake.
Let’s begin by looking at the command.
1. The Command
“Do all things without grumbling or disputing”
Now, if we are to do ALL things without grumbling or disputing, how often is it okay for us to complain or argue? Never!
Grumbling or Disputing. Paul is talking about complaining and arguing. Now, he might be telling the Philippians to do all things without complaining and arguing with God, or with one another.
Complaining and Arguing Against God. In favor of the view that He is commanding them to never complain or argue with God is that this was the very sin of the Israelites that Paul was all too familiar with. Their history in the wilderness was a history of grumbling. They grumbled against God and His appointed leaders, again and again and again. As soon as God delivered them from the Egyptians and led them through the Red Sea, they grumbled that there was no water (15:23-24).
Then they grumbled that they had no food, and then no meat (16:2-3; 8). Notice that though the people grumbled against Moses and Aaron in verse 3, they were really grumbling against the Lord (verse 8). Notice also, that the Lord heard their grumblings. They might have thought that no one was aware of their grumblings except each other, but God heard and made a note of it.
Then in Exodus 17:1-3, the people quarreled with Moses because there was no water. This quarreling is what we see in Philippians 2:14 identified as disputing. God graciously provided food and water to meet all their needs, in spite of their grumblings.
In all of these things they were griping and complaining about the difficulties God had allowed them to experience. They were expressing doubt as to the goodness of God. By grumbling and quarreling with Moses, they were misrepresenting God. They were showing to the surrounding nations that they did not trust God’s love and care for them. They were demonstrating that God was not worthy of their trust.
Their disputing in this view would be understood as their arguing with what God had allowed in their lives. They argued that God should not allow troubles and trials. They argued that if He was a good and loving God He would not put them through these tribulations. The truth is that when we complain about our circumstances and situations, we are arguing with God, because God is the one who has ordained that circumstance for us. We are questioning God’s wisdom and goodness in allowing it in our lives. Now, do you really want to stand before the Lord and say, “Lord, I really don’t think You were very wise or good to allow those troubles in my life?”! I don’t think so.
Complaining And Arguing Against One Another. However, it is probably better to understand this complaining and arguing as something the Philippians were doing against one another. The surrounding context has to do with Paul seeking to help the Philippians dwell in unity and peace. That’s why Paul tells them to do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than themselves. That’s why he points them to the supreme example of selfless humility in the person of Jesus Christ. Well, complaining and arguing would be the very thing to disturb that unity and peace in the church. So, it is no wonder that Paul is commanding them to do all things without grumbling or disputing.
1 Peter 4:9, “Be hospitable to one another without complaint.” Here we have the example of someone in the church opening up their home to others. Perhaps they had taken in someone who needed a place to live. How easy it would be to begin complaining about how their guest did not do their fair share of the work, and left messes around the house without picking them up.
James 5:9, “Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door.” The Judge is right on the other side of the door and He hears your complaining against your brother. Did you notice that God will judge those who complain against their brethren? In the Old Testament, God judged the Israelites by wiping out 14,700 of them! Complaining is not a small sin. If it were, God would not react so strongly against it. We need to regard complaining the way God does – as a wicked act that deserves His strong judgment.
Do all things without disputing. Some might say, “You see, we should never debate over the correct meaning of Scripture, or doctrine, or how we should apply the Word of God in our churches.” I don’t think that is what Paul was getting at. We must never engage in sinful disputing or arguing. There are some forms of debating which are quite necessary and helpful to the church. Well, how would we know when disputing is sinful or not? It comes down to the motive of our heart. Why are we disputing? Is it because we must show our superiority and prove that we are right and the other person is wrong? That is sinful disputing. Is it because someone has offended us or hurt our pride, and now we are going to get back at them? That is sinful disputing. But perhaps your disputing is for the glory of God. Perhaps there is an important doctrine at stake, and a healthy and respectful debate is the best way to explore a Biblical issue. If all disputing was sin and the church was forbidden to engage in it, then when Arius taught that Jesus was the first and greatest creation of God, the church would have had to just go ahead and accept that false doctrine. But the Church did not accept it. They engaged in a vigorous debate, which ended with Arius’ teachings condemned as heresy.
Well, now that we have seen the command, let’s look at three reasons for the command. Paul commands these believers to do all things without grumbling and disputing for the sake of the Christian, the World, and the Spiritual Leaders.
2. Reasons For The Command
1) For The Sake Of The Christian. Verse 15 says, “so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach…”
So that you will prove yourselves to be… There is the first reason. When a child of God refuses to complain and argue with God, and complain and argue with other believers, he is proving himself to be a true Christian. His life gives evidence of his confession of faith. He claims to be a child of God, and his life confirms it.
Blameless and innocent… above reproach. This describes the character of the child of God that God desires. These words “blameless” and “innocent” and “above reproach” are synonyms. They describe a morally pure life. God’s desire for His children is that we live pure lives; lives untainted by anything in the world which would contaminate us. The words “above reproach” means “without blemish.” It referred to an animal which could be sacrificed to God because it was without spot or blemish which would disqualify it. All of these words are describing the kind of child of God that He wants us to be – the kind that properly represent Him. He wants us to live a holy life so that it would be believable if we said that we belong to God and He is our Father, and we are His children.
Living a life without complaining is for your own sake! It proves to the world that you are a true child of God. Your morally pure and upright life gives evidence that you are the real deal. It should give you a sense of assurance of salvation. Living a life of contentment and joyful trust in God is a beautiful thing, because it models the character of God to others, and gives assurance to you that you truly are His child.
2) For The Sake Of The World. Listen to how Paul puts this, “in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life…”
The first reason that Paul gave for not complaining or arguing was that we might properly represent God as His child. This second reason is that we might have an impact on the lost world around us. And here, Paul is speaking about our evangelistic mandate. He’s talking about our witness to the world.
What is needed if we are to have an impact on the lost? Two things – a holy life and a gospel proclamation. Life and lips. Paul includes both here. He has just told us we are to prove ourselves to be blameless, innocent, above reproach, properly representing God as His children. There is our holy life. Next he mentions “holding fast the word of life.” Now, what is the word of life? That’s the gospel. If you have only one of those elements your witness will not be effective. You can live the holiest life in the world, but if you never open your mouth and tell someone about Christ, there will be no results. You can tell everyone about Jesus Christ, but if your life is no different than any other sinner’s life, there will be no results. Life and lips. Holiness and witness are necessary to be effective in evangelism.
In the midst of. Where do Christians dwell? In the midst of the lost. God has never called us to sequester ourselves away from the rest of the world in some monastery, or holy huddle. Jesus prayed in John 17, “I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.” It was never God’s purpose for believers to try to complete separate themselves from the world. Salt can only have a preserving effect on meat when it gets out of the saltshaker and onto the meat. Light can only have an enlightening effect when it is placed on a light stand. So too, we can only have an effect on our crooked and perverse generation when we are in its midst. It is not God’s plan for His people to separate so completely from the world that we don’t have daily interactions with it. That is a mistake the Amish have made. They have shut themselves off from the rest of the world. They are not in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. The same thing holds true for those who have established Christian communes, in which interaction with the outside world is severely cut off.
A crooked and perverse generation. How does God describe the world we live in? Crooked and perverse. The word “crooked” refers to something that has deviated from the standard. If the standard is a straight line, the world is a twisted and crooked line. God’s standard is His holy law. The world has forsaken God’s standard of righteousness, and have followed after their own lusts. The word “perverse” is an even stronger word. Jesus said in Luke 9:41, “You unbelieving nd perverted generation.” It refers to someone who is severely twisted or distorted. We use the term “pervert” for someone whose sexual behavior is abnormal and unacceptable. God says our generation is crooked and perverted. Of course, I’m not telling you anything you don’t know. Just look around at our world, and the words “crooked” and “perverse” are very accurate terms. We live in a generation in which it has become normal for a girl to try to look and act like a boy, and for a boy to try to look and act like a girl. We live in a generation in which we think it is normal for two men or two women to get married and have sex together. We live in a generation in which we think it is normal for a pregnant woman to kill her unborn baby. We live in a world in which we think it is normal for one race to oppress and abuse another race. We live in a world in which people think nothing of living together and sleeping together before marriage. We live in a world where lying, stealing, and cheating are rampant.
Among whom you appear as lights in the world. Paul is pointing out two different things here: who we are, and what we say. Who we are is light in the world. Our blameless, innocent, above reproach life makes us stand out like the moon and stars on a dark night. Jesus said, “You are the light of the world” in Mt. 5:16. Paul says in Ephesians 5:8, “for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth). Folks, if we conform to this world, we will have zero impact on it for Christ. We will be darkness blending in with darkness. God’s will for you is that your life is so radically different from the world that you stand out like a sore thumb. As the whole world is sliding downhill into moral impurity, your uprightness of life is going to catch people’s attention. “Among whom you appear” – the world has no choice but to take notice of a holy man or woman of God.
So, brothers and sisters, when you are in the midst of this crooked and perverse generation, are you crooked and perverse yourself, or are you walking uprightly in its midst? Do you complain and argue about everything, just like the world? Do you complain about your boss, or your wages, or drivers in traffic, or how your meal was prepared, or the weather, or your spouse or your children? The list goes on and on, doesn’t it. We are discovering that the most affluent people on the planet are the worst complainers. The United States has bred a culture of complaining. Every department store has a Complaint Department. We are a pampered people. Go to a third world country where the average wage is $2 a day, and see how much they complain about their meals or wages or the weather. It is shameful!
And we not only shine out of this dark world by not complaining and arguing, but by our blameless, innocent, above reproach lives. Our generation is crooked and perverse. It has deviated from God’s moral norms. In fact our generation is trying to completely change the sexual norms. There is a moral revolution going on. If you and I refuse to jump on the bandwagon, but continue to follow God’s standards of morality, we are going to shine like lights on a pitch black night. And that is God’s design. He wants to use us to show this generation His truth. By the quality of life you and I live, our witness is either made believable and attractive or unbelievable and unattractive. A transformed life is the greatest advertisement for the gospel!
Holding fast the word of life. The Greek word can be translated as “holding fast” as the NASB does, or “holding forth”. Both translations are perfectly acceptable. I think that the context favors “holding forth” because we have just been told that we appear as lights in this dark world. The context is our impact for Christ on this crooked and perverse world. Therefore, I believe Paul is referring now to our verbal witness. He has already spoken of what we are. Now, he speaks about what we say.
What is the “word of life”? It’s the gospel. The gospel is the message that gives men who are dead in their trespasses and sins life. It is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.
Saints, God not only wants you to live a holy life in which you refuse to complain and argue. He wants you to also speak forth His gospel to others as you live in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. So, wherever you are, take advantage of opportunities to share Christ and His gospel. Share with your neighbors, your workmates, your customers, the checker at the grocery store, your hairdresser, etc. I’m so glad that we are going out together to witness and give out gospel pamphlets as a church. This is God’s will for us.
3) For The Sake Of Your Spiritual Leaders. Notice what Paul says in the rest of verse 16, “so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.” What is Paul saying here? He’s saying that when Christ returns, and Paul stands before the Lord, he will be able to look back on his labors and have reason to glory, because his work was not done in vain.
What is he saying? Do all things without complaining and arguing. Live as blameless, innocent, above reproach children of God. Hold forth the gospel to this corrupt and perverse generation. Why? So that you will prove yourselves to be the true children of God. You were the fruit of all my labors. And in that day I will rejoice and I will glory in your eternal salvation and the fact that the Lord used me in that whole process. The way you live now proves whether you are truly the children of God. And when you persevere in faith and holiness to the very end, I will then be able to glory and rejoice that all my toil and struggles and effort was worth it. Nothing was in vain. John says in 3 John 4, “I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.” And that is absolutely true for me, as well. It is wonderful when someone encourages or thanks me for teaching them the Word of God. But my greatest joy is when I see someone responding in obedience to the Word of God. I love it when someone begins to change their life in obedience to the Word of God.
This is a strange thought, isn’t it? How often have you thought about the fact that God wants you to pursue holiness, not just for your own sake or the sake of a lost world, but also for the sake of your spiritual leaders. But it’s right here in God’s Word. So, let that be a motivator in your life to pursue holiness. Will you encourage Pastor Jerome and my heart, by pursuing a holy life?
Conclusion
Brothers and sisters, God has called you to stand out from the world in which you live. He wants you to shine like the moon and stars on a dark night. He wants the world to stand up and take notice when they watch your life. And how are we going to accomplish that? By being different. When the world is complaining and arguing, refuse to follow suit. Accept joyfully the trials that come in your life. Seek your contentment in Christ. Why? For your own sake, for the sake of the lost, and for the sake of your spiritual leaders. Let’s pray.
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