Keeping It Quiet
Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, Philippians 2:14-15 NASB
Grumbling / disputing– “You know, I don’t like to say this, but . . .” “Did you hear that she . . ?” “Just between you and me . . .”
Maybe you can add a few more “keep it quiet” introductions. No, it’s not quite gossip. The Greek term gongýzō is the equivalent of the Hebrew lûn, used to describe the murmuring of the people when they were discontent with Moses or God. There might be some grounds for grumbling. It’s not all fabrication. But the attitude is one of strong personal complaint, close to rejection of anyone in authority or any circumstance that does not meet expectations. In other words, not getting your own way.
A close cousin is the negative connotation of dialégomai. The word can mean simply negotiation or discussion, but as Paul uses it here, it is about discontented argument. What was murmur becomes squabble.
We know the feelings. Perhaps we know them only too well, as participants as well as observers. That’s my case. I can identify with Paul’s pleading because his words apply to me. I don’t prove myself blameless and innocent (words that we will have to investigate) because I like to complain. It’s not that I’m not entirely justified in my complaints. Things don’t always go the way I want them to. My murmurings become dissention. I see the negative side of life quite often. Two of the rules I grew up with contribute to this:
1) “This won’t last,” that is, all the good things will inevitably bring about something bad.
and
2) “Good enough is never good enough,” that is, no matter how good things are, you can always find something wrong with it.
Maybe Paul was just an insightful observer of human nature. Or maybe he overheard me.
Actually, if the truth be told, I don’t very much like what he has to say here, especially that part about being children of God. His implication is that as long as grumbling and disputing are the automatic reactions of my interaction with the world, I won’t be like the children of God. He’s probably right. That’s upsetting too. But it does remind me of the children of Israel in the wilderness, and I know what became of them. I guess I’ll have to watch my “g’s” and “d’s” (gongýzō and dialégomai) if I want to enter the Promised Land.
Topical Index: gongýzō, dialégomai, grumbling, disputing, children of God, Philippians 2:14-15
TRAVEL NOTE: Five of us are here in Jakarta helping with Children Under the Bridge. I will have a marvelous report in a few days, but for now, please enjoy the street music: CLICK HERE
What drives us? Is it so-called “self interest”: what I think Skip is calling “not getting your own way”? But is that really us in the driver’s seat? Can I really be my own motivation? People who are trying to work their way to heaven seem to think so, but does that steely determination really originate with us in our own spirits? I see the same problem with both camps – either those who think righteousness is ‘up to them’ or those who are just attempting to serve their own interests – in that they both have dropped the correct spiritual driver – which is the spirit of love – for other spiritual motivators based on self, whether it be self interest or self motivation. I was completely sold on thinking I had to be my own driver: I had to be the source of the energy needed to “follow through”. “Will power” was the name of the fuel in my tank; in the name of righteousness, of course. But I see that putting self in the driver’s seat essentially puts self in competition with all others, even when we are trying to make choices in the name of love. I found myself ‘helping’ (‘loving’) others in SPITE of them; or the circumstances; or even my own interests. I was pitted against the world, and I was alone, whether I was trying to love others or just trying to survive. Self is such a lonely place.
The Bible makes numerous references to spiritual drivers, or, motivations, whether they are a “spirit of fear”(2Tim. 1:7); “root of bitterness” (Heb. 12:15); or the Spirit of God. In Acts 6:10 the synagogue members listening to Stephen were recorded as not being able to “resist the wisdom and the spirit BY WHICH he spake”. It seems to me that when I “murmur and dispute” I have been joined by a spiritual driver that motivates, or, empowers me, with the nature of murmuring and disputation. When unholy spirits not of God rise up in me, I find that I can go down under the onslaught because I have fallen yet again for the lie that it is “all up to me”, but if I find myself thinking that I am all alone perhaps it is because I traded out the only Spirit that unites me with others for those that are just serving to isolate me instead. May I check my motivations before I act next time!
May I add, that most if not all of us who have anything to do with this post today’s word… Have had difficulties in sharing the paradigm shift not only the Hebrew thought, but also the truth about Christian church history. I for one, have been stuck in a rut, currently pastors are listening, but don’t dick for themselves due to tradition, there is so much out there. That makes it so clear come by that I find myself just so frustrated. Sometimes to the point where I don’t want to study anymore. Some of it is due to a terminology path, I want people to use the same words that I know, or get in the discussion about what I think is important. I’m learning to be flexible but sometimes that doesn’t even help ugh. I’m just a believer unto myself sometimes. Phenomenal answered prayer, from a phenomenal God and savior. The main thing is patience. I do understand this. But sometimes I stomp my feet, and put my tongue in my cheek. I find what I’m not a critical thinker but a faithful believer it’s helpful. Just be myself, the way Yahweh wants me to be. I know the Lord would use me more, if I got rid of this critical Edge. It would lead to contempt if things would go my way as it has been said it’s Yahweh or the highway.. just a heads up come up on a Bible study app, studylight classic, is a devotional that you put out, also called today’s word. God has used Me instrumental to lead many people to continually use that site. Hallelujah for that. Keep going. Skip it’s it’s the root of the matter. I thank you very much for the works that you put out, and Godspeed for children under the bridge.
What is motivating us? What is the power of inspiration for our choices? Why do people “murmur and dispute” in the first place, instead of “being of one accord”? The years I was working my way to heaven I tried so hard to ‘be good’, and to do only what I could see was loving, but I found that I was being driven by desperation and the need to be loved: even my ‘best’ motivations were self focused! You can do all the right things for the wrong motivations, like Mark Parry commented (thanks!). In fact, I now believe that if God is not providing the willpower of love by His Spirit in us, we are automatically filling in the blank – agreeing with – spiritual motivators not of God. What motivates us to murmur and dispute? Isn’t it a spirit of murmuring and disputing that we are agreeing with, even if we are believing that we are just “looking out for #1”? I am convinced that we cannot motivate ourselves, whether it is for love of others, or survival of ourselves: that we cannot serve ourselves, which I think folks who murmur and dispute think that they are trying to do. Whether we are trying to love others in the flesh or we are trying to put self first, I think we need ‘help’ from the dark side to do it.
I find I only go trying to ‘look out for my own interests’ after I have dethroned the Spirit of God who keeps me unified “with one accord” with all else and other. When I find myself alone (“naked”?) – without that unification – I also find myself immediately infested, like Adam and Eve, with a whole bunch of nasty critters such as shame or a “spirit of fear”, or a “root of bitterness” or some other unholy motivation to inspire and fuel my choices, whether I want them there or not. (Um, I am never really ‘alone’ in there!)
In Acts 6:10 when Stephen was speaking to the synagogue council, he was obviously using the right motivators because he was ‘getting through’ with the truth – whether that council wanted to agree with him or not – “And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit BY WHICH he spake.” If I find that am not “with one accord” – am not ‘getting through’ to others – and so start thinking that I need to ‘help’ myself with actions such as “murmuring and disputing” (representing self) I am already isolated and alone and off my tracks. Time to change drivers – I do mean (S)pirits!
Skip,
Thanks for the snippet of indigenous folk music. I love this type of stuff! As one who enjoys all sorts of music, I sometimes wonder if my ‘SmartTV’ is really continually listening, and if so, if it ‘gets confused’ as to what sort of advertisements to promote…
Anyone who has grown up in a large relatively benign but dysfunctional family knows there are differences between how each child reacts to their own circumstances uniquely. Some have what they consider to be relatively normal lives and others know they absolutely did not. Whether we like it or not each child is treated uniquely and each responds in kind according to their particular psyche as only each one can.
In my particular case I learned to rise above the challenges by learning from my circumstances, dealing with the moment at hand, challenging the situation and forgetting about the past. We only live in the moment and we are the only one who has to deal with it. Anything that doesn’t kill you can make you stronger. And much wiser.
And with Someone looking on from a short distance away, it makes all the difference.
Godspeed with the CUB-bies Skip