Scripture
“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. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.”
PHILIPPIANS 2:14-16 (NIV)
“Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night so I’ll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. You’ll be living proof that I didn’t go to all this work for nothing.”
PHILIPPIANS 2:14-16 (MSG)
Quotes/Color
“It is all the more clear what we have to accomplish at present… to ruthless[ly] criticize all that exists.”
Karl Marx
“Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain – and most fools do.”
Ben Franklin
Context
Alright, which way is this gonna go? Are we going to side with Philippians 2:14-16 or little ray of sunshine, Karl Marx? Could go either way! Let’s see!
Application
After some thought, I’ve decided that Philippians 2:14-16 edges out Karl Marx’s adage as a better rule to live by by a nose.
Without trying to criticize people who criticize everything too much… There is a great contingent in the world that makes it their single mission to hyper-criticize everything that exists.
Funny enough that is a real quote from Karl Marx. Paraphrased: “The mission is clear. Criticize everything in existence. Tear everything down so you can build everything back up.”
This belief has a vast following. But as a Christian, this stands in stark contrast to our role as believers.
A couple of applications.
Find the Good in God’s Creation… And Champion Those Things
I love this explanation of the Christian life from the MSG translation of Philippians 2:14-16:
“Provide people a glimpse of good living and the living God.”
Isn’t that so good?
God made a beautiful creation. With a beautiful community. So many good things in God’s creation, truly. And we are supposed to be ambassadors for it. People who champion it and exhibit the best it has to offer. “Provide a glimpse” into the right way it’s supposed to be done. A living, walking advertisement “of good living and the living God.”.
There is so much good in God’s creation. Our call is to find those things and champion them.
Don’t Be A Communist
Alright, alright, everyone calm down. It’s a joke. But what is the point? The point is this.
Any dummy can criticize everything around him and complain. It is the easiest thing ever. It’s human nature and it’s lazy. Everyone does it. But if you are a Christian, I believe Philippians 2:14-16 refutes this and proves this is not God’s call on our lives.
There is a contrary vision to ruthlessly criticizing all that exists… Bringing everything down a peg… Finding fault with every thing and every one… It is this: Find the good in God’s creation and champion those things.
“The world is indeed full of peril, and in it there are many dark places; but still there is much that is fair, and though in all lands love is now mingled with grief, it grows perhaps the greater.”
J.R.R. Tolkien
Exhibit the better way of living. Expel cynicism and instead carry God’s light-giving message of hope.
Something to Chew On:
- Are you naturally cynical? If so, do you think it comes at a cost?
- If you were a living, walking advertisement of your beliefs and what you value… A 30-second TV ad on a commercial, something like that… would you be an “attack ad” or a “glimpse of good living and of the living God?”
GreatValue Proverb:
Don’t be a communist.