Last Sunday night at the singing I had everyone lead songs or read about "Spiritual Locations" and it was no surprise we got a lot of very cool and positive locations to consider. Heaven, Above the Bright Blue, Yonder, and so on. If you weren't there, you missed a great singing, very uplifting. However, when I offered the invitation I decided to show "'journalistic fairness" and remind everyone there was another Spiritual Location that isn't so wonderful, hell.

Last Sunday's bulletin was about invitations given on Wednesday nights (and after gospel sermons in general.) I considered it from various viewpoints and also got a lot of very positive feedback (it's been a long time since I wrote a bulletin so many people commented on to me about!) Still, it was perceived that I was "complaining" about the length of them (which I was, a little) so today to show "journalistic fairness" I am going to discuss the other side of the coin, sort of.

I want us to consider complaining. That can be quite the slippery slope. For instance, while a person will agree we cannot complain about God directly what about a preacher who goes on and on repeating himself and boring us to tears for a ridiculous amount of time? What about the person who gets up to lead the singing and before each song talks and talks about the song until the service time is so eaten up there's no time left for the lesson itself? How about those who deliver a 15 to 20 minute "sermon" at the Lord's table before the bread is served, followed by a second 15 minute "sermon" by the one leading us in partaking of the fruit of the vine?

These might seem extreme cases, but think about what people DO complain about. The color of the carpet. Where they get to sit in the building (hey, you sat in MY seat!). What topic we focus on at the bible study, and who's the person leading the class. Parking spots. Meeting times. The shape of the person's head in front of you. Just about anything you can think of people can and do get unhappy about, and grumble a bit.

Do we have a "right" to complain about these things? I suppose so, when you think about it. Paul was surely unhappy with those who thought little of him and undermined his preaching by suggesting he wrote "bold letters" but spoke weak lessons in person. We can debate another time if these were all false teachers or just some who didn't care for his lessons, but Paul meets the complaints (and others) head on. The nation of Israel as a whole grumped about a bunch of things, and like whining children sometimes it got them what they wanted. But is this the kind of Christian you want to be known as? A fussy ungrateful complainer?

There are two examples in the scriptures I want us to consider to close out the bulletin today. The first group are those in Revelation who cry before the throne and ask the Lord "How Long?" How long are you going to let this sinful world go on, how long until you avenge us and deliver justice? In a sense they are complaining- against sinners and evil!!!

The second group are found in Amos 8. Given everything by God, restored as a nation from captivity, provided freedom from persecution, allowed to live their lives in peace in spite of the world around them. Yet, what do they seek? "When will the new moon be gone that we can sell corn?" "And the Sabbath, that we might sell wheat?" In other words, these "religious" holidays are a bother, when can we quit observing them entirely so we can conduct business 7 days a week instead of just 6? Never mind their real motives, which God sees, is to make themselves richer in worldly things. Ungrateful, unmerciful, given all by God but without any appreciation, they complain that even the service God does ask is "too much."

Which group are you a part of? Is that looooong lesson, sitting in a warm or air-conditioned building, on a cushioned pew, without fear of persecution, among friends and those who seek your good, worshiping a God who blesses you night and day, simply too much for you? Think about it!

Randy