Grumpy Old Christians
Thesis: There are too many grumpy old Christians in this world that are hurting the spread of the Gospel and not helping the spread of the Gospel. Remember Gospel means Good News- not Bad Critical News!
Texts:
Phil. 4:8
8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
I John 4:16-21
16And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. 18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
19We love because he first loved us. 20If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
Introduction:
Today we will be participating in communion. In I Corinthians 11:27,28 “Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.” This is our focus and our task today- it’s a mandate of God’s word. So here is your challenge this morning- “Take a look at your attitude, your heart, your mind set!”
Allen gives us the basic facts of life when he says: Whether we see any phoniness in ourselves or not, there are three basic facts about you, whoever you are. First, you are. There are over 5 billion people on this earth; even so, you are one of them, and you are different from any other of them. You are an existing person. Second, you are becoming. You are either becoming more-or you are becoming less. You are becoming better-or you are moving toward weakness. You are growing in fellowship with others-or you are becoming more and more wrapped up within yourself. You are moving toward life-or you are moving toward death. No one of us is standing still. Third, you have the choice of only one road, and that is the road that begins right where you are. The only starting point for you is the person that you are right now. You can’t go back one day or one year or ten years. Life moves in only one direction. It does not go backward…”(36).
So where are you heading?
* Are you a grumpy old Christian?
* Do you only see the negative?
* Do you see only the bad in life?
* Do you see only the imperfections of people?
* Do you thrive on gossip and putting others down?
* Is your motivation in life driven toward revenge on others?
* Do you seek to tear others down?
Illustration: Movie clip from “Grumpy old men!” Mute it and narrate it.
I. You know you are a grumpy old Christian when you are critical of everything and everyone (Phil 4:8).
a. You know you have slipped into the grumpy old Christian category when your words are nothing but critical comments to others about others.
i. People do this with sarcastic humor
ii. With derogatory remarks about others.
iii. When they share unnecessary information with others for the purpose of exposing another’s weakness.
iv. When they share detailed prayer requests about others.
v. When they can only see people’s faults.
vi. When you can only share the churches faults.
1. Reality check – “God uses imperfect people to do his perfect will.” “Like you and me!’
2. Reality check 2 – “God uses imperfect churches to do his perfect will.” “Like your church and my church!”
b. We do have the choice of being critical or complimentary of others.
i. James tells us the importance of the tongue.
James 1:26:
26If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. 27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
James 3:5-12:
5Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11Can both fresh water and salt£ water flow from the same spring? 12My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
* Here this church of Jesus Christ – There should not be blessings and cursing coming out of the same mouth!. Christians are to be different they are to be promoting the Good News not Bad News.
ii. Allen states, “We can spend our time saying the world is beautiful, life is good. Somehow, it turns out that way. On the other hand, we spend out time complaining and being critical, and our very speech drags us down. I have a little poem which I have known for years. Here it is:
There is something sort of pitiful about a man that growls-
Because the sun beats down too heavy or the wind howls;
Who never eats a meal that the cream ain’t thick enough-
Or the coffee ain’t been settle right, or else the meat’s too tough.
Poor chap, he’s just victim of fate’s oldest, meanest trick-
You will see by watching mules and men-
That it don’t take brains – to kick (42).
c. Yes, we have the choice to be positive or negative!
i. Lets test ourselves on how positive or negative we are.
ii. Remember the verse that told us we need to examine ourselves it’s found in I Cor. 11:28 “A man should thoroughly examine himself” (Phillips).
1. This test is from Pearsall’s book “Super Joy” on the following questions answer honestly with a yes or no. Don’t cheat yourself be honest;
a. Do you find yourself watching for flaws in others? _____
b. Do you feel that most people are selfish? _____
c. Do you feel that people will take advantage of you if you give them the chance? ______
d. Do you react strongly to certain quirks or habits that others may have? ______
e. Do you get angry when people do not do what they say they are going to do? ______
f. Do you feel almost like hitting someone who has thoughtlessly stepped in front of you in line? _____
g. Do you find yourself encountering more and more obnoxious people? ____
h. Do you believe that most people lie? _____
i. Do you feel that if more people acted as you do, this would be a much better world? _____
j. Do you get upset just by how someone looks? _____
i. If you answered more questions with “yes” it shows you how critical you are of others and intolerant. The more “No’s “ you have the more complimentary you are in your life.
2. This week I had a Physician examine me physically. We all know it’s important to have regular examines physically to prevent further complications in our lives. The same is true with our attitudes. We need Attitude checks in our lives. If something is found in our attitude that could cause us problems in out life we need to eradicate it.
a. I had a mole removed this week. It’s being tested for cancer. I’m sure it will come back negative. But I thought it would be a good idea to get it removed so that it does not become a problem later in life.
i. I decided if there is something on my body with the potential to cause cancer then I want it removed so that I eliminate the possibility of cancer.
b. A critical attitude- a critical spirit will do the same to an individual that cancer will do to the physical body.
i. It slowly kills the spirit of an individual.
ii. It makes them weak in the kingdom of God and even a danger in the kingdom of God.
c. Does something in you attitude toward life and others need surgery? Does it need to be cut out and removed?
i. Have the surgeon remove it because it could kill you?
3. James Allen challenges us, “A man’s mind may be likened to a garden, which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but whether cultivated or neglected, it must, and will, bring forth… Just as a gardener cultivates his plot, keeping it free from weeds, and growing the flowers and fruits which he requires, so may a man tend the garden of his mind, weeding out all the wrong, useless, and impure thoughts, and cultivating toward perfection the flowers and fruits of right, useful, and pure thoughts. By pursuing this process, a man sooner or later discovers that he is the master –gardener of his soul, the director of his life. He also reveals, within himself, the laws of thought, and understands, with ever – increasing accuracy, how the thought –forces and mind –elements operate in the shaping of his character, circumstances, and destiny” (56,57).
T.S.- So now that we have examined ourselves we need to learn how not to be so critical in our attitude and mind set-so that we spread the Good News not the bad news.
II. So how do you overcome a critical spirit?
a. John Maxwell gives us some insight from his book “The Winning Attitude”. The following points have been developed by his insight found on pages 101-105.
i. Step 1- take positive action to correct the problem.
1. He states, “Take action on the problem. The moment you are certain of the source of discouragement, get busy. Nothing delivers us from discouragement quicker than taking positive steps to solve the problem.’
a. Focus on looking for the good in others or in the day.
b. The important idea here is be proactive in being positive. Don’t let others around you run others down. Talk about the good! Find it it’s there!
c. Remember “God uses imperfect people to do his perfect will.” He also uses “Imperfect churches to do his perfect will.”
ii. Determine to have positive thinking.
1. To be an over comer of a critical spirit for God you must have a positive outlook in life.
a. Peale states in The Power of Positive Thinking, “One of the greatest laws in the Universe…is that if you think in negative terms you will get negative results. If you think in positive terms you will achieve positive results. That is the simple fact which is at the base of an astonishing law of prosperity and success. In three words: Believe and succeed” (329,330).
b. Peale states, “It has been said that the wisest man who ever lived in America was Ralph Waldo Emerson, the sage of Concord, Emerson declared , “A man is what he thinks about all day long” (169).
c. He also adds, “Marcus Aurelius, one of the great thinkers of antiquity, said, ‘A man’s life is what his thoughts make of it.’” (169)
iii. Become a positive example to those around you.
a. It’s amazing what happens when someone pushes the positive rather than the negative.
i. Encouragement blossoms.
ii. Attitudes change
iii. People receive hope
1. Illustration up at Siren!
2. There is the positive examples going around helping those in need and it uplifts everyone involved.
iv. When your positive it’s amazing how many people like to be around you.
v. But if you are always grump no one wants to be around you.
iv. Develop positive persistence.
a. Two frogs fell into a can of cream – or so I’ve heard it told. The sides of the can were shiny and steep, the cream was deep and cold. “Oh, what’s the use ?’ said No. 1, “tis fate –no help’s around- Good-bye, my friend! Good-bye, sad world!” And weeping still he drowned. But No. 2 of sterner stuff, dog-paddled in surprise, The while he wiped his creamy face and dried his creamy eyes. “I’ll swim awhile at least,” he said-or so it has been said- “It wouldn’t really help the world if one more frog was dead.” An hour or two he kicked and swam- not once he stopped to mutter, But kicked and swam, and swam and kicked, then hopped out, via butter (103).
b. The sad fact is to many times we accept discouragement in changing out attitude and we accept defeat.
i. We actually convince ourselves that we cannot change and God does not mind.
ii. News Flash God does mind and he wants you to change. He wants you to spread the Good News not Bad News.
c. Remember with Christ all things are possible!
T.S. – Grumpy old Christians are ones who have a critical negative spirit and it needs to be eradicated in their lives because if not it will kill them and others. They need to replace their grumpy negative spirit with a spirit of Love.
III. Let love (GOD) drive out a spirit of criticalness (I John 4:11-21).
11Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 13We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. 16And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. 18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.19We love because he first loved us. 20If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
a. The old question of what’s love got to do with it? Is a relevant an important question. The answer is it has everything to do with it!
i. Love is the supreme quality we need to have as Christians!
1. Webster defines a Christian as:
a. A believer in Jesus Christ
b. Professing the religion based on the teaching of Jesus.
c. Having the qualities taught by Jesus such, as love and kindness.
2. Love is defined as a deep and tender feeling of fondness and devotion to another.
a. Love is further described in the following ways:
i. God is love; He that loveth not knoweth not God ; for God is love.” (I John 4:8)
ii. Love is God’s adhesive power that binds us together.
iii. Love is God in action.
iv. Love is the reason for life when love is gone, life has lost it’s meaning.
v. Love is the leading affection of the soul, the love of God is the leading grace in the renewed soul.
vi. Loving someone is caring, sharing, bearing, working changing together.
vii. Love is the bond of perfection in a Christians life.
viii. Love is the chief step in Christian discipleship.
b. True Love
Love delights in giving attention rather than in attracting it.
Love finds the elements of good and builds on them.
Love does not magnify defects
Love is a flame that warms but never burns.
Love knows how to disagree without becoming disagreeable.
Love rejoices at the success of others instead of being envious.
3. What Love can do!
a. Love has the power to cast out fear (I John 4:18).
b. Love never fails it always succeeds.
c. Love has the ability to have you love your enemies.
i. Matthew 5:38,39
38“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’£ 39But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also
ii. Matthew 5:43-48
43“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor£ and hate your enemy.’ 44But I tell you: Love your enemies£ and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
iii. The greatest example of this is found in Luke 23:34
34Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”£ And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
d. Love gives you the right to use the name of Jesus. If you don’t walk in love you cannot use His name.
e. Love will cast out anger – Kenyon says, “Where the fire of love is kept the flames of wrath will not easily kindle, nor long keep burning. Anger cannot rest in the bosom where love reigns, it is hard to be angry with those we love.”
f. Where true love abides criticism and negative thoughts are driven away.
4. What happens without love?
a. Wars and terrorism.
b. Death and destruction
c. Without the love of God in the heart of the believer trials can cause him to become critical and lose the “crown of life” (James 1:12).
d. When you do not have love in life, life has lost its reason.
e. When you do not have love in your life you have church splits and people get hurt.
f. When love is gone life is gone.
ii. What’s love got to do with it? The answer is everything. This world will be saved by Love. You will be delivered by Love.
1. The only hope for this world is love!
Conclusion:
Let’s determine not to be grumpy old Christians so we can assist in spreading the Good News of the Gospel. Let’s not be known for spreading the Bad News.
I Corinthians 11:28 “A man (and woman) ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.
Lets go into Communion with the right attitude and our hearts in the right place because it’s about the Good News!
Altar Call: Show of Hands that will make this commitment.
