Grumpy

Walt Disney's Snow White is a beautiful children's movie about a princess and the seven dwarfs who take her in and give her a home. Each dwarf has an unusual name which reflects their personality. There's Sneezy, who, you guessed it, sneezes a lot. There's Bashful, who is shy, and Happy who is jolly all the time. And then there's Grumpy. Grumpy's favourite expression is a scowl and he likes to cross his arms across his chest in defiance. He's grumpy! 

While Snow White is just a children's story it does reflect the personalities we often encounter in the people around us. Whether they are Christian or not, there are happy people and bashful people. There are sleepy and dopey people too. (All names of the seven dwarfs.)  But there should never be grumpy Christians in the world. We are to be different.

"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)

Paul wrote these words to the church in Philippi while he was in jail. If anyone had a reason to grumble and complain, Paul did, but he chose not to. Grumbling and complaining are always a choice, just like a lot of things are. 

But we live in a 'warped and crooked generation', just like Paul said. Things haven't changed much over the years; in fact, if anything, they've gotten worse. Complaining about our lot in life seems to be the norm. Finding fault and being demanding are both acceptable in the society in which we live. Just let that drive through attendant mess up your order, how you handle the problem will reflect on your relationship with Christ.

Paul knew this. Paul knew that we are to 'shine like the stars of the sky', we are to stand out as being something different because of Who we represent. Whenever we are faced with an opportunity to grumble or complain the world is watching to see if we are any different than they are. (And yes, we should be.)

In the last line of this Scripture Paul says that if they remain pure and blameless then he will be able to 'boast' when Christ comes again that all of his work wasn't in vain. How discouraging it must be for pastors and lay teachers to have poured good sound doctrine into congregations, just like Paul did, only to find them still living sinful lives and behaving like the rest of the world. We all need to pray for our leaders that they will not be 'weary in well doing'. (Galatians 6:9)

We all have an obligation, to Christ, and to the body of Believers to which we belong, to walk a walk that Christ Himself would be able to boast about. If we call ourselves Christians, we need to reflect Christ everywhere we go. Its easy to fall into the trap of grumbling, arguing and complaining because everyone around us does it all the time. But we are to be different. We are to stand out from among them (2 Corinthians 6:17). We are ambassadors of Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:20) No grumpy Christians allowed.