May 04, 2014
Acts 6:1-1
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Acts 6:1, “Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.”
“Now in those days….” Because the book of Acts covers a period of 30 years, it’s not uncommon that we run into passages where it seems Luke deliberately hits fast-forwards on the VCR. As we enter chapter 6 approximately 3 years has passed since Pentecost.
I bring this up because, when reading through this book, it’s very easy to lose sight of the time frame behind the context and inadvertently mysticize what was really taking place.
And this point is vitally important for our understanding of this particular section of Acts. For though the birth of the church had been sudden, its impact incredible, and the growth immediate, this church still needed time to mature and was not immune from problems.
For example, we sometimes over-glorify the Apostles. Sure they interned with Jesus and had been equipped by the Holy Spirit, but pastoring this church and caring for the needs of this new community was not only a monumental undertaking, but it was uncharted waters. For these men every experience was a new experience.
Not only was the leadership inexperienced, but it wasn’t as though this church was filled with seasoned believers. Those added on Pentecost did not come out of the incubator fully mature Christians. It would take time for them to grow in grace, increase in knowledge, and learn what it really meant to be part of a community.
And to compound the difficulties associated with having inexperienced leadership and infant Christians the growth never stopped… It only intensified. As we enter Acts 6 Luke simply tells us “the number of the disciples was multiplying.”
Think about it this way… What was God’s remedy for a church full of spiritual toddlers being led by 12 preschoolers? He add more babies! In context, should it really come as a surprised that with these conditions “there arose a complaint.” I’m kind of amazed they were able to make it this long without a serious issue arising.
Now before we discuss how this situation was ultimately handled, let’s begin by examining the particulars of this complaint. Look again at this verse… “There arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.”
Even though at this point the church community is entirely Jewish (Gentiles will not join the ranks until Acts 10), it should be noted that not all Jews were one in the same.
On one side there were the “Hebrews.” These were Jews who had refused to assimilate into Roman society and lived within the boarders of Israel. They were extremely nationalistic and very traditional when it came to matters of culture.
On the flip side there was another group known as the “Hellenists.” This group of ethnic Jews, while still retaining important aspects of their heritage, had broken with tradition and embraced Grecian culture.
It’s important to understand these two groups not only harbored great distain for one another, but Judaism had done nothing to remedy these lines of racial distinction and cultural demarcation (in some ways it actually fostered them).
Though in this instance an issue between these two groups had arisen, it should be pointed out that they had coexisted peacefully in this New Covenant community. One might say, “Where the law had driven a wedge - grace had built a bridge.”
From the text it’s clear the nature of this complaint centered on the care of widows. Before we get into the particulars, the very fact any widows were being cared for by the church is a significant development because it indicates some kind of divide had occurred between religious Jews and Jewish Christians.
According to the Law if a widow didn’t have family to care for her needs she would be cared for by the rest of society. In many instances this would include a pass to glean first from the fields or some other type of national welfare initiative.
And yet, it would now seem that the Jewish authorities were refusing aid to Hebrew widows who had converted to Christianity. It was a form of religious persecution. The very fact the church was caring for widows seems to substantiate this belief.
In the communal life of this first-century church the mechanism to provide for the needs of these widows was through what was called the “daily distribution.”
The specifics of how this worked we’re not told, but one thing is clear… The Hellenists believed their widows were not being appropriately cared for while the Hebrew widows were receiving some kind of preferential treatment.
It should also be noted that Luke does nothing in the way he frames this situation to dismiss the reality these widows were actually being neglected. However, he also provides no indication this neglect was intentional. (This is important.)
And this is where our story gets interesting… According to Acts 2 and again in Acts 4 this “daily distribution” of resources was under the direct supervision of the Apostles. This means the A-Team (Peter, John, James, and the boys) were neglecting these widows and what’s worse… They were completely oblivious to this reality!
One would assume cognitive, malicious wrong doing among the brethren would be the principle destructive force of church community, but history affirms the nastiest, most contentious messes are actually the byproduct of “unintentional wrongs” that occur when one person is being hurt and the culprit is oblivious to their wrong doing. With this in mind, the situation Luke establishes for us (neglected widows, upset Hellenists, oblivious Apostles) sets the stage for potential messy and divisive situation!
In our travels through Acts we have already seen Satan try to destroy this new work of God through intimidation, infiltration, and persecution (all of which have back fired and yielded the opposite result.) And yet, in Acts 6, we see Satan shift to the most dangerous and effective of all strategies… Divide and conquer.
This might go without saying, but the only condition you need for the potential of human conflict is the presence of two people. This means problems within a church community are inevitable when people seek to coexist in the church community!
No matter how hard we might all strive to love one another, abide in the grace of Jesus, and live in the harmony of the Spirit it is simply a fact that no church will be void of problems until we’re all in heaven. The same can be said for having a perfect pastor!
It’s been said, “If you find a perfect church don’t join because you’ll mess it up.”
And let’s be honest… If this first-century, Holy Spirit filled, Apostolic lead church literally founded by Jesus Himself faced real problems, no church will be immune. (Note: It’s not an accident that almost every Epistle was corrective in some capacity.)
And while Satan has many ways he’ll try to divide the brethren, please don’t miss the single, overarching idea presented in verse one… Satan will always attempt to take a real problem (widows being neglected) to achieve a destructive result.
You see what made this dynamic so dangerous was that if any one party (Hellenists, Hebrews, or Apostles) did not seek to handle this situation in a Godly way, Satan would have been able to gain a foothold to divided and destroyed what God was doing.
History will attest that more good churches have splintered and split when real issues became big problems because they were not handled in a Godly and Biblical way.
Though next Sunday we’ll see how the Apostles (the offending party) handled this complaint, this morning let’s look at the way the offended party handled this situation.
1. Their complaint was based upon a real concern.
The problem at hand was the inadequate care of widows and this was a huge issue! It wasn’t a matter of personal style or non-essential ministry methodology. Caring for these women was a fundamental job of the church and they were failing.
This was a matter of such importance that, not only would Paul write extensively on this topic in 1 Timothy 5, but James would again stress the seriousness of this issue by saying that “pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble…”
Before we continue I want to point out that there is a fundamental difference between “a complaint” and the act of “complaining.” These Hellenists were confronting a Biblical issue. It was a genuine complaint. And yet, more often than not, complaints that arise in the church today do not fit the same basic criteria and are therefore viewed and handled differently.
Don’t misunderstand… At C316 “Helpful suggestions” or “constructive criticism” for how we can better our ministry are always welcomed and appreciated. It’s impossible to get better if you’re not honest with what can be improved.
But… There is a fundamental difference between a person bringing before the church a complaint based upon a Biblical concern or a helpful suggestion aimed at ministry effectiveness, and the individual who simply loves to complain.
Now there are many reasons people feel compelled to complain (sometimes it’s misguided hurt, inappropriate expectations, even mental disorders), but there does seem to be one universal constant… Complainers complain!
In my experiences I have seen that complaining is often the compulsion of the complainer. These people are never irked by just one issue and are always complaining about something! Complainers tend to be recidivists.
Please understand, the fundamental difference between “complaining” and “a complaint” has to do with the issue at hand. Complaining is often never about the subject of the complaint, but instead a manifestation of a much deeper ill… The byproduct of a more pressing problem… An action birthed from an inner attitude. Complaining is one of the single greatest indicators of an ungrateful spirit.
At Calvary316 if you have a Biblical complaint over something we’re doing or even a theology we’re teaching, please bring it to our attention. Maybe it’s simply an oversight - a growing pain - or a matter we need to get on our needs and repent concerning.
None of us serve in a vacuum. We are not only accountable to you and God, but we all sincerely want to grow and mature in our role as pastors and leaders. That said… At Calvary316 we will not tolerate complaining!
Let me give you three fundamental reasons for this position:
A. Complaining destroys what God can do in a person’s life.
When Christians tolerate a complainer we aren’t “bearing with one another,” in actually we’re enabling the sin of ungratefulness to exist and fester within that person. When faced with these people we need to understand that complaining is a serious condition that carries with it damaging results!
Recent studies out of Stanford have shown that complaining actually damages a person’s brain. Their study revealed that complaining for 30 minutes a day (no more than the ride home from work) will directly damage the neurons in the part of the brain used for problem solving and cognitive functioning.
And if that doesn’t sound damaging enough, the same study went on to show that complaining also zaps the brain energy and functionality of the person on the listening end as well. Which explains why after a meeting filled with nothing but constant complaining everyone leaves feeling deflated and depressed.
The truth is that lending an ear to a complainer really does more harm than good - both physically, but also spiritually. Consider the children of Israel during the Exodus as an example of how seriously God views this damaging attitude.
One scholar pointed out, “God called the Israelites an “evil congregation” for their sinful ingratitude. To God, an ungrateful attitude is sin—evil—which provokes Him to anger! Although God did not strike Israel with pestilence or disinherit them, He did cause them to wander in the wilderness for 40 years, until those that demonstrated this attitude died! Their murmurings and unthankful attitude condemned them from ever seeing the Promised Land!”
B. Complaining destroys church community.
To understand this point you need to realize that the sin of complaining is really destructive to the life of a church for one basic reason… It’s contagious.
Going back to the same Stanford study… In addition to the physical effects constant exposure to complaining will have on the brain, research also revealed the more you allow yourself to be around a complainer, the more likely it is that you’ll end up mimicking that same behavior. If “bad company corrupts good morals,” you can also say “the company of complainers will corrupt even the most positive of attitudes.”
Author Trevor Blake made this observation concerning this study, “The latest neuro-scientific data shows that the brain works more like a muscle than we’ve previously thought so the more you repeat a behavior the more you become that behavior. If you surround yourself with a bunch of complainers it is more likely you will become a complainer yourself.”
This is why it’s so important for a church to have a culture that doesn’t capitulate to complaining. It’s essential church leaders (and attenders) deal with these kind of issues before they’re allowed to slowly erode away unity and yield divisions.
“Procrastination, avoidance, or capitulation can be disastrous because complaining grows and spreads with time. Hoping that it will go away is like hoping a cancer will simply recede by itself. Untreated complainers are like untreated cancers: they will inevitably spread destructiveness.”
C. Complaining robs the laborers of joy.
I am convinced this singular attitude has caused more good men and women to fall out of the ranks of ministry than maybe any other reason. If an encouraging word lifts a spirit, complaining cuts that spirit off at the knees!
You see when someone complains about something in the church (the type of events offered, worship song selections, volume of the music, paint choices, etc.) they don’t realize they’re actually criticizing a person’s service to Jesus.
I hope you understand that there is no greater kill-joy for a person in ministry than when after pouring time, energy, creativity, heart, and soul into a service for Jesus a person nonchalantly comes up to complain and be critical.
Before you complain about a ministry within the church, keep in mind there is a person volunteering their time to plan these events for your benefit.
Before you complain about song selections or the sound quality of the Sunday service, keep in mind there is a person volunteering their time to create an environment by which you can approach the Lord in worship.
Before you complain about the color of the building, esthetics, or organization of the children’s facilities, keep in mind there is a person volunteering their time to develop the best environment for you and your family to encounter Jesus often with a limited budget to do so.
Before you complain about another’s service to Jesus, please consider… Who gave you that right or made you the arbitrator of such things? What standing or authority do you have to complain and discourage those doing good?
As the pastor of Calvary316 and I’ll also speak on behalf of the elders… We will not allow you to discourage anyone serving Jesus by tolerating ungratefulness!
I ran across a powerful article titled, “10 Things Pastors Hate to Admit Publicly” and #7 on the list “We Spend More Time Discouraged Than Encouraged” highlights the effects a complaining spirit has on pastors… “Occasionally people say to me, “Must be awesome to get paid to study the Bible all day.” Rightly or wrongly I infer they are saying, “Must be nice to have such a cush gig as a paid quiet-time.” In all honestly it is pretty awesome to be paid to study the Bible, but it’s a major downer when people tell you – after 2 minutes of un-investigated reflection – that your 30 hours of study and 2 collegiate degrees were wrong… That they just couldn’t stay awake today during your sermon, but no offense (how about I fall asleep at your kid’s graduation and we’ll call it even)… How you should have also said or how Pastor So-N-So says… Aside from these particular examples I find that for most pastors it generally feels like the boat is taking on water more than racing with the wind – regardless of size or rate of growth. Lead pastors particularly suffer from this since much of their job is to focus on seeing things get better, which often translates into focusing on the broken, lacking or unfilled parts of the church more than enjoying what is right and working. Many of the most faithful and fruitful pastors in history have suffered deeply with anxiety and depression for the same reasons.”
In dealing with a group of complaining, ungrateful Israelites even God was discouraged enough to want to throw up His hands and quit! So before you’re critical and complain about your pastor or those serving your family, consider this one reality… Do you want them to leave church discouraged or encouraged?
2. In considering the way the offended party handled this situation, not only was their complaint based upon a real concern, but the way they handled their concern revealed their motivation was sincere.
Luke is clear in light of this glaring need “there arose a complaint…” Sadly, this translation has yielded more confusion than anything else.
Our English word “complaint” implies not only a “grievance in the way something is being handled,” but an “active and public expression” of one’s displeasure.
If this translation is accurate then Luke is presenting a situation whereby these Hellenists took their genuine complaint that the Apostles were neglecting their widows into the public arena. And yet, this isn’t that case at all!
The word “complaint” is the Greek noun “goggysmos” which though affirming a “grievance in the way something was being handled,” also presents the idea it was “a secret displeasure not openly avowed.”
Because we’ll see next Sunday that the Apostles immediately begin to address their complaint in verse 2, Luke seems to be saying these Hellenists took their issue directly to the Apostles and did not make it a public spectacle.
Understand, the way these Hellenists handled their complaint revealed a desire for reconciliation… A desire to maintain unity. They didn’t want to create division. They didn’t want to give the enemy a foothold. Though they were undoubtedly hurt, they understood greater things were at stake… The Gospel and the Kingdom.
I hope you realize Jesus is just as concerned with how the “offended party” handles themselves as He is with those who committed the offense in the first place! Two wrongs don’t make a right, not to mention, it eliminates the chance of healing.
In Matthew 18:15-17 Jesus said, “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.” Paul would later say at this point the person should be dispelled from the church community.
“If your brother sins against you…” Jesus knew that conflicts would arise. There is not nor will there ever be a perfect church community on earth. Jesus knew that even Christians would hurt one another and it was important to address this topic.
Don’t miss how He instructed the “offended party” to handle their grievance… “Go and tell him his fault between you and him alone” so that “if he hears you, you have gained a brother.” Keep it private. Then bring a witness. Finally, include the church.
As we mentioned, this was a dangerous moment for the church because if handled the wrong way it would have given Satan a foothold to divide and conquer.
And yet, because these Hellenists (who had a justifiable beef) would take their complaint directly to those responsible it created an situation whereby things could be handled appropriately and any residual damage minimized.
In conclusion… Don’t complain! Complaining destroys what God can do in your life. It destroys church community. And it robs the people serving Jesus of joy.
We would all be wise to take Paul’s words to heart in Philippians 2:14-16, “Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.”
And if you’re struggling when it comes to how to differentiate between a “genuine complaint” and having a “complaining attitude,” I would encourage you to ask yourself two important questions: First, how big is the issue? And secondly, (this will help you evaluate how big an issue it really is) is this an issue I’m prepared to leave the church over?
If the issue is one of Biblical morality, you have a responsibility to address it in the right way. Don’t air your grievance in public. Obey Jesus and take these things directly to the offending party so that you can win a brother and Christ can be glorified.
If the issue is one of ministry effectiveness, then you should pray about how to bring it to the attention of church leadership without being critical of another’s service to Jesus! There is always room for improvement, but change rarely happens in discouragement.
And finally, if the issue that irks you is simply a matter of personal preference (the music is to loud, they play to many hymns, the Bible study is to long or weighty, or you don’t like free Dunkin Donuts’ coffee) I would suggest letting it go!
Unless… If the type of free coffee is a big enough issue to determine what church community you plug into… Please bring the complaint to me… I have no problems encouraging that person to attend the countless Folders churches in our community.