Instead of complaining…

…Do something edifying.

Doing something edifying means to do something that builds people up. I’ve seen far too many people who engage in politics and religion go down the complaining road. It’s a road that only leads to fear, anger, division, and projection. It’s not a good road to go down.

Look, I get that things go on that we all don’t like. And we need to recognize this. But we can’t get stuck there. When we get stuck in complaints, we put our energy towards just trying to stop something we don’t like or agree with. But there is more. Do something edifying.

There’s so much opportunities to do something edifying. What are you waiting for? Don’t like something, then do something that will build up people, build up the church, build your community up, build up the body politic, etc.

Edification doesn’t happen all that often because it’s just plain easier to complain. There is little responsibility with complaining. But there’s a whole lot of responsibility with edification. There’s a great deal of effort and energy invested in edification. Complaining is handing over responsibility to someone else to do the hard work while we reap the rewards. But that’s not what we are called too. We are called to pick up our cross and do the hard work of edifying. That’s what discipleship is about — following Jesus and living into faith.

So what are you complaining about?

What can you do that will build up people? A community? Your church? Your school…