Full Vent Folly

"A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back" (Prov. 29:11, ESV).

I like to complain. I can be a nit-picker.  I can get easily frustrated with others (and myself), and occasionally indulge in the sinful behavior of complaining. I don't say this to justify myself.  I don't take it lightly.  Well, maybe I take it too lightly.  Who am I that I should complain about supposed weaknesses and sins in the life of others?  I am a sinner, who has been redeemed by the blood of Christ.  I am a man who has no righteousness of his own, but who is being made into the righteousness of Christ. 

This proverb is a powerful corrective for poor attitudes.  We are (at least I am) in constant danger of making our righteousness the standard by which we judge those around us.  Yet, this is precisely what Jesus meant when he said that we should judge others.  He isn't saying that we should ignore the sin in their lives, but rather that we should always view their sin as if it were smaller than the sin in our lives.  Our sin is a "plank" while their sin is a "speck."  We cannot compare our lives to their lives and assume we are better than they are.

Jesus is the standard of perfection.  He alone possess righteousness in and of himself.  His death and resurrection are the only things that secure righteousness.  In our flesh, that is our old natures, no good thing dwells.  We need Christ's righteousness in order to be acceptable to the Father; it is a righteousness granted to us by grace, through faith.

When we give full vent to our spirits, we will do extensive damage.  First, as believers, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, we must remember that we are empowered to live a holy life.  The Spirit is working the process of sanctification in our hearts throughout our Christian lives.  He cleanses the heart, which in turn cleanses the mouth.  When we speak in rage or in some other unworthy manner, we grieve the Spirit. Second, when we vent our thoughts people will be hurt.  Even if they don't hear us speak ill of them, others might.  Those who hear our complaints may pass them on, with or without embellishment.

Thus, we need to learn to confess our unrighteous judgmentalism, our self-righteous attitudes, and our ungodly desire to elevate ourselves through the process of tearing others down.  When we act this way, we are out of sync with the Spirit.  When we give full vent to our spirits we are acting like Satan, who rages against the Lord and his Anointed One, because he knows his time is short.  When Christ was wrongfully accused, unjustly beating, maliciously mocked, and violently crucified; he didn't rage against the crowds.  He prayed for mercy to be extended to them.

Yet, Jesus experienced anger.  He spoke out against injustice.  He called sinners to repentance.  And he commands us to do likewise.  If we are not angry over the things that anger God, something is wrong with us.  It is normal and natural to experience anger over murder, rape, child abuse, etc.  We should be outraged by injustice.  We should be calling sinners to repentance (the abandonment of sin).  However, we should start by preaching these things to ourselves.  Are we practicing things that angers God, like pride?  Are we practicing injustice through our prejudices?  Have we repented of the sin that still exists in our lives?

It is unwise to give full vent to a sinful heart, even one that is in the process of being sanctified.  Because until it is glorified, sin will be present and actively engaged in war with the Spirit.  Thus, our words can be used in the service of sin.  Wisdom dictates we hold our tongue, and keep our more volatile opinions to ourselves.  Don't misunderstand me.  I am not saying that we remain silent in the face of a sinful situation.  If God calls something sin in his Word, then we must call it sin.  We must crucify sin in our lives when the Spirit reveals it to us, and we must warn others of its presence and power.

As believers we are to open our mouths in order to instruct, encourage, and admonish one another, and all of this with the goal of building up each other into the maturity of Christ.  When we allow ourselves to rant and rave about the shortcomings in others, we tear down the bonds of unity and dishonor God.  It tears down unity, because complaining sows seeds of discord.  It dishonors God, because it calls into question his wisdom, his knowledge, and his ability.  When we complain about others, we are acting like Adam, and laying the guilt at God's feet.  Adam said, "Lord, the woman you gave me . . . ."  We say, "Lord, that person you made . . . ."  Either way, we deflect our responsibility and defame God.  God is perfectly wise, and his purposes always prevail. Our words should reflect those truths.  The next time you are tempted to vent think about what you are really saying about God, and hold your tongue.  Pray for me that I would not allow a critical spirit to reign in my heart, but that I would honor the Spirit of Christ who is at work within me to bring about the image of Christ.