“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29).

The Word of God tells us that believers must avoid communication that tends to tear down. Good communication edifies; that is to say, it builds up. It sends brothers and sisters away encouraged and joyful in the Lord.

But corrupt communication bulldozes its way through the fellowship of the church smashing unity, pulverizing relationships and mangling the hard work of faithful brethren. I believe that corrupt communication has done more to ruin churches than all the bloodiest persecutions of the past put together. The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ has faced the arena, the fire, and the rack – – and has withstood them all, but unruly tongues wagging within the membership have often stripped her of her glory and thrown her naked in the dust before the contemptuous smile of the watching world. What a tragedy!

And yet, for some strange reason, believers often make light of a critical spirit and barely see it as sin at all. Christians tolerate it in themselves and in others, though they know perfectly well what it can do in the church. But whether or not Christians see grumbling and sowing discord as an awful sin, judging from God’s reaction to it, it must be very wicked. It was because of chronic complaining that God sent fiery serpents to judge Israel in the wilderness (Numbers 21:6). Thousands perished! Recalling the sober incident, Paul warns, “Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer” (I Corinthians 10:9-10).

What makes a grumbling and murmuring spirit so bad is that it is so deeply ingrained in people that it rears its ugly head almost without knowing it.

I am reminded of John Hyde, also known as “Praying Hyde,” who was a great man of prayer. It is believed that thousands were converted to Christ in India because of his intercessions. Praying for another preacher, who had become openly carnal, John Hyde began, “Oh. Father, Thou knowest how cold–” And then something stopped him. He couldn’t continue. Suddenly the Holy Spirit impressed upon him the words of Scripture, and at once Hyde cried out, “Forgive me, Father, in that I have been an accuser of the brethren before Thee.” Then Hyde began to thank God for his brother, shortcomings and all, and pleaded God’s blessing upon him. Not long after, that carnal brother broke down, confessed his sin and was wonderfully used of God to lead many people to Christ.

May believers examine their own hearts regarding complaining and faultfinding, a habit that is so easy to fall into. Some believers are gloomy by temperament. They too often automatically see the dark side of everything. And many others appear to be born pessimists and have to work harder than the rest of us to see the bright side of things. For the sake of Christ’s church, may all believers vow, not merely to refrain from complaining, gossiping, backbiting, and murmuring; but rather, may they determine to give thanks always for all things (I Thessalonians 5:18).