91This issue’s Last Word comes from The Good Book Blog, the faculty blog of Biola’s Talbot School of Theology. This article is adapted from a post that first appeared on March 23, 2016.
This past fall a friend shared an article from the New York Times titled “The Microcomplaint: Nothing Too Small to Complain About.” It was amusing to read about all the silly complaints that celebrities tweeted to the world: everything from the misery of only decaf coffee being available to what the writer deemed a “complaintbrag” of not being able to buy a Persian rug with cherub imagery.
This habit, however, does not appear to be limited to celebrities. Cruise ship directors have received equally amusing complaints. For example, one passenger reported that the sea was “too loud” while another passenger grumbled about there being no celebrities on the Celebrity cruise ship.
In the past complaining was something often reserved for private ears. Today, how- ever, it is not only acceptable to publicly complain about the littlest inconvenience, it is often encouraged. It has even been identified as a communication style, particularly of Americans, who frequently see themselves as victims.
Are Christians exempt from “microcomplaining” or are we part of the “culture of complaint”? What does Scripture have to say about complaining?
I only need to look at my own attitude and read through my text messages to my husband to realize that Christians are susceptible to “microcomplaining.”
“What’s up with this rain? :(”
“Loose wire — another trip to the ortho. :(" “No time for a run today. :(”
While I am not a big social media person, I have become more than familiar with the American “complaint style” of communication, as you can see by my use of emoticons. It no longer seems petty to complain about the weather (which is pretty hard to do in Southern California), dealing with appointments for my kids (which are paid for by my excellent insurance plan) or not having enough time to exercise (which is probably because I slept in). Very first world problems. &nb