The Thrill of a Ministry's Collapse

In John 3:27-30, John the Baptizer has some interesting things to say in answer to his followers' observation that Jesus was gaining (stealing?) John's former flock.  Verse 30 is where John famously says, "He must increase, but I must decrease."  By itself, this is a stunning statement; in its context, it's even richer.  John's words right before this statement was that his joy had been completed through this collapse of his personal success which had served Jesus' success.  What incredible grace he was given to see clearly and truly!  He took both his obedient outward fame and its collapse as being according to the purposes of heaven and reveled in the greater glory which Christ was receiving.

Unknown Bread

In John 6, Jesus feeds over 5,000 people miraculously, then discusses the true nature and meaning of that provision by God.  He references God's miraculous provision detailed in Exodus 17 and Numbers 11.  But, Jesus says that the truly unknown bread (manna) is He Himself, the true life-giving Bread of God from Heaven.

Jesus takes the metaphor that the people referenced and turns it into an important illustration of Gospel truth.  God, the Father of His people, had sent bread down from heaven to feed the hungry.  He sent the true Life-giving bread to feed those with a greater hunger. 

But consider the older story: Even though God's people ate angels' food, they murmured (Ps 78:25)!  Have I ever gotten bored or dissatisfied with the Bread of Life that came down from Heaven?  Have I ever considered my portion poor because He was the portion I had?  How can one redeemed be so ungrateful!  Lord, that I might be unceasingly grateful for your bountiful and constant provision; may the constancy of it not lull me into in gratitude and idolatry.

Frustration vs. Anger: a cultural excuse for sin

Yesterday, I was reminded of a significant difference between Turkish and American culture.  The Turkish language doesn't have a word with the basic meaning of 'being frustrated,' as it is used in daily modern English.  When I lived with a Turkish family several years ago, if I got 'frustrated,' they sometimes commented that I was 'angry.'  I tried to explain why I was 'just frustrated' and not angry; it didn't work.  So, for the past several years I have pondered off and on about the nature of frustration, and I have come to the conclusion that they are right: what I call frustration is anger.

Last night I was spending time with those same friends, trying to help them work through a cross-cultural, cross-Atlantic business issue.  Everything went wrong, and I got frustrated.  In older English, I might say, 'My expectations/plans were being frustrated'; that is, my plans were being thwarted.  In more modern English, we say, 'I am frustrated'; that is, I am reacting negatively to the thwarting of my plans.  In other words, I am responding to adversity with negative passionate emotion... sounds like anger.

If I argue that I was simply frustrated, not really angry, I am not really dealing with my heart, I am dealing with my actions.  We tend to say 'frustrated' when we are keeping it inside and are externally calm and reasonable; 'anger' starts with the yelling.  So, we have excused our sin (frustration) by saying that anger is controlled and undeveloped. May God continue to change my heart and yours through His Word and His Spirit, so that this does not continue!

Why does 'frustration' not get preached on if it is truly a sin?

This seems to be a classic case of a cultural blind spot which is not easily seen because of the distance between our culture and the ones through which we received God's Word. Like Turkish, biblical cultures may not have distinguished 'frustration' from 'anger.'  I've also wondered if there is a possibility of the near synonyms of 'anger' and 'wrath' being similar to the distinction we make.  Here's the biblical data as far as I can tell which answers the question why I don't remember any sermons on frustration.

In the KJV, NKJV, ESV, and NIV (2011), 'frustrate' occurs less than a dozen times never meaning 'controlled anger,' always with its older meaning of 'to thwart,' as of a plan or objective, not a person.

In the NASB, HCSB and NIV (1984), it occurs once with the modern 'mild anger' meaning (2 Sam 13:2).  (The HSBC has an additional possibility in Job 6:20, but that also seems to clearly have the 'thwart' meaning.)

The Nature of Need

This thought has encouraged us many times since it was shared with us a little over a year ago...

"God creates needs so that He has opportunity to lavish His abundant supply upon us."