The Tator Family:
Commentator
Scripture:
(22)“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (23)”For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in the mirror. (24) “For he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.
Introduction:
I want to continue our series this week on “The Tator Family. Last week I preached on Cousin Spectator. If you missed it, you can go on our website or facebook page and find it there.
This week I want to talk about a group of people who are similar to Spectators, yet totally different. I want to talk to you briefly today about Uncle Commentator.
A Commentator is someone who talks about the work of God but rarely participates in.
While they are not an enemy of the church, their words can unintentionally undermine the work that God is trying to do in the body. They always have something to say about what everyone else is doing but rarely does anything themselves.
They will:
Offer opinions
Critique how others serve
Point out flaws
Know how everyone should be doing things.
They have commentary but no commitment.
They might say things like:
“Why did they sing that song”
”If I were the Pastor…”
“That’s not how we used to do it…”
“I don't like how they changed that…”
They are active talkers but inactive servers.
When you decide to take a seat and comment on how everyone else serves and how everyone else volunteers, you are creating a pressurized environment without participation.
This is what I need you to understand. The church does not grow through commendation. It grows through participation. Don’t just go to church; love the church, help the church, pray for the church, sow into the church, grow the church.
Don’t criticize the vision, buy into the vision. By ourselves we are nothing but together, in alignment with the spirit; we can turn cullman county upside down for the cause of Christ.
- The Why
Becoming a commentator does not happen overnight. It is a slow developmental process. It usually happens without a person realizing what has taken or is taking place in their heart.
Let me clear something up. I didn’t come here today to beat the sheep, I came here today to assemble the sheep together and help you get out of an observation state and back to a participation state.
A commentator is formed though a combination of several different things.
Spiritual drift, emotional wounds (church hurt), unaddressed pride, and misplaced expectations.
A commentator is someone who used to serve. Someone Who used to worship. Someone who used to volunteer. Someone who used to engage in the services.
But overtime something changed. Maybe they got burned out. Possibly even hurt by leadership. Maybe they got overlooked and never appreciated; and instead of re-engaging they never came back to it.
In their lack of involvement they have developed a criticizing characteristic. Some would say a spirit but everything is not a demon; sometimes it is a lack of self discipline.
James said to be doers of the word and not just hearers.
The moment that participation and contribution stops, commentary begins.
2. The How?
The sad part is at one time the commentators in the church used to be the backbone of the church. But someone hurt them, a leader disappointed them, their efforts felt ignored, or even their ministry fell apart and instead of healing; their hurt became the driving force of their criticism.
Now they are criticizing people that were not even here when everything happened. Hating on people just because they want to see the church grow. Bitter because someone else stepped up when they remained seated.
The problem is not the people you are criticizing, the problem is your hear is sick.
Proverbs 13:12 says “Hope deferred makes the heart sick.”
Luke 6:45 says this “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”
Listen to me…
A wounded heart becomes a critical mouth.
A. Spiritually Deferred
A commentator is not filled but they are empty and empty people speak out of lack.
When their prayer life shrinks, worship becomes shallow, and the word grows distant; the flesh begins to speak louder.
When you are super critical of someone else, you are too focused on them and not on Christ.
Something is wrong when you use your mouth to curse someone through criticism yet use that same mouth to bless the Lord of Heaven.
James said in James 3:10 “Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.”
Paul said in Galatians 5:16 “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”
What does that mean Pastor?
Commentary grows where intimacy with God shrinks.
B. When Pride Creeps In
Have you ever noticed the sick disease of comparison in the church?
- “I could do it better”
- “Why did they choose them?”
- That’s not how I would lead…”
Pride convinces people that they have a superior insight and that others are spiritually sloppy or ineffective.
Paul said in 1 Corinthians 8:1 “Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.”
Knowledge puffs up but love builds up.
What did Jesus say? Jesus said in Matthew 23:11 “But he who is the greatest among you shall be your servant.”
What does that mean? It means no matter how puffed up we get about how much we think we know, the highest level that one can attain int he kingdom of God is the position of a servant.
You want to be used by God? learn how to serve.
You want to see the sick healed? Learn to serve.
You want to see a community come to Christ? Learn to serve.
We cannot replace servants with the opinionated and the entitled.
God give us some people who will rid themselves of criticism and pick up a mop. Heal the hearts of the wounded and let them find their place again.
When service is replaced by opinion, pride is at work in one’s heart.
I could keep preaching on pride but we would be here all day. I have to keep moving…
3. The Cure
Solomon said in Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
James said in James 4:6 “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Jesus is the perfection depiction what it means to walk in humility.
He is the Lord of Lords and the king of all kings yet he surrounds himself with outcasts and sinful people. People with different backgrounds, families, and social status’.
He camps with them, travels with them, does ministry with them. I know it is not recorded but I pastor a church and people will be peopling. Some get jealous of this one. Some get offended at that one. Some for more entitled. Some feel like they should get special privileges. Some of you will get offended today. It is what it is.
Jesus travelled with these people. This was not just a Sunday service and a Wednesday service. This was 7 days a week; 24 hours a day. I love y'all, but if I had to live with you I would be returning some of y'all back to to sender if y'all didn't send me back first.
Let’s look at some of the outcast he surrounded him self with.
- Peter - The Vocal Commentator
If anything disciple fits the profile of a commentator it is Peter.
- He spoke before thinking.
- Told Jesus what should happen.
- Corrected others.
- Corrected Jesus
- Argued about decisions.
- He was VERY opinionated.
He rebuked Jesus in Matthew 16:22 when Jesus was telling them about his death and the resurrection. “Far be it from you, Lord; this shall not happen to you!
This became a humbling experience when Jesus called him Satan.
He corrected Jesus again when he went to wash Peters feet in John 13:8. He said “You shall never wash my feet!”
He literally commented on Jesus’ methods, timing, and authority.
He compared himself to the other disciples in Matthew 26:33 when he said “Even if all are made to stumble, I will never be made to stumble…”
What a prideful statement…
Yet in the upper room during the last supper, Jesus would wash the feet of the critic - the one who corrected him, the one with the biggest mouth of them all. But washing Peters feet broke the pride in Peter’s life. Later he would become a compassionate shepherd.
B. Thomas - The Questioning Commentator
Thomas often expressed doubts, questions, and verbal objections.
It was Thomas who said Unless I see…I will not believe.” In Matthew 20:25
Thomas doubted verbally instead of trusting inwardly.
Yet, Jesus welcomed the questions and during that last meal he washed the feet of the doubter and then guided him into the faith.
C. Judas - The Critical Commentator
Judas constantly critiqued ministry decisions.
When Mary poured the oil on Jesus, Judas commented in John 12:5.
“Why wasn’t this oil sold and the money given to the poor…”
You make think it make sense but John is not afraid to tell the truth. In verse 6 he says “He did not say this because he cared about the poor…”
His commentary was a spiritual mask that was hiding a sick heart.
Yet Jesus washed the feet of the very one who would betray him.
D. James & John
The son’s of Thunder… the nickname given to them by Jesus because of their anger issues. Becoming so angry at times that they wanted to call fire down from Heaven to burn people up.
They wanted the:
- Highest seats.
- Greatest positions
- Special Treatment
They even told Jesus in Mark 10:37 “Grant us that we may sit, One at your right hand and the other on your left, in your glory.
Their commentary was rooted in entitlement, comparison, and status.
Jesus washed their feet too. He showed them that greatness comes from serving; not your status.
Multiple times the disciples argued amongst themselves about who the greatest disciple was. (Luke 22:24) This is what we would call a commentator behavior. Judging each other, ranking each other, criticizing each other…
But Jesus washed their feet of everyone of them. He didnt just wash the feet of servants…he was the feet of critics, doubters, complainers, competitors, and even his betrayer.
He didn’t ask the church to was the feet of the perfect, he asked us to wash the feet of the difficult.
It didn't just was the dirt off of the surface of their feet from the paths they had walked. It reached further than the surface level. It broke their Character of commentator at the root level.
It broke their pride, dismantled their entitlement, broke off comparison, and derailed judgement. It is hard to be prideful when you kneel, lower yourself, and touch the dust of someone else’s journey.
It is hard to judge the path someone has taken in life when you are washing the physical effects off of them.
Humility breaks criticism!
A commentator often thinks they know more, seen more, or could do more…but when they get in the posture of a servant they realize that every disciple has dirt, every believer walks roads no one sees, ever person needs grace, and everyone’s feet are on the same ground.
Washing feet levels the playing field and makes us realize that no one is better than the other.
You can’t critique someone that you are kneeling before.
Washing their feet broke off judgement.
Commentators judge from a distance. Foot washing brings them close enough to understand.
When you hold someone’s feet you notice their scars, calluses, injuries, and even their pain. It gives you a sense of compassion for the person you are critiquing.
Compassion kills criticism
Foot washing breaks the commentator because the act forces their heart into the posture of Christ.
You cannot:
- Kneel and stay arrogant
- Serve and stay critical
- Touch someone’s wounds and stay judgmental
- Show mercy and stay entitled
- Act like Jesus and stay a commentator…
When Jesus washed their feet it was the death of commentary and the birth of servant hood…
When you serve like Jesus, you stop sounding like a critic.
Conclusion
A commentator isn’t just a talker, they are someone whose heart has drifted away from servanthood, connection, and humility.
Commentary is a symptom, not the disease.
The roots may be:
- Hurt
- Disappointment
- Pride
- Disconnection
- Burnout
- Lack of spiritual intimacy
- Lost mission
But you cannot breakout of what you don't acknowledge.
David said “Search me O God…reveal any offensive way in me.” (Psalm 139:23-24)
Some of you are hurt and you are projecting your hurts onto other people by criticism and pride. You need a spiritual healing.
I want to challenge you today, if you have a spouse then grab them, if not…grab someone next to you that you feel comfortable with. This is a strange altar call but I need you to understand something…
A captured towel is stronger than a critical tongue.
Foot washing:
- kills pride
- Builds humility
- Restores compassion
- Softens the spirit
- Breaks criticism
- Heals the heart
Jesus said in John 13:15 “I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.”
Jesus:
- never commented from the sidelines
- never criticized without redeeming
- Never corrected without compassion
- Never watched others served
To follow Jesus is to stop commenting and start contributing.
A Commentator becomes a Contributor when:
- Humility replaces pride
- Healing replaces hurt
- Compassion replaces criticism
- Service replaces spectating
- Prayer replaces complaints
- Love replaces judgment
You do not silence a commentator - you retrain the heart to serve.
This is not something that anyone enjoys but breaking free from pride and hurts is never enjoyable. Healing sometimes forces us to leave our comfort zones. Are you willing to do that today?
Our altar team is here to help serve and to wash feet as needed. Men please wash the men’s and lady’s please wash the ladies.
Come and receive your spiritual healing today and break free from commentator!
