There is much we can learn from the book of Job about suffering. His example demonstrates how we are to understand the meaning of suffering and how to respond to it.
We can also learn what not to do by learning from the example of Job’s friends. Job did not deserve the calamity that befell him soon into the story, emphasized in the first verse:
Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.
However, his friends could not accept he had done no wrong since they believed bad things do not happen to good people:
Job 4:5-8 5 But now it has come to you, and you are impatient; it touches you, and you are dismayed. 6 Is not your fear of God your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope? 7 "Remember: who that was innocent ever perished? Or where were the upright cut off? 8 As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same.
As a result, they added insult to injury by urging him to repent of the sin that led to his affliction, to their shame. They were genuine in wanting to help their friend when they responded to his pain. They made sense of his circumstances the best they could and responded accordingly. Lacking perspective and understanding, they lacked the needed prescription that would provide healing. Like archaic medicine that used to cut patients to try to bleed the illness out them, their efforts only made the situation worse.
Bad medicine is only one example of the mismanagement of the body of Christ in the effort to “take care of” their wounded. Many well meaning “friends” take it a step further by choosing to “shoot” their fallen comrade, like a horse with a broken leg, “putting them out of their misery” rather than suffer the inconvenience of trying to nurse them back to health, especially given the odds they may not recover. This trend is most seen when dealing with leaders. Leaders are supposed to be strong so when weakness is exposed, responsibility is taken from them “for their own good.” Really, like the horse, they are seen as a liability since their ability to carry their load has been lost or diminished. Since no one knows what to do with them and followers feel betrayed that the one they were depending on to carry them suddenly needs to be carried, the wounded leader is simply ignored and left to die. As for the other leaders, like in the parable of the good Samaritan, their self-righteous belief in their own strength and credentials leads them to walk on the other side of the road, passing the bleeding man who was attacked by robbers because they are too busy or repulsed to stop and help. Those who passed may have even thought the man deserved it.
Some wounded do bring it on themselves, some do not. Unlike Job, everyone deserves punishment for something but it is a mistake to associate suffering as punishment for sin, deeming the sufferer as “deserving” of their condition due to some flaw in their character or history of poor judgment. While some sinful behaviors do need to be answered by leaving the one in bondage to their destructive behavior to learn the consequences of their rebellion, it is negligent and dangerous to group everyone in the category of “deserving it,” especially in the attempt to justify leaving one to die of their wounds.
The Biblical church is a hospital for the hurting and hopeless, inviting everyone in need of healing to come. Mercy is the Biblical response when pain is observed. Mercy requires being inconvenienced and uncomfortable, requiring one share in the sufferings of the one being helped. It cost the Good Samaritan time and money to help the wounded traveler. He even risked becoming sick himself by allowing himself to be soiled by the blood of the beaten man, something the “pure” religious leader were unwilling to do. Like those who chose to keep their hands clean, the final judgment may reveal those who thought they were healthy were actually more sick than the ones they were avoiding, afflicted by a cancer that leads to destruction.
Matthew 25:34-46 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' 40 And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.' 41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' 44 Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?' 45 Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Monday, December 8, 2008
Are You a Modern Thinker?
Creed of the Modern Thinker -Stever Turner
We believe in Marxfreudanddarwin
We believe everything is OK
as long as you don't hurt anyone
to the best of your definition of hurt,
and to the best of your knowledge.
We believe in sex before, during, and after marriage.
We believe in the therapy of sin.
We believe that adultery is fun.
We believe that sodomy's OK.
We believe that taboos are taboo.
We believe that everything's getting better
despite evidence to the contrary.
The evidence must be investigated
And you can prove anything with evidence.
We believe there's something in horoscopes, UFO's and bent spoons.
Jesus was a good man just like Buddha, Mohammed, and ourselves.
He was a good moral teacher though we think
His good morals were bad.
We believe that all religions are basically the same-
at least the one that we read was.
They all believe in love and goodness.
They only differ on matters of creation,
sin, heaven, hell, God, and salvation.
We believe that after death comes the Nothing
Because when you ask the dead what happens they say nothing.
If death is not the end, if the dead have lied, then its
compulsory heaven for all excepting perhaps
Hitler, Stalin, and Genghis Kahn.
We believe in Masters and Johnson
What's selected is average.
What's average is normal.
What's normal is good.
We believe in total disarmament.
We believe there are direct links between warfare and bloodshed.
Americans should beat their guns into tractors
And the Russians would be sure to follow.
We believe that man is essentially good.
It's only his behavior that lets him down.
This is the fault of society.
Society is the fault of conditions.
Conditions are the fault of society.
We believe that each man must find the truth that is right for him.
Reality will adapt accordingly.
The universe will readjust. History will alter.
We believe that there is no absolute truth
excepting the truth that there is no absolute truth.
We believe in the rejection of creeds,
And the flowering of individual thought.
If chance be the Father of all flesh,
disaster is his rainbow in the sky and when you hear:
State of Emergency!
Sniper Kills Ten!
Troops on Rampage!
Whites go Looting!
Bomb Blasts School!
It is but the sound of man worshipping his maker.
Joshua 24:14-15 14 "Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
We believe in Marxfreudanddarwin
We believe everything is OK
as long as you don't hurt anyone
to the best of your definition of hurt,
and to the best of your knowledge.
We believe in sex before, during, and after marriage.
We believe in the therapy of sin.
We believe that adultery is fun.
We believe that sodomy's OK.
We believe that taboos are taboo.
We believe that everything's getting better
despite evidence to the contrary.
The evidence must be investigated
And you can prove anything with evidence.
We believe there's something in horoscopes, UFO's and bent spoons.
Jesus was a good man just like Buddha, Mohammed, and ourselves.
He was a good moral teacher though we think
His good morals were bad.
We believe that all religions are basically the same-
at least the one that we read was.
They all believe in love and goodness.
They only differ on matters of creation,
sin, heaven, hell, God, and salvation.
We believe that after death comes the Nothing
Because when you ask the dead what happens they say nothing.
If death is not the end, if the dead have lied, then its
compulsory heaven for all excepting perhaps
Hitler, Stalin, and Genghis Kahn.
We believe in Masters and Johnson
What's selected is average.
What's average is normal.
What's normal is good.
We believe in total disarmament.
We believe there are direct links between warfare and bloodshed.
Americans should beat their guns into tractors
And the Russians would be sure to follow.
We believe that man is essentially good.
It's only his behavior that lets him down.
This is the fault of society.
Society is the fault of conditions.
Conditions are the fault of society.
We believe that each man must find the truth that is right for him.
Reality will adapt accordingly.
The universe will readjust. History will alter.
We believe that there is no absolute truth
excepting the truth that there is no absolute truth.
We believe in the rejection of creeds,
And the flowering of individual thought.
If chance be the Father of all flesh,
disaster is his rainbow in the sky and when you hear:
State of Emergency!
Sniper Kills Ten!
Troops on Rampage!
Whites go Looting!
Bomb Blasts School!
It is but the sound of man worshipping his maker.
Joshua 24:14-15 14 "Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
Monday, December 1, 2008
Terrorists are Watching
In Colombia, a terrorist organization called FARC (Spanish - Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia – Ejercito del Pueblo, English – Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People’s Army) has a long history of drug funded terrorism. Due to their anti-capitalist and anti-theistic dogmas, originating from their ties with the military wing of the Colombian Communist Party in the 60’s, employees of international companies and Christian missionaries have been popular targets for kidnappings and murders. Their involvement since the 1980’s with the cocaine trade in Colombia for funding served to increase their brutality. [i]
In an article by Christianity Today, a pastor named Alfredo Torres asked a FARC member why they hate Evangelical Christians so badly. The following is an article that evaluates the response:
· Evangelical pastors live well, at the expense of the people. He cited as an example a pastor of a church of 1,000 members who left San Vicente del Caguan. The pastor took his herd of cattle with him, rather than leave the animals for the needy of the community.
· Evangelicals take up offerings, but do not have a vision to improve society. The FARC leader noted the lack of an evangelical school in San Vicente. When the FARC organizes community projects, such as building bridges, everyone but the evangelicals pitches in to help. Yet the evangelicals are the first to use the bridge. The church places great emphasis on saving souls but does little to relieve physical suffering.
· Evangelicals are agents of U.S. imperialism.
· Evangelicals organize corrupt political parties.
· Evangelicals are anti-guerrilla. They believe the FARC are the only bad guys and that everything the government does is good, despite its rampant corruption.
Compass Direct news service, which monitors religious persecution throughout the world, read this list of charges to a former FARC sub-commander who has since converted to Christianity. Is this really what the FARC believes about evangelicals?
Yes, he replied, in addition to other things.
When peasants join a church, they will not follow the FARC.
Guerrillas can't get a foothold in a community with a church.
Thus, armed groups promote an image of the church based on gross ignorance or lies. For example, they allege that a woman who wants to join a church must first have sex with the pastor. They charge that the church is just a business; pastors keep tithes for themselves and have parties with the church offerings. Evangelicals, they maintain, are government agents who pacify people to make them submissive to the state.
These outrageous notions about evangelicals are obviously false. Yet Colombian church leaders acknowledge the church should do more to alleviate poverty and help the millions of displaced persons who have flooded the nation's cities. Some prominent church leaders are indeed wealthy, while their churches turn away the poor who need help.
When asked how the church could improve its image among the armed groups, the former guerrilla said simply, "Change." [ii]
How much more could we improve the image of the church in the U. S. by following the same advice? The world is watching and Christians are dying due to our apathy and deceit. Let’s clean our own house by rightly applying the gospel so we can rightly represent it as we take it to the ends of the earth.
[i] Wikipedia
[ii] "This article first appeared in (2/01/2004) issue of Christianity Today. Used by permission of Christianity Today International, Carol Stream, IL 60188."
In an article by Christianity Today, a pastor named Alfredo Torres asked a FARC member why they hate Evangelical Christians so badly. The following is an article that evaluates the response:
· Evangelical pastors live well, at the expense of the people. He cited as an example a pastor of a church of 1,000 members who left San Vicente del Caguan. The pastor took his herd of cattle with him, rather than leave the animals for the needy of the community.
· Evangelicals take up offerings, but do not have a vision to improve society. The FARC leader noted the lack of an evangelical school in San Vicente. When the FARC organizes community projects, such as building bridges, everyone but the evangelicals pitches in to help. Yet the evangelicals are the first to use the bridge. The church places great emphasis on saving souls but does little to relieve physical suffering.
· Evangelicals are agents of U.S. imperialism.
· Evangelicals organize corrupt political parties.
· Evangelicals are anti-guerrilla. They believe the FARC are the only bad guys and that everything the government does is good, despite its rampant corruption.
Compass Direct news service, which monitors religious persecution throughout the world, read this list of charges to a former FARC sub-commander who has since converted to Christianity. Is this really what the FARC believes about evangelicals?
Yes, he replied, in addition to other things.
When peasants join a church, they will not follow the FARC.
Guerrillas can't get a foothold in a community with a church.
Thus, armed groups promote an image of the church based on gross ignorance or lies. For example, they allege that a woman who wants to join a church must first have sex with the pastor. They charge that the church is just a business; pastors keep tithes for themselves and have parties with the church offerings. Evangelicals, they maintain, are government agents who pacify people to make them submissive to the state.
These outrageous notions about evangelicals are obviously false. Yet Colombian church leaders acknowledge the church should do more to alleviate poverty and help the millions of displaced persons who have flooded the nation's cities. Some prominent church leaders are indeed wealthy, while their churches turn away the poor who need help.
When asked how the church could improve its image among the armed groups, the former guerrilla said simply, "Change." [ii]
How much more could we improve the image of the church in the U. S. by following the same advice? The world is watching and Christians are dying due to our apathy and deceit. Let’s clean our own house by rightly applying the gospel so we can rightly represent it as we take it to the ends of the earth.
[i] Wikipedia
[ii] "This article first appeared in (2/01/2004) issue of Christianity Today. Used by permission of Christianity Today International, Carol Stream, IL 60188."
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