The Downgrade: Reimagining the Grace of God

I had a spirited conversation with a younger pastor on the contemporary Church’s (and the contemporary Christian’s) view of the grace of God. His view, and I fully concur, is that many Christians, particularly younger adult Christians (he is a young adult, himself), see grace like a well-to-do father’s credit card.

You can just keep on charging because there is no “credit limit.” One’s conduct (i.e., one’s sin) is immaterial because you’ve believed in Jesus. So, you can live how you please. Such is the result of the downgrade we’ve been discussing over several blogposts-essays. If you are just joining the conversation, then you may wish to back up and start here.

Today, the idea is that you can sleep with your boyfriend or girlfriend so long as you’re “monogamous” because you are “under grace.” Because of “grace,” God overlooks the fact that you’re not married. Not!

In many ways, this understanding characterizes many in today’s church. In today’s church, pretty much anything goes because God’s grace is “greater than all your sin.” That’s pretty much a perversion of that old song and the grace of God.

I’ve been watching the documentary on the collapse of Hillsong Church (worldwide) and the destabilization of its denomination in Australia and New Zealand (Hillsong is an Assemblies of God Church). While the documentary is a soft hit-piece on Christianity, one of the most striking and undeniable features of the documentary—aside from the immorality of Hillsong’s leadership from day one—was its leadership’s brazen blindness to its own sinful logic.

When a married man (i.e., pastor) groped a young woman and she complained and asked for help. Hillsong’s founder explained that this was a stupid mistake. In his words, a young married man who was a little too drunk did something dumb. And so the young man was not fired. The victim of this young man’s sexual abuse was shamed as if it were her fault. She sought help. She was punished while the young married man was promoted. In their words, this man was shown grace instead of the door. Instead, Hillsong blamed the victim!

Blatant injustices aside, let’s return to Hillsong’s logic.  A ‘young married man’ who was “a little too drunk” “did something dumb.” What does “a little too drunk” mean? Biblically speaking, is there an acceptable level of drunkenness (cf Ephesians 5:18)? What about the qualifications for pastors in 1 Timothy 3? And then there’s the “a young married man...” terminology. What does that mean? Would it have been acceptable if he was a “young single man?” Are a man’s unwanted advances (of any kind) ever acceptable foisted upon a woman? What does “dumb” or “stupid” mean in a case like this? What does “mistake” mean? And what about his adultery? And grace? What is grace?

If you don’t understand grace, then you don’t understand sin. If you don’t understand sin, then you can’t understand grace. The calls into question one’s understanding of the gospel itself.

When you cheapen grace, you cheapen Christ’s agonies on the cross for your sin. If you want to understand the downgrade’s version of grace look no further than 1 Corinthians 5: 1-8, which begins with “It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans...” Paul confronts an early version of “cheap grace” head-on. And, yes, there are pagans that behave with greater moral sensibility than some Christians. The Hillsong documentary cogently illustrates this.

Grace, as the old acrostic goes, is “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.” The sinner receives grace when she turns from her sin in repentance and faith and surrenders her will to Christ. After this begins the long march home to one’s heavenly home involving spiritual growth (progressive sanctification). The saved sinner struggles and strives for personal holiness according to the word of God. As it says in Ephesians 4 and Colossians 3, this involves putting off the old and putting on the new. And when you fail, God shows mercy (grace) because Christ’s righteousness has been imputed to your account as you struggle and strive to please God.

Grace is not a license to sin. God is not your daddy who has given you a credit card that gives you a license to sin. For those who live like grace is a license to sin, you do well to dwell over the words of Christ in Matthew 7:21-23:

Matt. 7:21-3   “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Don’t cheapen the grace of God. Don’t be among the many who cheapen the grace of God on judgment day. Don’t presume upon the grace of God—it indicates a misunderstanding of the Gospel. And as Jesus points out in the passage above, that is something you cannot afford.

The Church as Convenience Store

We’ve all been to “Circle K’s,” “Quick Stops,” and “7-11’s.” You know. Convenience stores.

You zip in, get gas, and maybe a cup of coffee, then off to work or some other place. If you come at the same time every day, you might see a familiar face waiting at the counter in line. Maybe you see the same couple of clerks, too. You say, “Hi.” You say “Bye.” Or “How’s the family?” “How are the kids?” Sometimes you get more information than you asked for (we’ll get back to this later). Over time you build relationships. Sorta.

Convenience stores. Dash in. Dash out. Get your needs met. There’s some human contact. Sort of a relationship. But not too much. Convenience stores are there for you when you need them.

Gas. Coffee. Maybe even a doughnut. Sometimes you pick up other extras, like batteries. It’s not like Costco or a Grocery Store where you really go for the necessities. You need Costco. You need Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s. Convenience Stores are different.

Sometimes you visit other convenience stores. You’re on the road or on the other side of town. One day, after a few years, a few months, or even years something happens and you take your business elsewhere. A clerk says something you don’t like. There’s a change in décor. Who knows? It doesn’t sit well with you and boom, you’re gone. It is after all a convenience store. It’s there for your convenience.

In this next to the last installment on “The Downgrade,” we are going to compare the Convenience Store to the Local Church. If you are coming here for the first time, you might want to read the preceding blogpost-essays, starting here or just scroll down.

For many Christians today, the local church is a convenience store. It’s there for their convenience. Dash in, dash out. Drop the kids off in Children’s or Student Ministries, come to a service, and go. After a while, you begin to see familiar faces. You strike up relationships. And one day, you hear or see something you don’t like and you are gone. Like a convenience store. It never occurs to you that you may have misunderstood something. Or that you need to grow spiritually beyond your comfort zone... or that following a few friends who don’t want to be challenged is a bad idea. After all, the church is here for you... Or is it?

Aren’t you there for Christ? Aren’t you there to serve others? Aren’t you there to be challenged? Speaking of being challenged, a church is a family. Membership is like a marriage. And the church, any church is not like a convenience store. Would you walk out of a marriage without a word? Abandon children without self-examination—or let them know that you’ve gone?

How did the Western Church become a convenience store? Read the previous essays.

What can be done? Read the coming essays. For now, think about your take on “church” and maybe even the gospel and the Bible. A mind is a terrible thing to waste, and so is your opportunity to lay up treasure in heaven.

Note: the final essays are “What is the Church and Who is it for? And ” “What is Grace?” Stay tuned.

The Member Downgrade Illustrated

Once again, if you are coming late to this discussion, you may need context. You can find it by reading the previous essays,  here and here

 The greatest tragedy of the current trajectory of many denominations and churches is what their choice of direction does to the person in the pew—the church member or attender. The shepherds not only fail to protect the sheep (the people entrusted to their care), but they harm them directly. How? They fail to equip them sufficiently.  They fail to equip them with the tools to make sense of their existence through the lens that God provides them (aka the Bible). That’s part of the harm of “we are about the gospel?”

 There used to be an advertisement whose punchline was, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.” An uneducated mind never reaches its potential. An untrained soul may never reach the right eternal destination. Or its children might miss (as well as succeeding generations).

 The newfound love of a winsome, minimalist Christianity (devoid of the details of the faith) foists a crippling level of spiritual ignorance upon its people.

Regrettably, things gradually (think of the proverbial frog in the kettle) go from order to chaos. From fact to feeling. The emphasis of “the gospel only (red letters only in disguise)” neglects the whole counsel of God’s word. A congregation goes from newborn Christians to lukewarm Christians to unbelief over a series of decades and generations.

 That’s the story of the United Methodist Church. That’s the story of most denominations. And too many churches. I saw this meme the other day which shows the mindset that results from this mushy Christianity that is open to everything but biblical relevance.

The "Member" Downgrade

If you are coming late to this series of blog posts, you may wish to start here and catch up as this is part three of a series. If not, this can serve as somewhat of a standalone.

With the tremendous 21st-century downgrade of the Church comes a parallel downgrade of the “average” church member’s understanding of God’s word and, with it, the downgrade of the Church’s leadership. You often see this when an elder “retires” from the board and plants himself in the pew. He seemingly chooses to retire from all ministry within the church, becoming a “pew sitter.”

The pew sitting-retired-elder malady is as it often accompanies the effort to downgrade our understanding of God’s word to the lowest possible denominator, the greater our ignorance of God’s word. Ignorance of God’s word leads to ignorance of God’s will and our place in the Church’s ministry. Churches end up with people and leaders who lack conviction because they lack any certainty about the meaning of God’s word and how to apply it. It’s mostly a pastor’s fault because of weak preaching and teaching. But the “member” is at fault, too. The writer of Hebrews puts it this way:

About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil (Hebrews 5:11-14).

The problem often begins at the pastoral level and elder level. Weak teaching leads to weak Christians. Weak teaching takes a toll over time. Our spiritual appetites and spiritual digestive tracts are degraded. Our spiritual nutrition is low. We prefer spiritual junk food. Biblical precision upsets our spiritual stomachs. We develop an appetite for fluff. We don’t want to be challenged. We want to be entertained.

Church folks become spiritually numb. Sadly, we often find good people preferring a sentimental Christianity. Kind of a “Hallmark Card Christianity.” It’s warm and fuzzy. It values friendship over facts. It values good feelings over truth. It asks the question, “Can’t we all just get along?” How would Jesus answer such a question? Jesus answered that question for us in Matthew’s gospel:

 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. 37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it (Matt. 10:34-39).

Take a look at verses 37-39. Friendship over facts. Family over Jesus. Where should our priorities lie? What does Jesus say?

Denominations, associations, and churches slowly decay when they pursue this downgraded minimalist Christianity—and God’s people suffer spiritual atrophy. A church slowly loses membership over the course of a few decades. No one really notices.

Spiritual flab becomes the new normal, the order of the day, and everyone is sort of at peace because all their friends are there. Then their children walk away from this flabby faith, but they cling to their sentimental Christianity in hope that their son or daughter’s peer-pressured campfire conversion at youth retreat will still get them into heaven despite their apostasy.

What’s next? Many become and remain comfortably numb... “we four friends and no more...” until Providence upsets their apple cart. Then they have choices to make. The narrow path or the wide path. Sometimes “easy” remains the order of the day. It’s a sad story that is repeated again and again in our culture as well as in too many churches in our community.

The 21st Century Downgrade Controversy

Before there was the 21st Century Downgrade Controversy, there was the “infamous,” but probably now forgotten, 19th Century Downgrade Controversy confronted by none other than Charles Haddon Spurgeon. What was Spurgeon’s issue? His issue was clarity, for one—or rather the lack of clarity... typified in his mind by a studied or practiced ambiguity. Spurgeon wrote:

“We cannot hold the inspiration of the Word, and yet reject it; we cannot believe in the atonement and deny it;… we cannot recognize the punishment of the impenitent and yet indulge the ‘larger hope.’ One way or the other, we must go. Decision is the virtue of the hour.[1]”

 To quote one source, “Spurgeon was comfortable being in denominational fellowship with men with whom he held numerous disagreements on second-tier doctrinal matters and on social, political, and cultural issues as long as he shared basic agreement with them on matters that were essential to evangelical orthodoxy. However, Spurgeon believed that in order for true gospel unity to be authentic, there had to be a basic foundation of agreement on matters of primary doctrinal importance, particularly on those doctrines that were at the heart of the gospel itself.”[2]

 Spurgeon left the Baptist Union and was ultimately vindicated by history (although tarred and feathered by some of his contemporaries).

What’s that got to do with churches today? This isn’t so much a denominational issue as it was back then. It’s a larger, more troubling issue involving denominations, with an “s” and churches (you may wish to read the previous article here or simply scroll down).

 It works this way. In the late 20th century, in the midst of a number of controversies associated with both the Pauline and General Epistles, there emerged a group of Christians calling themselves “Red Letter Christians.” In summary, “Red Letter Christians” emphasized the teachings of Jesus found in the Gospels over the rest of Scripture. Somehow the words of Jesus, or rather the writings of the Gospels where they directly quote Jesus, are “more inspired” than the rest of the Bible. Ironically, there were no red letter renderings in the Greek Text. Red lettering of Jesus’ quotes is a recent innovation. And Jesus’ words are Genesis through the end of Revelation.

Loosely associated with this stream of thought was a movement in the direction of Christians “unhitching” from the Old Testament, championed today by Andy Stanley but in the past by Harry Emerson Fosdick. Fosdick and Stanley’s thesis was (is) that Jesus and the Apostles, like James, sought to disconnect from the Old Testament, and so should today’s church. The obvious problem with this notion is that Jesus quotes the Old Testament as authoritative more than anyone in the New Testament (cf. Matthew 19:1-6). Paul follows as a close second (just read Romans) and Peter also quotes the Old Testament, “’the grass withers and the flower fades but the word of the Lord stands forever,’ and this is the word that was preached to you (1 Peter 1:24-5—quoting Isaiah 40:8).”

The next manifestation of this 21st Century Downgrade is churches and denominations being “Gospel-Centered.” What could be wrong with that? That’s like the Christian version of “mom, apple pie, and the national anthem.” But…

While in many cases, there’s nothing wrong with being Gospel-Centered. In other cases, we find a practiced or studied ambiguity that is problematic. Increasingly, this new mantra relies on a perversion of Augustine’s principle of “in essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity.” The realm of non-essentials keeps expanding. One wonders if “in all things charity” should be modified to include “in all things clarity” in order that we could understand what another’s meaning of “Gospel Centered” and what it really means.

It seems that the next step in this problematic 21st Century Downgrade is that today’s church should consider avoiding references to the Bible and emphasize belief in the resurrection of Jesus. What could be wrong with that? That “sounds good.”

Stanley and others argue that the Bible contains too many divisive things, so just start with the resurrection power of Jesus Christ to change your life. Some call this transformational Christianity. This is a positive Christianity or a winsome Christianity. However, this increasingly leans more toward the mindset of self-improvement guru Tony Robbins or “your best life now...” We do well to define terms. Gospel centered and transformational increasingly have many meanings. It depends who you talk to.

Ultimately, here’s where the “downgrade” comes in. We are moving away from the theological-structural moorings of “the Good News” or “the Gospel” rooted into the whole counsel of God (while paying lip service to the Bible). Are we to base our “presentation” on an event that many say is not a historical fact? On what basis? You need the whole Bible to reason from faith to faith (Romans 1:17).

Unhitching the Gospel from the Bible may enable some to enjoy the broadest of all possible fellowship, building bridges over the widest possible gulfs, but it begs the question, “What is the Gospel?”

We must be careful not to build bridges to nowhere. Without the bad news of the Fall in Genesis 3, there is no good news of the Gospel. Without understanding the ramifications of the “wages of sin is death” there is no need for the gift of eternal life. And how then shall we live (skim Ephesians or Romans for insight). What about the challenges of today’s culture? How do we make sense of our existence (Psalm 119:105)?

Eventually, the resurrection story becomes just that, another story that is metaphor for something less—like “rebooting your life in your own resurrection (yes… believe it or not someone preached that sermon). And we know where that leads. It leads to a place that is neither winsome, transformational, or Gospel-Centered.

Let’s be clear… clarity in all things so that we can be biblical as an act of worship in our daily lives and as the gathered visible church.

 [1] C. H. Spurgeon, The Sword and the Trowel (London: Passmore and Alabaster, September 1887): 465.

[2] https://www.spurgeon.org/resource-library/blog-entries/what-was-the-downgrade-controversy-actually-all-about/

A Tale of Two Denominations (Maybe Three)

5,000 churches departed the United Methodist Church, the second largest of Protestant Mainline Denominations. That represents 16% of 30,000 member churches. You can read more about this here.

Why did this happen? This happened because of a lack of biblical integrity, the extremes of which could no longer be tolerated by many churches in this very liberal denomination. The issues leading to this fracture began decades ago with, among other things, the ordination of women as pastors, including but not limited to women teaching men in the Sunday morning services and other venues. This easing of biblical standards led to the eventual embrace of LGBTQ++ causes and openly practicing homosexual ministers and ministerial candidates, including approved ministers who were “drag queens.” You can learn more about this here (invest 7 minutes). In this brief video, one sees and hears from the UMC, its officials, pastors, and superintendents’ in their own words.

Is the ordination of women and women pastors a step in the direction of ordaining and embracing homosexual clergy? Is this a rare or common path? Ask the Episcopal Church USA, which took its initial steps down this slippery slope nearly 50 years ago. The Episcopal Church USA is closing churches at such a rate that they are not expected to see 2050. Ask the Presbyterian Church, USA—they’ve made the same choices and find themselves in the same boat. The Gospel Coalition, Canada, addresses this direction and path in a revealing and thought-provoking article about choices in the Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec Association/Denomination here. What is the key issue? Two words: Biblical Fidelity.

Why am I writing this essay? This morning it was announced that the Southern Baptist Convention voted to uphold the expulsion of Saddleback Church. Why were they expelled from the SBC? Saddleback, during Rick Warren’s watch, ordained women and later sought to expand the bounds of biblical egalitarianism (i.e. ordaining women, women pastors, and women preaching in the Sunday services). Later Saddleback Church installed a female teaching pastor. This led to the debate and final decision to expel Saddleback from the SBC.  You can find a video that summarizes the debate with opposing and closing arguments by Rick Warren and Al Mohler by clicking here. Pay particular attention to the content of their comments, particularly Rick Warren’s avoidance of any appeal to the authority of Scripture.

What’s the big deal? The big deal isn’t cultural. The big deal is biblical fidelity. The Scriptures are pretty clear on this issue (1 Timothy 3:1ff; Titus 1:2ff; 1 Timothy 2:12-13). The issue doesn’t hang on “one word,” as Rick Warren contends. This issue goes beyond denominations to the authority, sufficiency, and inspiration of Scripture.

These days, it seems all kinds of churches and denominations are determined to follow the same path as the United Methodist Church. Thankfully, the Southern Baptists, as a denomination and as churches in cooperation with that denomination, chose a different path. Their actions serve as an example to us all. Besides, we know where the egalitarian path leads. It leads here.

UPDATE: While we are not “Southern Baptists” there is much we can learn from their example. There is a movement today, even within our own circles, to have that “What is a Woman Documentary Experience” with “What is a pastor/elder/shepherd?” This is at the root of the controversies discussed above. A succinct explanation of this question is provided here (a must read).

Waiting (Sinfully) on the Holy Spirit to Evangelize

There’s the story of a man stranded on the roof of his home during a torrential rain storm and found himself in danger of being drowned by the resulting flood. As the flood waters kept rising to take his life, he kept waiting for God to miraculously intervene and save his life. As he waited and he watched the rushing waters eroded the foundations of the building.

Soon he noticed a man in a canoe rowing quickly towards him. “Jump in!” the man shouted to him. “No thanks,” came his reply, “I’m waiting for God to intervene and save me!”

Puzzled, the man in the canoe paddled away. It was then our stranded homeowner heard what sounded like a popping sound. Suddenly, up came a skiff with its noisy two cycled motor (the popping sound). The skiff-owner shouted, “Climb in… save yourself!”

 The water was now over the roof line and the flood-threatened homeowner clung to his chimney for dear life. The skiff-owner with the loud popping motor shouted again, “Climb in man! What are you waiting for? Time is running out!”

“Nope, I’m waiting for God to intervene and save me,” explained the man, as the flood waters rose up to his neck—and the roof-chimney began to sink into the mud. “Suit yourself,” shouted the rejected rescuer, “but at this rate you’ll drown in a matter of minutes!” With that the skiff sped off out of sight.

 Suddenly, the flood waters collapsed the roof upon which he stood, the chimney gave way and our intrepid homeowner began to slide off of the roof into the raging torrents and toward certain death. Suddenly, out of nowhere came an almost explosive sound, VAAAaaarrroooom… whoosh…

 At the very last second a gigantic military helicopter swooped down and a member of the crew grabbed our hapless homeowner by the wrist and attempted to pull him aboard. “Let go!” shouted the homeowner, “I’m waiting on God to show me…” as he slapped away the helping hand. With that our homeowner dropped into the waters below and drowned.

 Suddenly, he opened his eyes to behold heaven. Realizing he had died and gone to heaven, our homeowner was perplexed… and seeing Jesus shouted, “I waited for you… why didn’t you save me—I waited for You to intervene?” God the Son replied, “Son, I sent a canoe, a motorboat (skiff), and a helicopter—what were you looking for? What were you waiting for?”

 A few years ago I spoke to a missionary who wouldn’t witness or evangelize someone unless “God told them to.” As I listened to their excuses, my mind drifted to two thoughts. Thought # 1 was to the story of the homeowner (above) coupled with the value of theological training and really understanding what the Bible teaches about how God works. If God providentially brought a person into the missionary’s life, then hadn’t Jesus or the Holy Spirit spoken loudly enough already (canoe, skiff; helicopter)? Thought #2 was this, “What on earth were they waiting for?” A thundering voice from heaven? A column of smoke? A pillar of fire? What?! And if this unbelieving person died tomorrow and was consigned to the fires of Hell, what then? Was it God’s fault or the missionary’s complacency and/or ignorance (it had to be one or the other)? I doubt it was God’s fault. The moral of the story don’t worry about being nice. Concentrate on being an effective evangelist. What good is it to do nice things for people but fail to give them the gospel. That’s loveless compassion, or as Jesus puts it in another context in Mark 8:36-37:

For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For what can a man give in return for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels (Mark 8:36-38).”

 Don’t be nice, be faithful. We can buy people clothes, food, and do good deeds but the greatest deed we can do, the greatest kindness we can show them, is to make the most of the opportunity and give them the straight gospel. What are you waiting for? Don’t be ashamed of God, don’t be ashamed of Jesus. What ARE you waiting for: stop making excuses if God brings you in contact with an unbeliever it is no accident. Share the Gospel with them.

Job: Why Did He Suffer?

If you are just joining us, you can go back to the beginning of our study by clicking here.

Job’s friends became suspicious of Job. You can’t help but notice in the midst of Job’s suffering, his friends begin to theorize that Job might have some dark, hidden sin problem lurking beneath the surface and out of sight? While they initially “weep with those who weep,” they soon veered off course.

 Was it Karma? In the theology of the Ancient Near East (and this malady lingers today) they believed in something like Karma. Simply stated, Karma is the Eastern (or New Age) version of “what goes around comes around.” Even in some Rabbinic literature there’s the idea that God only blesses those who do good and only curses those who do evil.

 Each of Job’s ‘friends’ begin to weigh in and level accusations against Job. Just what Job needed! Here he is in the midst of great, great loss—illness, to boot. And his friends pile on. This both hurts and angers Job. Eventually, confused, hurt, and frustrated—Job lashes out at them and, unbelievably, at God.

 Commentators theorize, sometimes incorrectly, about what Job is all about. Two takeaways from Job are informed by the New Testament passages. The first is John 9, with the story of the man blind from birth. The disciples’ question reveals the Karma-like ideas of the culture. Jesus answer explains it all—and Job in particular.

John 9:1-7   As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud 7 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.

 Both the book of Job and this vignette from John’s gospel end happily. But not without initial and incredible hardship. In both cases (as we already discussed with Job) there’s a whole world and agenda going on behind the scenes. After a lifetime of blindness, the blind man’s sight is restored. After a season of incredible suffering Job’s “fortunes” are restored. Neither of their sufferings was wasted. God accomplished something eternal in both cases, bringing us to our next page (verse really) which explains their suffering and outcomes. Romans 15:4 succinctly explains it all. Job and the blind man suffered for the sake of others:

 Romans 15:4  4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

 Whatever suffering you and I endure is neither random nor wasted. God is using it on more levels than you can imagine (like Job and the blind man). Just as we watched their stories play out through the pages of Scripture, perhaps, you and I can bear witness to others as they watch us wrestle through hardship as we trust God even when life hurts! Hard as things are, don’t miss an opportunity to glorify God!

As You Read Job Don't Miss God's Glory!

(There’s More to the Book of Job Than Meets the Eye)

 Note: If this is your first time with us, please see the previous post(s).

In today’s discussion we continue to set the table for understanding the book of Job. In so doing, we hope you’ll begin to see why Job is among the “handiest books in the Bible.” There is so much there. It’s easy to miss the forest for the trees (more about this later).

We have all heard of “the patience of Job.” The saying is almost cliché. It’s become a truism. So much so that we think of Job as a superman. A fictional character. He is almost surreal to us. An abstraction of some kind. The fact is that Job was a real person with real feelings who seemed to have almost everything and everyone he held dear or loved stripped away. There’s an old saying, “If you haven’t got your health, you’ve got nothing.” Job eventually lost his health, too. And yet we talk about the patience of Job (almost without knowing what that means). The word patience is better rendered “steadfastness” or “endurance” (or “longsuffering”). Let’s look at James 5:11 (below):

 James 5:11  11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

Actually, if you are familiar with Job, this verse sums up what the entire book is about. Namely, the purposes of God, the compassion and mercy of God—as well as the endurance of Job. Job is the human through which God reveals Himself in a way that is unlike any other in the Bible. But Job is what Bruce Lee once described as a finger pointing to the moon. Lee cautioned that we must be careful not to stare at the finger and miss the moon. God is the “moon” in this illustration and Job is the “finger.” We must not miss the heavenly glory.

 Sometimes we hold fast to God and His goodness and purposes. Sometimes we lose sight of them. Particularly when life is hard. We are, after all, human beings. Fallen human beings. God knows this. He knows our frames are but dust—fragile (Psalm 103:14). And yet God uses us to display His glory. And He never ever lets go of us (John 10:28-29; Romans 8:35-39).

 We can be or become instruments in our Redeemer’s hands—imperfections and all. That’s where Job and 1 Corinthians 10:13 intersect. That’s also why God uses the weak things of this world to display His glory and give us hope! That’s why we began our study of Job saying something to the effect that Job happens to someone somewhere in this world every day. Maybe not to the extent Job experienced hardship… but maybe even more!

 Right thinking leads to the right attitudes and actions (words and deeds). Job is a picture of a righteous man suffering what seems to be unspeakable hardship and grief as he seeks to hang on to his faith, his love for God,  his confidence in God, and his mind although at some level Job eventually fails  (because we all fail at times). All fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). “All” means ‘all.’  That said, let’s understand that  the book of Job is a high definition of James 5:11 and 1 Corinthians 10:13 as well as James 1:2-8 (take a moment and review these verses now).

 I’m sure Job does better than I would do under his circumstances. I believe Job is more steadfast than I… than most of us. Truth be told, Job does more with less. What do I mean? Consider Job’s faithfulness (even when he succumbs to grief, pain, and sin) understanding that Job didn’t have a Bible. He had neither Old Testament nor New Testament. We have so much more and we, as contemporary humans do less. Scholars believe Job is among the oldest books of the Bible. And with less revelation available to him, Job endures. Job hangs on and hangs in as Job clings to what Job knows to be true. As you read Job dwell on that. He does more with less and we 21st century Christians tend to do less with more.

 Some may suggest that I am harsh in saying Job fell short in some way. Let me offer evidence to that effect. I do so not passing judgment but marveling at how well Job did! That said, let me walk you through Job’s “short-fall”

 What we see is a wearing down of Job’s endurance over time. The writer of Job documents it. At the beginning of Job’s considerable trial Job is unshakeable. His understanding enables Him to cling to what is true. We see Job’s understanding of God override Job’s emotional reactions. He both grieves and worships. His right-thinking governs his attitude enabling Job to see things from an eternal perspective. And in verse 22 we see that Job did not sin or get mad at God.

 Job 1:20-22   Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” 22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.

 Satan attacks Job’s health. Job suffers now the agonies of two great losses. He suffers both emotional agony and physical agony, Outwardly, he is steadfast. Look closely at verse 21 (above). Look at his rhetorical question about remaining faithful under trial. Notice also a subtle, ever so subtle, comment at the end of verse 10.

 Job 2:7-10   So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and struck Job with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. 8 And he took a piece of broken pottery with which to scrape himself while he sat in the ashes. 9   Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.” 10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

 Indications are that Job’s faithful countenance was beginning to be racked by doubt and maybe something more. “In all this Job did not sin with his lips.” Implicit in this statement is a qualification. Contrast it with the earlier statement, “In all this Job did not sin (in any way) or charge God with wrong.” As we read and work through the book of Job we see Job begin to question how Job, a good man, could be so set upon by hardship. And while his “friends” unjustly accuse him of some terrible hidden sin, Job begins to suggest that all of this isn’t fair. God isn’t being fair with Job. Job is innocent in his own sight and indeed he eventually silences his accusers but notice the comment in Job 32:1:

 Job 32:1   So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.

 The Holy Spirit through the author’s pen reveals something about Job. Job saw himself as righteous in his own sight. Jesus tells us apart from Jesus we can do nothing (John 15:5). It almost appears that under the most difficult of circumstances that Job loses sight of God’s holiness and his own sinfulness. And God, while fulfilling long term redemptive objectives through Job’s trial (more about this later) is also using the trial to prove, test, and mature Job’s faith (James 1:2-8).

 Make no mistake: Job eventually crosses into sin (we would likely do no better). There is a sin of presumption that humans can be righteous before God “in their own sight.” There is the sin of implicitly calling God’s goodness and character and decision making into question.  Why do I say this? How can we be sure? We can be certain because eventually God causes Job to discern his sin and Job “repents in dust and ashes.” You see this in Job 42:5-6:

 Job 42: 5-6 I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; 6 therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”

 That’s one reason why we say that the book of Job is about God more so than Job. But make no mistake. There are tons of lessons about God, man, faith, God’s world in which we live, and God’s ways. We will be exploring these as well as we learn about God through Job. Stay tuned.

 In the meantime, maybe reread Job with what we’ve discussed above in the forefront of your mind. Consider prayerfully recalibrating your own thinking. And as you read, prayerfully entreat the Lord to “show me wonderful things in Your law (Psalm 119:18).” It worked for David. It will work for us! God has much to teach us through the witness of Job (and his ‘friends’).

Weeping with Those who Weep…

If you missed the first posts, click here.

Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They made an appointment together to come to show him sympathy and comfort him. 12 And when they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him. And they raised their voices and wept, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads toward heaven. 13 And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great. (Job 2:11-13)

Job had lost his children. Job had lost his possessions. Job had lost his health (and vitality). But Job had lost his sons and daughters—his children. Possessions can be replaced. Health can be recovered. Vitality restored. Children cannot be replaced. No parent expects to outlive or bury his her offspring. Job’s children as far as we can tell were grown…  adults. They shared memories. Lifetimes. Had they been young, the loss would have been no less devastating. Add to this, in Ancient Near Eastern Culture children were somewhat of an elder-care plan. They provided for parents in the parent’s old age, when a parent may not be able to care for themselves.

If you are already familiar with the story of Job, then you know God gave Job more children. But he did not bring these back to life. The loss is real. While they may be united in the next life, assuming they were believers, their loss was  both real and painful.

How does one comfort a person who suffers so great and painful a loss? In my ministry I’ve had to shepherd parents who lost children through still birth and even murder. What does one say? Do? Job’s friends, maligned by many for their later ham-handedness provide us an object lesson in what to do, in the verses above. They are shocked, stunned, at Job’s appearance and circumstances. Notice what they do because they start off well.

 Job 2:12-13 …they raised their voices and wept, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads toward heaven. 13 And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.

 In a New Testament sense they follow the Apostle Paul’s dictum:

 Romans 12:15   Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

 What does this entail? Presence. Sometimes a person’s grief is so great (and you, yourself, are so overwhelmed) that it is best just to be there with them and say nothing. Grieve with them. Of  course you’ll be tempted to  try to say the right thing. Don’t. What would the right thing be? Not sure? Say nothing. There will be time to talk later. Sometimes just being with them is a comfort. Where good people fail sometime is saying too much as opposed to saying too little. It’s a natural and human response. We all want to help. We all want to find the right words… the right explanation… the right Bible verse. This is the trap that Job’s friends eventually fall into. Seeing Job’s grief. Hearing Job’s anguish laden laments they try to explain what is happening and why it is taking place. And they get things terribly, terribly wrong.

 The bulk of the book of Job is made up of his three friends trying to explain things. In some sense they are trying to explain the unexplainable. They end up trying to correct Job’s thinking. Eventually, they level unthinkable accusations against Job. They add insult to injury. They make a difficult situation worse. Eventually, God intervenes and through special revelation sets the record straight.

 We should not be too hard on Job’s friends. They did not have the whole counsel of God’s word available to them as we do today. They not only didn’t have the 66 books of the closed cannon of Scripture. They didn’t even have the Torah! Today, all too often, Christians do less with more. We have the whole of God’s word and we sometimes say and do things that rival the terrible counsel of Job’s friends. I remember the words uttered to a man who lost a wife and daughter in a car accident, “Brother, God is trying to get your attention and tell you something!” What could that mean? On another occasion, a woman grieving the first anniversary of her son’s murder was told, “Look… it’s been a year… It’s time to move on with our life.” I’m sure these people meant well. Maybe they fell prey to the need to say “something” to the one who is suffering.

 Good people can often say terrible things with the best of intentions, in the most misguided of ways. That’s why, sometimes, less is more:

 Romans 12:15   Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

 Job 2:12-13 …they raised their voices and wept, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads toward heaven. 13 And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.

 Job’s friends started well with their presence. They were there. Near. Available. Sometimes actions speak louder and accomplish more than words. You can pay them a visit. Take them out for coffee. Mow their lawn. Run errands for them. Meet practical needs as you weep with those who weep. And maybe one day when the dust settles… rejoice with them. You don’t have to have all the answers… just be available to glorify God by serving them.

 Job’s friends did not end well. Often people do not finish well with those who suffer loss. Often in a few weeks as the dust settles people’s lives return to normal and they withdraw when the life of the grieving one still has this huge void. Losses sometimes take decades to get over. People need your comforting presence. You may never make mistakes of a scale of Job’s friends but… stay in touch… stay engaged.

 Finish well. Stay engaged. Make yourself available… and do not weary of well-doing. If you’d like more information on weeping with those who weep, touch here.

God's Will: Bad Things Can Happen to Good People

NOTE: If you are just starting with us, go to the previous post. As you participate in this study you will want to read the entire book of Job in as few “sittings” as possible. Read Job a couple of times if you can. Before you read: pray. Pray what? Consider praying something like this. Open my eyes, O Lord, to wonderful things in your word!” Now read thoughtfully. Don’t obsess and don’t skim. Reread Job 1:1-5 before moving into this week’s study.

In the opening sentences we get a picture of Job “from the outside.” We read of how the Holy Spirit describes Job to us. Job was a man of stature, character, faith, and family. How did Job come to be who Job was? God’s word tells us as a man thinks within himself so he is (Proverbs 23:7). Fast forward with me to Job 29 and gaze within the man as well as at the man.

Job 29:1-25   And Job again took up his discourse, and said: 2“Oh, that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me, 3 when his lamp shone upon my head, and by his light I walked through darkness, 4 as I was in my prime, when the friendship of God was upon my tent, 5 when the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were all around me, 6 when my steps were washed with butter… 11 When the ear heard, it called me blessed, and when the eye saw, it approved, 12 because I delivered the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to help him. 13 The blessing of him who was about to perish came upon me, and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy. 15 I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame…16 I was a father to the needy, and I searched out the cause of him whom I did not know. 21  “Men listened to me and waited and kept silence for my counsel.  24 I smiled on them when they had no confidence, and the light of my face they did not cast down. 25 I chose their way and sat as chief, and I lived like a king among his troops, like one who comforts mourners.

What we see here is by any standard a good man who looked to the needs of others. We live in an age where society villainizes the rich and powerful while ascribing extra piety and privilege to those it deems poor and oppressed. What we see in Job is a man who seeks to benefit others with no thought of himself.

Why is this important? In addition to providing insight into Job’s character it reminds us that life in a fallen world is such that hardship and suffering befalls the good and the wicked, just as some observe in parallel that God causes the good rains to fall on the good and the wicked, alike (Matthew 5:45). Many find this bewildering (as Job’s friends seem to do) and assume only bad things happen to bad people. The book of Job dispels this myth and causes us to rely on divine revelation rather than intuition or conventional wisdom. We will see that Job is s good man and yet a sinner (a sinner like you and me).

Perhaps this is why Job, like Ecclesiastes, causes us to pause and reflect (in bewilderment).  Perhaps this is why Job is so essential to making sense of our world and not only our hardships but God and even Satan’s hand in them. Just as in Ecclesiastes there is an “under the Sun perspective” (i.e. earthly perspective) and an “above the Sun perspective” (i.e. heavenly or spiritual perspective) so it is in the book of Job. One sees this clearly in the dialogs between God and Satan.

Job 1:6-12   Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” 8 And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” 9 Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? 10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” 12 And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.

A similar dialog is found in Job 2.

Job 2:1-6   Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the LORD. 2 And the LORD said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” 3 And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason.” 4 Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “Skin for skin! All that a man has he will give for his life. 5 But stretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face.” 6 And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand; only spare his life.”

Consider the implications of what we read in these exchanges between God and Satan! God has both called attention to Job and allowed Satan to test Job within certain limits. Satan can strip Job of all that Job holds dear, even Job’s health, but Satan may not takes Job’s life.

We are mystified, perhaps by God’s thought process or rationale. Indeed, it is not revealed. But as early as chapters 1 and 2 we learn a great deal about our own existence, God’s involvement in the activities and affairs of the human race, and (at minimum) there is an entire world we do not see or comprehend. Above these things we learn that God’s ways and thoughts are above our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9).

God is sovereign over everyone and everything—even Satan and his demonic horde. Satan’s damage and malice are subject to God’s sovereignty. Satan, as someone once noted, is God’s devil and functions in God’s universe according to God’s rule. Satan must ask permission of God because God limits the harm Satan does, whether we sense this or not:

Luke 22:31   “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; 32 but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

“Satan has demanded permission...” Take a moment now and look up 1 Corinthians 10:13. Read it out loud a couple of times. Re-read Job chapters 1 and 2 and ask them how they relate and harmonize with one another. Now tie this to all to Luke 22:31. Dwell on these passages. Read and reread them. Linger over them. Do you remember what we noted earlier? Do you remember the title of this study: “Job Happens Every Day to Someone Someplace in Our World.” One of the lessons we are about to learn together is the meaning of 1 Corinthians 10:13 as we study the book of Job.

1 Cor. 10:13  No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

We are going to see Job experience and undergo seemingly unspeakable hardship. We may wonder, privately or aloud, what God is doing. And as we do so, studying the book of Job or experiencing our own soul-crushing losses and hardship, we do well to remember and rehearse why we trusted Him for our salvation. Moreover, we need to ask ourselves “is God then not trustworthy in all matters, great and small, regardless?”

Always remember that God is faithful. God is good. God is loving. He is intimately involved in every facet of your life. You are part of God’s redemptive program and sometimes that involves incredible hardship. Always remember we do not see all that is going on in our lives. Nor do we understand it all. God’s perspective is much bigger than we can see or process. There is good in all He does. Purpose!

Finally, think about your view of God and why you serve Him. Why do you serve God? Do you serve Him for His blessing or to draw closer to Him? What’s the difference? Think about it

Job Happens Every Day to Someone Someplace in Our World

(Job Revisited)

Will you study the book of Job with me for a while? It’s one of the handiest and misunderstood books in the Bible. I’m studying it for personal reasons. I thought I’d invite some of you to join me. Why? Job has something to say about every hardship and trial you suffer, both great and small. People look at Job and inadvertently miss the forest for the trees (like of like the book of Revelation). And in so doing they miss out on wisdom and enablement for living each day God gives them on planet earth.

The story of Job seems an extreme account of unimaginable hardship. To one extent or another, I suppose it is. On the other hand, the title of our study and journey says it all: “Job Happens Every Day to Someone Someplace in Our World.”

So, let’s revisit the book of Job.  And as we do this, we can maybe make better sense of our existence (and sufferings) in the days ahead, regardless of their severity.

 Let’s talk “ground rules” for our study. As odd as this may sound, I’m going to ask you to rely on the Bible alone. That means no commentaries, YouTube channels, etc. I’ll post my thoughts each week, usually on Wednesday. Let’s study together and grow together. Let’s read our texts, asking, (1) what do the words say; (2) what do the words mean; (3) how then shall we think and live?

 Let’s get started!

Job 1:1-5 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. 2 There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. 3 He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east. 4 His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.

There are good people everywhere, who appear to have it all. But unbeknownst to them life, as they once knew, it is about to come to something of a catastrophic and cataclysmic end. Some are rich, many not so much. Some are parents, although not all are parents. Many might be large scale employers who vast wealth would seem to be such that it should insulate them from most hardship. More than a few have happy, healthy, and intact families (and family relationships) that further buttress and bless them in this momentary life that is, even for the Christ-follower, but a vapor. I’ll wager that among these beautiful and prosperous souls are a number of believers who have walked with God for many years and who have raised their children up in the discipline and nurture of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). Such a person was Job of the land of Uz. By all accounts Job lived an exemplary life. He worked hard, conducted himself with integrity, and experienced, materially and spiritually, the favor of God. And Job loved and prayed for his children! What could possibly go wrong?

 Why do bad things happen to good people? Karma? Luck? The randomness of the universe? Who knows? God knows! Is there a purpose in our suffering? A point? There is. Spoiler alert: God never wastes a believer’s suffering or hardships. Never. While this reality can be found throughout the Bible, here are two reassuring passages.

 James 1:2-4   Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Romans 8:28  And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

 We have to be careful with such verses. Some people, well-intentioned people, occasionally cite them undiscerningly to those in the midst of a trial or a hardship—usually telling them to try or pray harder. Some uncharitably call this the “take two Bible verses and call me in the morning approach” to discipleship or counseling. I call the labeling uncharitable as much as I do the exhortation to pray or try harder because I believe such people mean well as those who bristle at their misguided actions (more on this later).

 So, why do bad things happen to good people? The same reason good things happen to bad people: for the glory of God. That’s what Jesus tells us in the account of the man born blind from birth. So perhaps we can find some encouragement in that.

John 9:1-3   As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.

 God does not waste our sufferings and hardship. It’s against His nature and character. Do I enjoy hardship? Suffering? Do you? Certainly not. Nevertheless, suffering is part of a fallen world. To one degree or another, we will suffer. Some will suffer more than others. But everyone will suffer to some degree regardless of their context, ethnicity, socio-economic status, and conduct. That’s why I’ve suggested in the title of this study, “Job Happens Every Day to Someone Someplace in Our World.” There has never been a person who walked on this earth that was immune from suffering. That includes Jesus Christ, described by Isaiah as “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53:3)” who “for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame… (Hebrews 12:2).” This is the same Jesus who said, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done (Luke 22:42).”

 Let’s stop here. Reread what I’ve written. Re-read Job 1:1-5. Do you really think Job, separated from us by language, culture, and the tides of time wasn’t a normal person? Did he not love his kids? Did he not love God? Did he not have responsibilities? And as rich and well set up as Job was: did he not suffer? What was once said of the prophet Elijah can be said of Job, he “was a man with a nature like ours… (James 5:17).” Let’s learn from Job’s suffering together. God has something to say to us both, you and me.