| | Third time's a... charm?
Job 11 [link]
Zophar steps up to the plate and... OH! He not only missed, he managed to hit himself with his own bat!
Well, that's what I feel like. It's also easy to say with him being dead and knowing that if he's in heaven he'll forgive me for my hard interpretations of his statements.
Sometimes I wonder about what I write. Do those who I condemn from here hear or know what I've written? Because they're not here and I know the end of the story... does that make it okay? Am I doing it for the right reasons? I think sometimes we're doing it for "morsels of truth" instead of to make God's Name known more... but this is all an aside for another time.
Much along those lines, though, Zophar seems to me to almost approach Job like he honestly doesn't know God and is a sinner. His first paragraph spouts off into a litany of how unknowable God is (those who find God so glorious), and then into how depraved we humans are.
I'd imagine Zophar's a Calvinist. I don't mean that entirely as a slam, though. Zophar has a view of God that makes God so big that not only CAN'T we touch Him, but that we shouldn't even bother trying to! Taking things before him has become a bad thing to him, as if we're trying to put God on trial. His assumptions are so horribly wrong, too. He STARTS by saying Job hasn't even gotten half of what he deserves... and yet we know Job hasn't deserved any of this! One could argue a "we're all sinners from birth" perspective, which to some extent I agree with, but I honestly don't think that's the direction Zophar's going here.
Zophar's a hyper-Calvinist, to the point that may be reached if certain tennants of the faith are exploited and made deeper without reviewing the other half of things said in the Bible. Zophar gives Job his version of what salvation is like in the second half, and man if I can figure out where in the world he finds all that! He almost seems to be slyly back-handing Job after each mini-part (saying what an *evil* person would do [which is exactly what Job's doing, in his eyes, I think]), and presenting a gospel of wealth and prosperity this side of heaven to Job. I agree to the health and wealth Gospel -- but *only* after death. In eternity we'll all have plenty of health and wealth, but this side of heaven it's NOT guaranteed. We get more guarantees of suffering (or at least it seems like it to me) than we do of material success.
What are we looking at? How do we treat people who look at God differently than us? Do we jump down their throats because they don't have the same view? Do we condemn them to hell and brow-beat them slyly by doing it (which one could honestly argue I've just done to Zophar, myself)? By the measure we judge, so shall we be judged by God. We must be careful what we pronounce as eternal truths and what "must be done". lest we find ourselves in a heap of trouble at the end of it all with how we, then, are judged.
One final word: that doesn't mean "tolerance" -- it means to be careful what we call ultimate truth. To be open to knew thoughts, but being open doesn't mean accepting. Being open means being willing to go the direction we see as fit. So that means either we need to change what we judge by if things aren't coming out like they should be, eh?
Heavenly Father, help us to see You as the ultimate Truth. Help us to know all knowledge and wisdom comes from You. Abba, we need You. Please help us to glorify You with our entire beings. Help us to glorify You in how we think, and to take for truth what You have called truth. May we be humble, and wuick to admit fault and wrongdoing. May we stand up for justice and truth. May we be champions of Your cause, Abba -- not our own, and not of "being right" or "looking good." Lord, may I judge others only by Your standard of judging in every way, at all times, for all things. We love You, Abba. Thank You for everything.
Amen.
Another Day Goes By
State: Good
Hmm, not a ton to say today, either. Life keeps going on.
Took Amy to and from work today. Our landlord stopped by and had someone tune the piano as well. That was kinda neat. Now Amy can play without worrying about hitting the bad keys. ^_^
Really... today kind of flew by and I have little of interest to really say. Sorry to not be more exciting. =P
God bless, all! |
| | Posted 7/8/2009 10:21 PM - 4 Views - 2 eProps - 0 comments
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