Global Warming

I recently stumbled upon this article about the recent recantation of one of the "father's" of man-made climate change theory. As the article says, I am sure our activities affect the climate to a degree, but I believe it is past time for the hysteria and hyperbole of world doom to end. It goes to show that something with the word "scientific" on it does not mean that it is infallible like many are apt to believe. I think men have done much more damage to this world through the corruption wrought by his turning away from God and towards the evil desires within himself than he has done to the trees.

A Winter Walk

There is nothing better than a good snow. Before I continue further, I have included a link to a lovely song called "Winter Snow" by Chris Tom (feat. Audrey Assad) that will perfectly accompany this entry :-)

"WINTER SNOW"

Please click the the above link to download the song for the full experience! For the most convenience, right-click the link and select "Open link in new tab."

When it snows it seems the earth and all of creation in pure tranquility, a beautiful reminder to me of the peace with God wrought by the perfect atoning work of Christ. Such peace on the earth reminds me of the wonder of redemption. We see the earth come under such torrential storms and disasters that show us the cursed condition of creation because of man's sin. However, under some conditions we are reminded of the beauty of what Christ has done. I believe God reminds us of this even through the natural processes of nature. Not only is nature curse, but it also groans inwardly for the revealing of the sons of God according to the book of Romans. When I see the snow I just see creation quietly displaying redemption. I'd like to use this entry as a celebration of the peace Christ has brought through His life and death. I encourage all who read to let winter's peace fill you with joy...Enjoy and God bless!

Too Easily Pleased

I thought this was worth a look. It's crazy to think how easily we are drawn to worldly things that offer no eternal reward.

A Suffering Servant

This is a conversation concerning the book of Job that I am having with the great Mr. Andrew Garnett. Andrew, I had to put my response on here for you because I think it was too long for Facebook to handle haha. I will post my initial comment, Andrew's comments first and then my response just for clarity and the sake of anyone else that might like to participate.

My initial comment:

Job's greatest mistake: "I will give free utterance to my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul." ~Job 10:1...And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. ~James 3:6

Andrew's response:

While God does tell Job that some of his accusations against God are wrong, in the end Job is vindicated by God for his questions. The people that God gets angry with are Job's friends, who came in with trite, simple answers about God and told Job that he could not question God. That's why God tells Eliphas, Job's friend, "My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends, because you have not spoken of Me what is right as My servant Job has." (Job 42:7) Job's honest questions and doubt make him the one who speaks well about God. The friends, who are too afraid to question, are the ones who have to offer a sacrifice and have Job pray for them, so that God won't kick their tails (Job 42:8).

I think this is the same sort of thing you see in the Psalms, where the authors question God all the time. They complain against God, and sometimes they get answers. It's the same thing in Habakkuk (which is a great little book), where the prophet makes two complaints against God and as a result gets to have a conversation with God about his problems.

To me, the story of Job shows that God gets more angry when people won't ask questions. What God dislikes there is people who are too scared to venture out of what they think that they "know" about God. What do you think?

My last response:

Andrew, I apologize for taking so long to respond to your comment. I appreciate your comments. There are a few points you made that I would like to address.

1.) "Job's honest questions and doubt make him the one who speaks well about God."

2.) “To me, the story of Job shows that God gets more angry when people won't ask questions.”

3.) “What God dislikes there is people who are too scared to venture out of what they think that they "know" about God.

If you look at the verse couple of verses of chapter 10, you see Job setting up what he is going to say for the rest of the chapter. He basically introduces this monologue of sorts by basically saying "I'm about to vent." Matthew Henry states it likes this:

"Job, being weary of his life and having ease no other way, resolves to complain, resolves to speak. He will not give vent to his soul by violent hands, but he will give vent to the bitterness of his soul by violent words."

First, I believe that in order to read the book of Job with the correct hermeneutic you have to begin with the correct doctrine of God's character and man's ultimate purpose in creation. I could right scores of essays discussing the character of God in depth. For the purpose of this discussion I will just briefly say that I am referring to the truths that God is holy, just, good, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, loving, etc. Now, concerning man's ultimate purpose we see Scripture address that:

a) For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. ~Rom. 11:36

b) "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created." ~Rev. 4:11

c) "If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." ~John 15:10-11

So we are able to conclude from assembling Scriptures such as these that the purpose of man is to "glorify God and enjoy Him forever." As you probably know from the Westminster Catechism. What's really cool to me about this is that the only full and complete joy exists in glorifying God and in the words of John Piper, "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him." Therefore, I think if you read Job with the presupposition that man's chief end is happiness through fulfillment through something within this world such as vitality, wealth, etc. then you will read Job incorrectly (not saying you are reading it through such a lens).

Something important to see about Job is that he knew the character of God and walked with God, fulfilling his purpose. So in chapter 10 we see him wrestling with what God is doing because it seems out of God's character, which he understand later that it wasn't. So what I would submit to you is that it was not Job's questioning God and doubting Him that caused him to speak rightly of God as God says he did in Job 42. It was Job's correct knowledge of the character of God that caused him to speak rightly of Him.

Therefore, what I think Scripture as a whole teaches is that it is not man's virtue to doubt or question God. Giving full vent to anger is seen throughout Scripture as foolish and destructive, but a temperament that is slow to anger and trusting in the Lord is virtuous and blessed (James 1:26; James 3:1-10; Psa. 37:3; Psa 37:5; Psa 91:2; Prov. 3:5; Isa 26:4; Jer. 17:7). Now, you are correct that later in the story it does appear that Job's questioning and venting was God's will to bring about the result of Job's increased knowledge of God and revelation of God that Job had not previously known intimately. However, I do not think this teaches us that venting at God and questioning God should be a temperament that a follower of Christ should have. The teaching of Scripture seems to be to the contrary. We see that when God first addresses Job He says, "Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?" (Job 38:2). Then God proceeds to give Job a revelation of Himself that how complex God's wisdom and His actions are because if you notice He never tells Job about the discourse with Satan or the purpose for his suffering. So I do agree with you that out of Job's questioning and doubting came the gift of God's revelation concerning His vast complexity and Job's inability to understand the answer to the questions he was asking; however, we do see God's revelation to Job coupled with a rebuke as well.

In conclusion, if you look at Job in light of Scripture as a whole you see a predominant theme in regards to suffering. You do not see it clearly taught that we are entitled to answers for our suffering, and I don't think you are encouraged to question God and doubt Him. I think Scripture views such a temperament as negative, possibly due to little faith (when the disciples questioned Jesus when their boat was caught in the storm He corrected them for their lack of faith). So I think asking "why?" in the midst of suffering like Job is not the virtuous question that God would have us ask. We know from Romans 8:28-30 that everything God does in the life of a child of God is for the purpose of making them more conformed to the image of Christ. That's why all things work together for good for children of God. The "good" there is the conformity to the image of Christ, whether that be through abundance or suffering. Both are ultimately good because they achieve that purpose. In light of this principle, I think the question that God would have us ask in the midst of suffering is "how?" "How can I suffer through this and become more like Christ and trust in God through this." Job knew God was just and good so I think what Job's more correct response should have been was to trust in the truthful character of God that he knew, knowing that God would never act outside of His character.

In the wide angle lens of God's plan with Job we see that it was God's will for Job to question and doubt for the purpose of being rebuked, corrected, and matured in Job's knowledge of God. However, I do not think Scripture teaches us seek questioning and doubt as a virtue that pleases God. That was so long. But we are dealing with a God of immense complexity so a few sentences certainly wouldn't suffice. What do you think?