We know from the rest of scripture that Job wasn’t perfect. He wasn’t ultimately blameless. But he was innocent of the crimes his ‘friends’ accused him of. The calamity that befell him wasn’t the result of his sin, but God’s prerogative. But his friends continue to come at him with theological sounding arguments, which amounted to condemnation of him in his difficult life situation.

Job responds to them. Job 16:2-5:

"I have heard many such things;
    miserable comforters are you all.
Shall windy words have an end?
   Or what provokes you that you answer?
I also could speak as you do,
   if you were in my place;
I could join words together against you
   and shake my head at you.
I could strengthen you with my mouth,
   and the solace of my lips would assuage your pain.”

I think that Job’s words are echoed in many, many who have been bruised and burned by Christians and our American Church culture. Difficult situations and challenges have befallen them and rather than patiently and quietly empathize and encourage, we attempt to define and classify, and ultimately solve the problem with a kind of spiritual algorithm.

But this is a problem. Because it amounts to very little more than judgment on our part.

I think the human experience is vastly complicated and confusing. Even for the one experiencing it, let alone those around him. Although spiritual as it may be, I think we err when jumping to conclusions about other people’s struggles and difficulties.

Although there is a time for careful examination of each other’s struggles, and there is a time for instruction, exhortation and rebuke. I think most of the time, it’s not. But rather, grace, patience, love and empathy.

In small group tonight, we studied 1 Peter 1:13-25. In the midst of the verse, an awkward segment arises:

“If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth… “

In isolation, it sounds like Peter is saying that we should be careful to do what’s right because if we don’t we’re getting the boot. That’s not what he’s saying, but it took us some time to get our heads outside of our works-based thinking.

What Peter is saying is that God rebukes his children. He’s reminding these Christians that they call on him as Father, and their father sees their actions, choices and conditions of heart and, like a father, he will deliver a stern rebuke. Little children fear the rebuke of their earthly father, although it is delivered in love. It is very much the same with God’s fatherhood over us.

The author of Hebrews expands on this idea in Hebrews 12:7-8:

“It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.”

On one hand we see that God only chastises the ones he loves. On the other hand, we should use the prospect of that chastisement to help keep our hearts in line.

This stands, I think, as a fresh shot of spiritual reality. God will rebuke me for my sin and it will be unpleasant. But, he will do it in love for my benefit.

Jonathan Bowers, on the Desiring God Blog, posted the notes he took during a message by Mark Driscoll. His articulation was so clear, concise and poignant that I decided just to direct you that way today.

His words are ones that I, more than most, really need to take to heart.

The post can be found here:
http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/1417_Pray_More_than_You_Criticize/