Why Christians Suffer: PART 4

Beginning of Series

Has the cross of Christ rendered obsolete what Job reveals about suffering?

If you think that’s a peculiar question, you’re not alone. Until recently, I had no idea how profoundly your answer to this question will affect your answer to the question of why Christians suffer.

Some readers might think I should spend quite a while discussing the book of Job. The risk of wasting my time is too high, however. Many an ingenious Christian mind has found ways of reverently transferring what might seem like highly pertinent Scriptures into a new category of once-divinely-inspired writings now labeled Superseded.

The Word of God is emphatic that Christ suffered in our stead.

That Christ died (and, of course, this involved suffering) for us is so widely mentioned in Scripture, and likely to be so well known to you, that it is hardly worth citing examples. Nevertheless, here are some.

Isaiah 53:4-6, 11 Surely he has borne our sickness, and carried our suffering; . . . he was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought our peace was on him; . . . the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. . . . My righteous servant will justify many . . . and he will bear their iniquities.

Mark 10:45 For the Son of Man . . . came . . . to give his life as a ransom for many

John 10:15 . . . I lay down my life for the sheep.

Romans 4:25 who was delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification.

Romans 5:6, 8 . . . Christ died for the ungodly. . . . while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 14:15 . . . him for whom Christ died.

2 Corinthians 5:15 He died for all . . .

2 Corinthians 5:21 For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Galatians 1:4 who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of this present evil age . . .

Galatians 2:20 . . . the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.

Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree,”

Ephesians 1:7 in whom we have our redemption through his blood . . .

Ephesians 5:2 . . . Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance.

Ephesians 5:25 . . . Christ also loved the assembly [church], and gave himself up for it

Colossians 1:22 . . . he has reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without defect and blameless before him

Hebrews 9:28 . . . Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many . . .

Titus 2:14 who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify for himself a people for his own possession . . .

1 Timothy 2:6 who gave himself as a ransom for all . . .

1 Peter 1:18-19 . . . you were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from the useless way of life handed down from your fathers, but with precious blood, as of a faultless and pure lamb, the blood of Christ

1 Peter 2:21, 24 . . . Christ also suffered for us . . . who his own self bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed.

1 Peter 3:18 . . . Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God . . .

1 John 1:7 . . . the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

1 John 3:16 . . . he laid down his life for us.

1 John 4:9-10 . . . God has sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. . . . sent his Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Revelation 1:5 . . . To him who loves us, and washed us from our sins by his blood

Revelation 5:9 . . . you were killed, and bought us for God with your blood . . .

If this means our magnificent Lord suffered on earth so that his followers need never suffer on earth – or if persecution is the only exception – then Christ’s stupendous act has not only split history in two, it has rendered Job virtually obsolete.

As we progress, things will gradually clarify, but we must look to the New Testament to be sure of current spiritual reality. I will mention the book of Job here, only to the limited extent that it raises issues it would be cowardly for us to dodge. After all, no matter how much one tries to diminish it, Job remains an inseparable part of that unique work of God of which we read, “From infancy, you have known the holy Scriptures.

Just think of what Scriptures were around when Timothy was a baby. For examples of Bible scholars who affirm that this is referring to the Old Testament, see:

Kent, Homer A The Pastoral Epistles: Studies in 1, 2 Timothy and Titus, Moody Press, 1958, page 289

Kelly, J.N.D. A Commentary on the Pastoral Epistles, Baker Book House, 1963, reprinted 1981, page 201

Moule, H.C.G. Studies in II Timothy, Kregel Publications, 1977, page 123-124

Bernard, J.H. The Pastoral Epistles, Baker Book House, 1899, reprinted 1980, page 135-136

Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:15-17).

Size-wise, Job is a significant portion of Holy Writ. Since I don’t think it fair to compare two different languages (Hebrew and Greek) I have chosen a King James Version word count. At 18,096 words, Job is longer than Romans, Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians combined. It is longer than the Gospel of Mark and nearly as long as the Gospel of John.

And it is devoted to the very enigmas this webpage grapples with. Even the briefest of overviews of Job highlights brilliantly the perplexing dilemmas we Christians face in trying to get our heads around God and suffering. In fact, less than a minute’s mention of the story is enough to ram home that the subject we are tackling is not only puzzling and alarmingly emotive: daring even to hint at a possible reason for Christians suffering is so strewn with dangers as to make dancing on a minefield seem a sensible pastime.

The whole point of the book of Job is that he suffered horrifically, not because he was in any way spiritually lacking, but precisely because he was exceptionally godly. The divinely authorized biography insists that Job was “blameless and upright” and “fears God, and turns away from evil,” (Job 1:1, repeated by God himself in Job 1:8, and yet again in Job 2:3). The Lord was so delighted with Job that on at least two different occasions God boasted about Job to Satan, saying, “For there is no one like him in the earth, a blameless and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil” (Job 1:8; 2:3). Even very many generations later, the Lord still rated Job as one of the most godly, spiritually powerful, people ever to have lived.

In Ezekiel 14:13-14 (repeated in Ezekiel 14:20), to ram home a point, the Almighty Lord chose to name three people who, in all previous human history, epitomized those who had the greatest ever influence with God – the most righteous and spiritual powerful people ever to live up to and including Ezekiel’s time. In whittling down the list, the Lord bypassed such spiritual giants as Abel, Enoch, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, all the judges, Samuel, David, Solomon, Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and so many more, in order to place Job in what The Message Bible calls the Big Three.

Dare any of us suggest God got it wrong in so highly esteeming Job?

Ezekiel 14:13-14 . . . when a land sins against me by committing a trespass, and I stretch out my hand on it, and break the staff of its bread, and send famine on it, and cut off from it man and animal; though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver only their own souls by their righteousness,” says the Lord God.

Ezekiel 14:20 Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live,” says the Lord God, “they would deliver neither son nor daughter; they would deliver only their own souls by their righteousness.”

Like maliciously telling a man that the love of his life married him only for his money, Satan claimed Job served God only for what God gave him. Take away all the cozy benefits of being faithful to the Lord, declared the Accuser, and Job would turn his back on God.

Suffering brought Job immense glory by proving his love and integrity in a way that nothing else could. You might argue that God already knew Job’s heart, but no one else knew for sure. As underscored by Peter proving manifestly less able to resist denying his Lord than he supposed, not even Job really knew. I believe that, human psychology being what it is, through successfully enduring this test, Job took with him for the rest of his life an increase in his steely resolve to serve God no matter what. In any case, to Job’s eternal glory, every angel and spirit and human who knows the way things unfolded, has undeniable proof of Job’s devotion. For years, an athlete will endure great sacrifice and agonizing training sessions to be hailed as a champion for a moment. Job’s glory is greater in every way.

The other element in the story spotlights the serious danger in getting wrong one’s theology of suffering. Like some of us today, (rather surprising for a book some consider outdated) Job’s friends theorized that genuinely good people don’t suffer. Their sincere belief was that the good Lord protects the truly righteous. Job must therefore have had somehow erred. If they could discover the nature of his slip-up, it would help their friend. Their well-intentioned attempt was so disastrous that they ended up not only tormenting the very person they were hoping to help, but incurring God’s displeasure (Job 42:7-8).

Despite these self-appointed advisers receiving a divine rebuke, I have a lot of time for them. What makes their appalling failure so tragic is that they truly were his friends. Look at their depth of feeling:

Job 2:11-13 Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that had come on him . . . they made an appointment together to come to sympathize with him and to comfort him. When they lifted up their eyes from a distance, and didn’t recognize him, they raised their voices, and wept; and they each tore his robe, and sprinkled dust on their heads toward the sky. So they sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great.

They were cut to the core over Job’s plight.

These devout people had the highest of motives. Not only were they genuinely empathic and said not a word until Job broached the subject, when they did so, they sincerely believed they were defending the Lord. They knew that the Almighty is good, and they felt sure this means he will not allow an innocent person to suffer. I’ll keep this brief, so here’s just a sample of their wisdom and devotion to God:

Job 2:11-13 But he saves . . . the needy from the hand of the mighty. So the poor has hope, and injustice shuts her mouth. Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects. Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty. For he wounds, and binds up. He injures, and his hands make whole.

In fact, their beliefs are remarkably similar to modern prosperity teaching.

Job 8:3, 5-7, 12-13, 20-21 Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert righteousness? . . . If you want to seek God diligently, make your supplication to the Almighty. If you were pure and upright, surely now he would awaken for you, and make the habitation of your righteousness prosperous. Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would greatly increase. . . . While it is yet in its greenness, not cut down, it withers before any other reed. So are the paths of all who forget God. The hope of the godless man shall perish . . . Behold, God will not cast away a blameless man, neither will he uphold the evildoers. He will still fill your mouth with laughter, your lips with shouting.

Job 22:1-2, 21-22, 24-30 . . . Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself. . . . Acquaint yourself with him, now, and be at peace. Thereby good shall come to you. Please receive instruction from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart. . . . Lay your treasure in the dust, the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks. The Almighty will be your treasure, and precious silver to you. For then you will delight yourself in the Almighty, and shall lift up your face to God. You shall make your prayer to him, and he will hear you. . . . You shall also decree a thing, and it shall be established to you. Light shall shine on your ways. When they cast down, you shall say, ‘be lifted up.’ He will save the humble person. He will even deliver him who is not innocent. Yes, he shall be delivered through the cleanness of your hands.”

Job 34:12 Yes surely, God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice.

Even today, despite reading God’s judgment on Job’s sincere, though mistaken accusers, many a devout Christian is keen to assure us that we need never suffer. They believe Job must somehow have slipped up and brought all his suffering upon himself. Sure that the Bible must somehow have overstated Job’s blamelessness, and that for all of this to finally make sense, they need simply find the dirt on Job, they have grabbed their microscope, poring over the book, hoping to detect Job’s mistake. Here’s what some found Job saying in the midst of his distress:

Job 3:25 For the thing which I fear comes on me.

Average people might simply think, “Yes, what happened to Job is one of the scariest things anyone could imagine.” Nevertheless, when eager to condemn (otherwise known as offering ‘helpful advice’) people get quite creative. They claim the person of whom God spoke in such glowing terms, erred by fearing – and suffered the consequences.

With the highest of motives – keen to honor Christ and rescue distressed Christians – some have assumed the role of a backyard soul-surgeon armed with a rusty scalpel and verses conveniently ripped from their Bible. With the best intentions, they have joined Job’s friends in their quest to find fault with the man God called “blameless and upright” (Job 2:3). But is it wise to side with those who incurred divine anger?

Job 42:7-8 . . . The Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “ My wrath is kindled against you, and against your two friends; for you have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job has. Now therefore, take to yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept him, that I not deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job has.” (Emphasis mine.)

For a hint at the gravity of their offense, consider merely the monetary cost of the seven bulls and seven rams the Lord required (and if you know anything about Old Testament law, you know all fourteen had to be flawless to be acceptable to God). And, of course, this was just the beginning. The cooling of God’s wrath hinged on them acknowledging their error and humbly entreating the spiritual intervention of the very man of God they had previously tried to advise.

No matter what we have so far said, however, the burning question remains: has Christ’s triumph over sin and Satan so turned everything on its head that it renders most of the book of Job obsolete? Whereas Job was once a spiritual hero, is he now, relative to our Christ-bought authority, an embarrassing weakling we dare not emulate, lest copying him shame our Savior by letting the devil bully us?

On the other hand, what weight should we give to New Testament revelation that Christ suffered as much for generations prior to the cross as for those born later?

Hebrews 9:25-28 . . . or else he must have suffered often since the foundation of the world. But now once at the end of the ages, he has been revealed to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. Inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once, and after this, judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many . . .

Hebrews 4:3 . . . the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

Matthew 25:34 . . . Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world

Ephesians 1:4 . . . he chose us in him before the foundation of the world . . .

Revelation 13:8 . . . everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been killed.

In the mind of the eternal Lord Job served, the work of the cross had already been completed, even before the foundation of the world. As emphasized in the Faith Chapter (Hebrews 11), and elsewhere, relating to the Holy One has never at any time been through works or animal sacrifices. Salvation has always been solely through faith that God can cleanse us sinners from all unrighteousness. We, living this side of the cross, have a clearer idea of how much securing our forgiveness and cleansing cost the Almighty but, as stressed in the Old Testament as much as the New, we are by no means the only ones to live in that forgiveness.

As to how Christians should view Job, we cannot overlook James, where, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Job is exalted as the Christian’s role model:

James 5:11 Behold, we call them blessed who endured. You have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the Lord in the outcome, and how the Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

Nevertheless, for many Christians, doubt lingers as to whether James somehow got it wrong about Job.

We’ll leave this dangling for the moment. Earlier in this section, I mentioned the possibility of persecution being such an exceptional form of suffering that general principles that apply to other types of suffering might not apply. Let’s ponder this.

Continued: Part 5