Job Meets Jesus

I have a dream to write books. Several ideas have grown in my head over the last several years and I have attempted at various times to inscribe the pieces of wandering inspiration. However, without significant blocks of time, I probably will never truly attempt these works. However, if I ever do head in that direction, the first book will be one titled "Job Meets Jesus." This will be a study of the lives of Job and Jesus in order to provide a Biblical theodicy for all time. In my note taking, I have written a draft preface in order to set a precursor to my thoughts.

Preface

Few books of the Bible are as unique as the book of Job. Both the characters involved and the format used  have no equal or logical place in the normal progression of Scripture. The story woven from Genesis through Revelation largely traces God’s work through specially chosen people groups (Israel and the church). The book of Job, however, is an enigma with no significant connection to the general theme or tone of a greater purpose in the Bible.

 Extending this unique aspect, the person of Job exists apart from any clear label or placement. He isn’t given a nation, a culture or even a history. He is introduced as a singular individual with material wealth and success. Through events not of his own doing, he is reduced to nothing even though his heart and relationship with God are good. Without our brief glance behind the curtain, we would question along with Job the nature and severity of his suffering.

Since therefore, Job has not label, his story and example remain timeless in application and connection. His suffering could describe a person living in any nation at any time in history. For this reason, Job offers a powerful study into that which is known as theodicy. The word basically applies to any attempt to explain the balance between a world filled with evil and the existence of a sovereign God. For all ages of human history, the greatest and most penetrating question regarding the supposed existence of a powerful God is the apparent disease of widespread suffering and hurt throughout the world.

Almost every person on earth has viewed the two suggested realities and struggled to bring the perceived injustice of a sovereign God and suffering together. This conundrum provides the unbeliever a reason not to believe and challenges the faith of every believer. Thus it remains vital for all people to investigate and offer an answer to suffering in this present world. Whether a person is in suffering right now or not does not matter, no true understanding of God is complete without an answer to suffering.

It is upon this necessity that this book is built. The circumstances of Job provide a timeless look into a life of suffering. Job had everything and lost it all at the hand of God. Juxtaposed against this story is that of Jesus. Jesus had everything and gave it all up in order to suffer. In light of the suffering of Christ, we now can look back at the person of Job with new information. The nature of God is revealed in the life of Christ. And in the suffering of Christ, the problem of sin and trouble is answered. It remains only for us to combine the stories to mine the truths.

This book is not intended to end suffering or to ignore it. However, it is an attempt by a feeble mind to study the lives of two people separated by thousands of years who lost more than many of us ever will. Through the viewfinder of Jesus, we now can understand the life of Job and a connection and answers unavailable to Job at that time. In so doing, we can establish the character and purpose of God in all of history. Upon this basis, we hope to demonstrate a basis of hope that transcends earthly suffering through a greater power than evil.

A Theology of Missions

This is the introduction to a paper which I wrote for school. However, they only gave me seven pages to write what would probably take me hundreds.

As the story of the world opens in Genesis 1:1, God initiates all that exists and directs forever a course of events with a definite purpose and path. As the path of time, as revealed in Scripture moves onward, the purpose of God for all of creation is the worship and glory of Himself.1 Through the fall of man and thus the corruption of nature, the worship and glory due to God is not complete. It is for this reason that God works and has worked in the world in order to bring about His glory in all aspects of reality.

And since worship, the ultimate recognition of the true God, is not fully present in the world today, it is the purpose now of God’s people to act and live to bring about that worship. This purpose is fulfilled in practice by the work of missions. As John Piper states, “The goal of missions is the gladness of the peoples in the greatness of God.”2 Therefore the purpose and nature of God must foment at the heart of all missions. Thus this paper will show that Scripture forms a basis of theology that connects the purpose of missions to the nature of God and His revealed truth in all aspects of doctrine.

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1 This purpose is clarified throughout Scripture in passages such as Isaiah 43:6-7 and Habakkuk 2:14.

2 John Piper, Let the Nations Be Glad (Grand Rapids, MI; Baker Books, 1993) 11.

Is the Bible really all about Jesus?

Before you jump to conclusions based upon the title, let me first explain my question. It seems relatively common for people to categorically summarize various truths pertaining to all aspects of life. Sweeping generalities are probably the most used figure of speech (irony yes). One such statement that I have heard is that the Bible is all about Jesus or all about the gospel. The question is whether this is an accurate statement.

My contention is that such a statement actually denigrates the Bible which can be so much more. While there are verses that state "these things are written that you may know you have eternal life," those phrases apply specifically to their immediate context and book. I don't believe that it is proper hermeneutics to apply that phrase to the entire Bible.

The option which I believe is far more fair is also more powerful. Since I am prone to ramble in my blog posts, I will seek to keep this relatively short. From the moment when God intervened and created time and existence for the world, He has moved and acted for a purpose. It is clear through Scripture that this purpose is for all of creation to glorify Him. For this reason, he shaped one feature of His creation with a choice.

Mankind, thus free to choose to obey, could offer a far greater glory to God than could nature. However, mankind chose to sin and with the subsequent curse brought destruction upon all of creation. Now, nature itself points glory to God and proves God. Yet nature, with no choice of its own, awaits a change in history in which it will be restored to a perfect state.

What is left is mankind. Since mankind was free and initiated the fall from perfection, any attempt to rectify the plight of mankind must be dramatic. It is this progress toward redemption that occupies a growing place in Scripture until the climax in the Gospels as Christ dies and rises. However, history continues on. And the Bible itself progresses through more instruction until it closes with Revelation. It is in the book that we see a restoration of nature and a re-establishment of a perfect relationship between God and man. The difference at the close of the Bible as opposed to the beginning is that at the end, the remnant of God's creation of choice will be forever evident in hell.

But it is the story of God's love and purpose for creation which occupies the totality of Scripture. The Bible answers the question of why we are here and where we are going. The Bible tells of the Holy Trinity and the decision to create and to love and to desire glory. And the Bible describes how God shapes history to bring about people who love and glorify Him. In it we see the creation and sustaining nature of God the Father. We see the humility and redemption of Christ the Son. We see the communication and power of the Holy Spirit.

The whole of Scripture tells us about God and His work and goal in creation. By reducing the Bible to all about Jesus lessens the true power of Scripture. Yet it is true that Jesus is seen in progressive revelation at many places in the Bible, but so is God the Father and the Holy Spirit. Don't begin to separate and highlight just one aspect. By so doing, you will little by little begin to feast on the parts of Scripture that make sense to what you are looking for. Instead, search all of Scripture and ask "What do I learn about God and His work on earth in this passage?" By so doing, you will open up every part of the Bible and see so many things. This is why my passion is to teach the Old Testament. It is because I want people to see how much we learn about a mighty God in every single page.

School Thoughts on Calvinism Part I

As I work through my seminary studies, I occasionally decide to write down my thoughts on some topic or discussion. The purpose is to capture my thoughts at the time I am actually in the midst of studying that issue. Hopefully, if I need to gather my thoughts someday for teaching or if I am ever ordained, the information is already gathered. Since I have a blog, I have decided to vent my learnings and thoughts on here. Feel free to ignore the post if you have no interest.

It is normal to associate Calvinism with a series of 5 points defining the extent and application of salvation. However, the actual five point stance is relatively misleading in its title and structure. Particularly, it is unfair to John Calvin to have his legacy so created. I am quite sure (though there are many who would disagree) that Calvin himself would not have appreciated the "TULIP" delineation and the strict definition as such.

It must be remembered that John Calvin arrived in history at a time when the Roman Catholic church was at an apex of corruption. The church was in the midst of selling forgiveness of sins in order to build massive cathedrals and live in luxury. It was toward this end that Martin Luther objected to much of the papal authority and became known as a Reformer. Calvin also became a similar reformer and, though opposed on a few issues, mirrored the emphases and work of Luther in opposing the established church.

Calvin's writings took two main forms. He wrote many commentaries (a link to which is included in the Bible Study page of this blog). In these commentaries, he taught directly from the scriptures. In conjunction, he also wrote increasingly larger versions of The Institutes of the Christian Religion. This book became his magnum opus and is still read and studied today. Calvin focused on the issues of his day and responded in specific manner to areas in which he saw error.

After his death, a man named Theodore Beza continued his work. He interpreted the points of Calvinism in retrospect and continued in the post which Calvin filled. A certain individual named Jacobus Arminius, who had studied under Beza, became convinced that in the area of predestination, there was some necessary clarification. When he became a teacher, he stressed that predestination was based upon God's foreknowledge of those who would have faith in Christ. His fellow teacher Francis Gomarus held an opposing view that predestination determines faith. Arminius was in all other aspects in line with everything Calvin had taught.

The debate raged after Arminius' death in an increasingly political battle. A group who supported Arminius formed after his death and wrote a document outlining five articles of clarification. They stated the following:

1.      God determined before the world that those who would be saved would believe in Christ.

2.      Jesus died for all human beings although only believers receive the benefits.

3.      Humans can do nothing good on their own and God's grace is necessary to this end.

4.      Grace is not irresistible.

5.      It is not clear yet from scripture whether those who believe can fall away.

The political battle became more pronounced over the years and so the Synod of Dort was called. It was in this meeting that a response of five points was written specifically to be worded so that the opposing group would not be able to accept any of the articles. It was these intentionally designed articles that became what we know today as Calvinism.

1.      Total depravity

2.      Unconditional election

3.      Limited atonement

4.      Irresistible grace

5.      Perseverance of the saints

With this history in mind, it is very unfair to use labels such as Calvinism and Arminianism. The development of current definitions is the result of numerous battles and intentional animosity. Calvin and Arminius would both have been very unhappy with the theologies which bear their name. While I am preparing a separate post directly addressing the traditional five points of Calvinism, I wanted to write down the story so that it is clear that such a discussion is neither pertinent nor helpful. While the doctrine of salvation should be carefully explained and defended, it is of no worth to specify and defend artificially created barriers which constrict Biblical truth rather than explain.

A Few Comments About Hymns

• I love hymns, especially really old ones.
• I don't know why "blessed" is two syllables when we sing hymns.
• The sound at the end of the word seraphim is pronounced "eeem."
• Someone wrote all the verses for a reason.
• Why don't we ever sing the "amen" at the end?
• Why is the Star Spangled Banner in the hymnal?
• (Side note) Does anyone realize that the 4th verse of the Star Spangled Banner actually says "And conquer we must when our cause it is just"? I love me some imperialism.