C. I. Scofield's take on (THE BOOK OF JOB)

[@JDsVarietyChannel]

Good study! Much wisdom hidden in the book of Job. Enjoyed the tour through the characters. You got me thinking toward the end with the "secret things" . I have been thinking about this recently, but from a different angle. So many teachers out there spend their lives putting words in God's mouth, speaking error authoritatively as if on God's behalf. I think pride has been normalized in a lot of preaching, when someone approaches scripture as if they fully understand everything they preach on. The quality of a teacher is not solely based on their positions (unless they're blatantly heretical) but rather based on how they present themselves, realizing they're on a journey of learning while they teach, and remaining humble and not getting in over their head. I think one of the most troubling trends that came from Protestantism is the idea of the authoritative preacher. Certainly when proclaiming the basics of the gospel to the lost (and calling for repentance), one should speak with power and authority. But if you authoritatively preach every doctrinal interpretation you hold of scripture in Christian gatherings as fact, then you also make God a liar with every error that comes out of your mouth. To me that is horrifying, and strikes the fear of the Lord in my soul! This is a widespread problem. I noticed it's particularly heavy within the reformed view (which is why I'm passionate about confronting the hypocrisy within it), but it's also prominent in many groups that use the heavily animated preaching style (groups which not surprisingly are downstream from Protestantism) . Over time when I realized there was no preaching in the early church assemblies, it made sense. Preaching (declaring the good news of the gospel) is for the lost. So why would saved people preach to other saved people? It was never intended to be in Christian assembly, only teaching. Back to my initial point, I think this arrogance is so commonplace because it's tempting to place intellectual knowledge as the highest form of understanding. Been guilty of it myself like you admitted to also. The moment you think you're the master of solving "secret things" you've strayed from the path into pride. Learning is good, and we should grow in doctrinal understanding, but the real test is in our love, obedience, humility, etc.... It appears many of Job's friends were the theological types that had everything figured out, and were so sure of themselves they didn't have a problem calling Job a liar essentially. Shows that throughout history people are the same, we just have more gadgets now. Didn't see this parallel with modern times my last time through Job, so thanks for the study. :)

[@understandingtruth10]

@@JDsVarietyChannel Yes the secret councils of God, “As the heavens are higher than the earth so are my thoughts higher than your thoughts declares the Lord.” We can only speculate, and a good theologian understands speculation is only speculation; but somebody out there has it right. John Calvin spoke with such confidence he’s either right or in trouble, lol. For me I just have a great comfort knowing everything‘s been determined by God, logically like Martin Luther and Calvin argued it would fall of necessity if he truly is omniscient and I believe he is. And I would argue the reformed views that it’s not by contingency but determined. I just find peace there but, The Holy Spirit is always telling me I’m not a robot, sometimes I think I want to be a robot so I can’t mess things up. lol The two biggest problems I have with God are the idea of the wicked burning for eternity, it just seems like complete overkill. But I believe my Bible it just makes me sad. I suppose even a really terrible person might only should burn for a few thousand years. But what do I know! The other I have a real problem with double predestination, you could make a good argument for it with scripture but it just seems so far from the loving character of God. But I believe the Bible whatever it says so if it says the wicked will burn forever and ever and I guess that’s what God‘s going to do I try not to think about it. And concerning double predestination well the Bible never makes mention of God having a book of death with peoples names written in. He tells Moses that the wicked will be blotted out of his book and king David says let the wicked be blotted out of the book of the living. But if I start going down that path that God for-knows nothing by contingency but for seas and purposes all things according to his immutable eternal will, a theology like double predestination could exist. Somethings we just can’t fully know unless we say we believe this or that and then we could be wrong. Anyways i’m heading off to bed now thanks for the comment JD.