From: stephen@def.bae.co.uk (Stephen Paynter)
Subject: Preaching Job
Reply-To: stephen@def.bae.co.uk
Organization: British Aerospace (Dynamics) Ltd
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 93 13:30:23 GMT

 ********* Christianity Spoiler *****************
 
 and maybe
 
 ********* Irrelavancy Spoiler *****************
 
 
 In a previous thread, TJ complained about lack of acceptance of people with
 long term problems (like some Sexual Abuse Survivors) in many evangelical churches 
 (my paraphrase). Ed responded by saying, Job should be preached in Churches more,
 (again my paraphrase).
 
 	For those of you who don't know, Job is a book in the Old Testament part
 of the Bible about a godly rich man, who loses his family, wealth, and health, when
 God lets Satan attack him. Three friends arrive to try to console him, and end
 up blaming him for the disaster that befell him. Job rejects that interpretation, but
 struggles to understand why he has suffered, and is suffering. His faith, rather than
 being a help, adds to his anguish, as it means that there has to be a reason for his 
 suffering, it's not pure chance. Job never gets an answer to his question, but when 
 God speaks to him, he realises that he doesn't have the right to demand that God
 justify himself.
 
 	Anyway, I thought about Ed's comment and I realised that he was right. And as 
 it happened that I was preaching at a church I used to worship at this last weedend,
 so I prepared a sermon on Job. (I'm invited to preach from  time to time - it's not
 my job or anything.)
 
 	Anyway, I was amazed at how "helpful" people found it. How liberating people 
 found it to hear that your faith may make things worse and not better; how disasters 
 are not because of sin, and indicators of divine displeasure. And how a church mustn't
 judge if someone isn't immediately 'healed': it is God who heals or not. It does not
 reflect the person's faith; holiness;  ... or anything else!!
 
 
 
 	I apologise if anyone feels that this was an inappropriate posting for ASAR.
 It sort of followed on from previous threads, and I felt that it may help some
 Survivors and Survivor SOs who are struggling with their faith. I'm prepared to
 listen to criticism, but suggest that most of it is sent via e-mail
 
 
 	Strength and peace to all,
 	
 			Stephen
 
 	 	

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S.E. Paynter, BSc, AMIEE                | "This must be a Tuesday, I never
Applied Research Software Engineer      | could get the hang of Tuesdays"
British Aerospace Defence Ltd.,         |                     Douglas Adams
Dynamics Division,                      |======================================
FPC 450, P.O. Box 5, Filton,            | These views are mine and do not
Bristol, BS12 5HD, England.             | necessarily reflect those of my
                                        | employer, nor yours either! Of course
Email:  stephen.paynter@def.bae.co.uk   | I'd change my mind if someone 
Telephone: (UK) 0272 316108             | demonstrated a causal relationship; 
Fax: 0272 318092                        | no point in being intransigent about
                                        | these things. 
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