September 11

(Written by Travis Steinmetz)

Job 11-14

If only the preachers of the prosperity gospel would read Job. Job's friends were preaching this prosperity gospel to him as he faced suffering. They were saying, "If something is wrong in your life, then there is a disconnect in your heart from God. You heart is not right." In turn, Job said that suffering happens to all, not just those who are caught in the trap of sin. Think back in our readings throughout this year. Did all of the Israelites follow other gods? Did all of them turn their hearts from God? Since there were people like Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, I would say that there were still some righteous among them. People suffer for other people's sin. 

Eleven years ago, this nation was attacked and nearly 3000 people were killed. The point could be argued that our nation's greed and our dependence on our wealth brought on the act of terrorism. Even if that is or is not the case, my point here is, "did all of those 3000 people deserve to die?" Even if 9/11 was somehow a punishment for our nations idolatry, we're all 3000 of those people caught up in it? Were there no people on those planes or in those towers who were following after God? Were all of their families bowing down to the money idols? Suffering is not only for the guilty. Suffering is something that we all will have to deal with at one point or another, and through suffering we are made stronger, built up for the task that God has planned for us. 

I was at a worship night in Trumbull on Sunday. Kathryn Scott was leading us in worship. One of the stories she told was particularly touching. Her sister was pregnant with a baby girl, and when the doctors did a scan at 20 weeks, they found out that there was something terribly wrong. Her sister carried the baby to term and then this beautiful baby girl was born into this world, but part of her brain was formed outside of her skull, and parts of her brain were missing. The baby died within 15 days. The family was devastated. Why all this pain? Was it because they were far from God? Was it because of something they had done? Suffering happens to good people. I think that suffering is sometimes there to test our response. In the story with this baby, there was a lot of pain, but through it all, the parents did not doubt the love of God. They trusted in God's will for them and they praised Him throughout the storm. In the story of Job, even though his world had collapsed around him, he did not blame God, he did not turn away and curse the Sovereign One, but he did ask why. He did get frustrated and vent his anger. Sometimes there is a clear cut reason for our suffering, sometimes there is not. God just wants us to understand that He is still there, and still in control, and even if things don't turn out the way we want them to, God is still Creator, and He is still loving and good.