Infallible Friends

Job. Poor guy.

One of the remarkable things about his story is the treatment he receives from his so called "friends". His friends are essentially guilty of judgment. I often misspell this word when I first type it because I tend to place the e after the g for that is what it is - the act of being a judge. The problem with that is that without a court (or for that matter, for those who are not omniscient), who can rightly judge all the issues surrounding any given situation? Even our own American court systems are not infallible. They are comprised of unknowing, sinful creatures, sometimes of questionable intention, who (we hope) try to do their best to seek and find justice.

Job didn't really stand a chance. With divine beings and members of the Divine Council playing tiddlywinks with his life, friends who judge, cutting him down and breaking his faithful spirit, it's no wonder he cries for a redeemer. But here is where he went wrong: the Law of Fairness does not supersede God. God himself is the standard of justice. He rules by his own morality, perfect in every way. His actions are always fair, even if we don't understand them. Why? Because on the chess board of life, we can only see our square. We have no idea what's transpiring in C6 when we are hanging out in F2. God sees the whole picture. We see our closest enemies, and sometimes allies.

Unfortunately, the sinfulness of Job's friends - their judgmental attitude - make Job's suffering all the worse. He moves from faithfulness in God (c6-7) to self pity (c9-10) to disbelief (c12-14) to a sense of abandonment and a plea for justice (c16-17) to a cry for a redeemer and a lashing to his friends reminding them that they too will be judged (c19) to a final plea of innocence that is peppered with a sort of clarity recognizing something his friends do not: sometimes the innocent do suffer (21). That last bit I imagine made the isolation worse because it seems Job feels as if no one else understands that tidbit of theology. And that's just the first two cycles of abuse he takes from these so called "friends".

With friends like that, who needs enemies?

Clergy should spend time with Job every few months to be reminded of the consequences of a judgmental attitude towards others. I have witnessed in my decade plus of ministry hearts broken, spirits crushed, careers destroyed and even lives ended because of judgment by others. In some cases, had the person simply had one person in their life who refrained from judgment, they may be alive today.

When in grade school we were given the extraordinary task of reading two books of the bible. This was a risqué assignment as Catholics were not encouraged to do such reading without the close supervision of a trained priest. We spent over two months - two hours every day - studying Job. It was one of the most grueling, depressing activities I recall from 8th grade. It was also one of the activities I appreciate most in my adult life.

Without a deep appreciation for suffering without a seemingly just cause I may not be able to compose this entry today. For I too have been subject to unfair judgment and if it were not for the care and compassion of three clergy who spent much time with Job, I may not be standing here today.

With friends like those, I have no enemies.

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