Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Job 1.1 and Invocation of Saints in Prayers



Job 1.1

1:1 ανθρωπος τις ην εν χωρα τη αυσιτιδι ω ονομα ιωβ και ην ο ανθρωπος εκεινος αληθινος αμεμπτος δικαιος θεοσεβης απεχομενος απο παντος πονηρου πραγματος

א אִישׁ הָיָה בְאֶרֶץ עוּץ, אִיּוֹב שְׁמוֹ; וְהָיָה הָאִישׁ הַהוּא, תָּם וְיָשָׁר וִירֵא אֱלֹהִים--וְסָר מֵרָע....


1 In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil.

Invoke Mary as an intercessor? As a mediatrix? Or, call on other saints during prayers? And say nothing to others about it? Or fail to confess the sole mediation of Christ alone? Or, fail to confess justification by faith alone? Deny Paul in Romans on total depravity? Deny definite atonement?

At what point did Mr. Job ever invoke a departed saint?

As Misters Duncan (ACNA) Iker (ACNA), Ackerman (ACNA), Sutton (REC), Riches (REC), Morse (REC), Grote (REC), Hewitt (Diocese of the Holy Cross), Haverland (Anglican Catholic Church), Virtue (Virtueonline), Grunsdorf (APA), Mashburn (Franciscan ACNA), and all SSC-men from Nashotah House tolerate and advocate?

I like the Septuagint's brief and dynamic expansion on the Hebrew. It is a brief enlargement that gets at the sense of the Hebrew verb, "shun, hate, abhor:" απεχομενος απο παντος πονηρου πραγματος, a slight amplification on וְסָר מֵרָע

That is, Job “kept himself from all-things-evil” or “he kept himself from every evil matter.” Job "withdrew" from all-things-evil. The English is succinct like the Hebrew. The sense is evident in all three versions.

The English is Job “shunned evil.”

There ARE THINGS TO SHUN. Soothsaying, necromancy, and speaking to the departed above is one such thing “to shun.” Without repentance (and don't hold your breath), that "shunning" necessarily involves not just ideas, but people.

 
This does not mean we do not talk with them; it does not mean we refuse to read their literature; it does not mean intellectual retreat; it does not mean refusal of Samaritan charity, love and kindness; it does not entail harshness or contempt. Love is not compromised;  Jesus has given us His sovereign orders.
 
However, it does mean that leaders get no place at the theological table; it means their "credentials" get pulled without repentance and without works befitting repentance; without repentance, it means they do not minister in the pulpit, at the baptismal font or at the Table of our Lord.  It means discipline of doctrine. 

It means courage, honor, integrity, and confidence; without discipline we see cowardice, dishonor, failure of integrity, and wimpery.

The ACNA pays a very high price for allowing these things;  they can fool the simple, but not those who read.

Job "shunned" evil or "kept himself back from all sorts of evil."  May it be so, especially for those who sport titles or  hold positions of leadership. 

Thank you.  We shall see Mr. Job one day.  He's given excellent "guidance and leadership by example."  LBE = "leadership by example," an old Marine concept.

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