Job 13:6-9

6 Hear [shama`] now my reasoning [towkechah], and hearken [qashab] to the pleadings [riyb] of my lips [saphah].

7 Will ye speak [dabar] wickedly [`evel] for God ['el]? and talk [dabar] deceitfully [ramiyah] for him?

8 Will ye accept [nasa'] his person [paniym]? will ye contend [riyb] for God ['el]?

9 Is it good [towb] that he should search you out [chaqar]? or as one man ['enowsh] mocketh [hathal] another, do ye so mock [hathal] him? KJV-Interlinear

6 'Please hear my argument, And listen to the contentions of my lips. 7 'Will you speak what is unjust for God, And speak what is deceitful for Him? 8 'Will you show partiality for Him? Will you contend for God? 9 'Will it be well when He examines you? Or will you deceive Him as one deceives a man? NASB

Job puts forth the argument that people, even when they mean well, should really keep their opinions to themselves. Silence is better than foolish talk.

The bulk of misconceptions and confusion in Christianity today, and throughout history for that matter, has come from well meaning believers. Believers who have a little knowledge, and perceive themselves as having much wisdom, and are very dangerous when it comes to expressing their opinions in public.

Too often doctrine gets confused with taboos, and don't do this, and don't do that kind of stuff. Don't work on Sunday. Don't sell alcohol on Sunday. Boys and girls should not go swimming together. Don't dance on Sunday. Don't eat meat on Friday. Don't play video games. And the don't list just keeps on getting longer and longer.

Pretty soon you have a duplicate of the extensive regulations of Judaism, which virtually, in Jesus' day, became a burden on people to the extent that they could not do anything, lest they become guilty of a violation and then a criminal for the simplest of things.

And then you have those who are 'working' for God. Self appointed God representatives. They are defiant toward anyone who does not agree with them. My way or the highway, kind of attitudes. They will even threaten to bring down lightning in order to intimidate you.

Does this really happen? Of course. People have been charged with witchcraft and burned at the stake. And that is a bit extreme, but then there will be those who are ostracized socially because of peer attitude pressure. And that one is very common even in our present day. Gossip and judging can destroy a person's reputation.

Politics, public opinion, political correctness and such have used this tactic to serve their interests for a very long time.

Society of today is similar to folks in Job's time in that self-righteous opinions are freely used to advance opinions, but society of today is somewhat different in that the use of public opinion has advanced to such a degree that it attacks virtually every aspect of truth.

Politicians will go to great lengths, even treason, in order to defeat their opponents. And yet society has become so deficient in doctrine that acts in another time which would have been consider treason, are now considered to be common place, and acceptable.

You might consider this as you study the character of society as history draws closer to the Rapture and the Tribulation. Society will be at an all time low when that time arrives.

Evil will win victories, and evil will celebrate the greatest liberal pattern of thought in all of history. Evil will gloat over people of doctrine.

But evil will also succumb to its own self-destruction as well as Gods executed judgment against it.

Job tells his friends to be silent and listen to what he has to say. They are indeed silent and polite enough to not interrupt, but as we will see in the remainder of this book, they will not listen.

Today, opinionated folks won't even remain silent. They will interrupt and even try to command a conversation or disrupt an event, through their raised voice level or through their shouting, and demonstrating.

Mature believers do not need to be so vocal, nor do they feel the need to compete in a shouting match.

Truth stands on its own strength. Evil has to be forced in order to even exist.

One day, we will all stand before the Throne of Christ. That event is known as the Judgment Seat of Christ. That is the time of our individual evaluation. Then, Christ will base His evaluation on the content of your soul, not on your worldly accomplishments.

Beware the self-appointment of representing God in your own defined standards. That will not go well for you when you finally come face to face with Him .

Bible study produces spiritual growth. Spiritual growth produces responsibility. Through this alone, God is able to create a perfect world.

Self-righteousness produces evil. Evil produces abuses. Through this alone, will the world fall apart.

Look around you. Which of these two methods seems to exist in greater quantity?

Now is the time to post a prayer.