For he has oppressed and neglected the poor;
He has seized a house which he has not built. (v. 19)

All of Job’s friends appeared to care about him, but they revealed what was truly in their hearts from the beginning. They had no understanding of God or His purpose in all of creation. Job was also in the dark, yet he began to question the reason behind his suffering.

Many Christians today have little understanding of God, even though they actively participate in church activities, including attending services every Sunday. Some go twice, or even three times. Yet they still do not grasp the purpose of creation. In their minds, God is merely a supernatural power who grants them wealth, health, and happiness on earth. They want to believe in heaven and eternal life, but deep down, they cannot. Their obsession with wealth, family, and health reveals that they believe this life on earth is all there is.

Zophar’s logic applies only to those who do not know the kingdom of God. The words of God have no place in their hearts. Most of them do not even have a favorite Bible verse. Some may quote this or that, but they have no real understanding of what the Bible teaches. The most condemnable, however, are the theologians, ministers, and elders.

Jesus answered and said to him, “You are the teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you people do not accept our testimony. (John 3:10-11)

I do not believe in any minister who gets involved in politics. Politics is for the general population; Christianity is for a small number of people—the remnants of God. Those who think they can turn the world into a Christian world are plainly mad. They have no understanding of God. They are merely busybodies, going from place to place, enticing others.

When Jesus came, He found that the Israelites had no one to explain God’s words.

Seeing the crowds, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and downcast, like sheep without a shepherd. (Matthew 9:36)

If all my sufferings were the result of my own actions, I would be living in fear. I would constantly question my thoughts and behavior. But God has freed us from the bondage of sin and death. Yet churches continue to teach that we can lose our salvation because of our actions or thoughts. They overemphasize the law and are filled with hypocrites who believe they are keeping it.

On the other hand, there are people who claim to be Christians and yet commit all sorts of crimes openly. Hypocrites and criminals have the same father—the devil. That is why hypocrites cover up the sins of criminals within the church. They are partners in crime. Hypocrites are criminals, and criminals are hypocrites.

But they cried out all together, saying, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas!” (He was one who had been thrown into prison for a revolt that took place in the city, and for murder.) (Luke 23 :18-19)

Evil people rejoiced when Christ suffered and died.

“He saved others; He cannot save Himself! He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him. HE HAS TRUSTED IN GOD; LET GOD RESCUE Him now, IF HE TAKES PLEASURE IN HIM; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” And the rebels who had been crucified with Him were also insulting Him in the same way. (Matthew 27:42-44)

Job went through great suffering because God wanted to teach him that righteousness does not come from works. Job’s three friends accused him of things he had never done. They, too, believed that righteousness came through one’s works.

Today, churches are not teaching about the Kingdom. They abandoned sound doctrine a long time ago. True righteousness comes from faith, which is given by God. We believe in God, who sent His only begotten Son to become human like us—yet without sin—to offer Himself as a ransom for our sins and to rise again, giving us new life in Him. There is no other righteousness.

He who was delivered over because of our wrongdoings, and was raised for our justification. (Romans 4:25)