"Then the LORD said to Satan,
'Have you considered my servant Job?

There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.'"
Job 1:8

Job

n my conversation with Hank Hanegraaff, he basically said that no one in the history of the world has lived even a day without sin. I said that was not necessarily true, and quoted Job 1:8. There was immediately a lot of intensity in Hanks voice as he denied this biblical truth. The obvious reason why Hank became so agitated is because in his Book Christianity in Crisis (chapter 8), he actually defends Job, The Faith teachers had accused Job of sin, because he didn't fit with their theology. As Part of Hank's defence, he states:

"When forced to see that no less an authority than God Almighty says Job was upright and blameless, Copeland claims God was merely making a positive confession. If this were true, God would not only be a deceiver, but he would also be self-deluded."⁽¹⁾

Obviously, Hank is wrong in one of these views. The question is, which one-and will he admit it? In his book he defended Job against those who would accuse him of sin but, when talking to me he himself accused Job of sin. The Faith teachers had accused Job of sin, but Hank said no Job was blameless. Then at another time he accuses everyone of sin, and makes the comment that "blameless" doesn't mean that he never sinned. Hank may be inconsistent, but fortunately the language of the Bible in this regard is plain.

While I would not say that Job had never sinned, I would assert that he was blameless for some unspecified period of time. Hank was right when he stated that Job was blameless, this proves that suffering is not necessarily a result of  sin despite the accusation of Job's "friends." Satan had accused Job of serving God for selfish reasons. He taunted God by saying that if He would stretch his hand out against Job, Job would surely curse him. Job never did. Yes, he did end up repenting of things he said in the course of the trial, but at the beginning he was still blameless and in the end he was restored.

Hank's response to me seemed to assume that if he could demonstrate that Job had committed a sin at any time it would destroy my position. This is not the case, Job might have committed many sins in his life; he was not "sinless." However his conduct was blameless for a period of time.

There are two things that we can learn from Job. First of all, he is an example of one who didn't sin everyday, and this despite the fact that Hank believes this feat to be impossible. Furthermore, the sin he did commit was very specific: he obscured "God's counsel." This seems to be Hank's conclusion: Job sinned-I have to sin. If this proves that we have to sin then it would also prove that we have to obscure God's counsel. Noah's sin would prove we have to get drunk, and David's sin would prove that we have to commit adultery and murder.

I acknowledge that in the course of his trial, Job did sin. The question is, why did God record this? Hank would say God recorded this to show that we have to sin. He would imply that, if Job did, obviously we have to. However the bible says that God recorded it so that we could learn from it: that we could learn what we should and should not do. I would choose this position because it is consistent with the Bible while Hanks is not. 1 Corinthians 10 states that God recorded the sins and judgments of those in the Old Testament as examples for us of what not to do. We can also further note that in context Paul was careful to note that God will always provide a way of escape in our temptations.

"For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud, and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert. Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: 'The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry.' We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did-and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. We should not test the Lord, as some of them did-and were killed by snakes. And do not grumble, as some of them did-and were killed by the destroying angel. These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."
(1 Cor 10:1-13 emphasis added)

The question is who will you follow? Will you follow the example of wickedness shown in the desert, the example of theological confusion in Job, or the example of Christ in the  righteousness by which he has redeemed us.  God recorded these sins for a redemptive purpose, but unfortunately some use it for a destructive purpose.

You Can't Have It Both Ways.

In my conversation with Hank, he was being completely inconsistent with his own published statements. I encourage you to look at chapter eight in his book wherein he defends Job very eloquently. It is unfortunate to see that Hank himself is willing to distort the scriptures when convenient. This is nowhere more plain then here. The fact that Job obscured God's counsel is no excuse for Hank to do the same. In writing this, I fear that the Faith Teachers could misuse this information; but we are each responsible only for ourselves. If someone loves truth they won't misuse it, they will find it.

1. Hank Hanegraaff, Christianity in Crisis, (Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House, 1993), 263. See also the Crisis tapes.

"He still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason." Job 2:3b

Job Defended
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Job Accused
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"[You asked,] `Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?' Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. ["You said,] `Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.' My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore, I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes."
Job 42:3-6