Out our Way: Yaze! A Modern Job Speaks!

Job 19:26-27 - "I know that my redeemer lives!"

Out our way, we all know the old saying, "Ain't a horse that can't be rode; ain't a cowboy can be throwed." And that is pretty much true for all walks of life. Everybody gets tossed now and then. But sometimes it seems some end up "sunning their moccasins" more than others. If into each life some rain must fall - some of us end up under a waterfall! I can certainly testify to that!

If you regularly read these columns, you know that I have a real problem with what I call "Medicine Show Preachers" - all entertainment and charisma but no real depth. A watered-down "gospel" in which they indicate that God has a magic cure all for "true believers" (i.e. folks who donate regularly to their personal fortunes). Ultimately the pitch is: "If you truly believe, you will be protected from all of life's ills."

Conversely, some even suggest if you suffer any misfortunes, illness or sorrows, it's your own fault. You didn't believe hard enough.

Strangely, while claiming to be experts on the Holy Scripture, they never seem to have heard of Job. Basically, it tells the trials and tribulations of a man of God who lost family, fortune and health, was deserted by his wife and accused by supposed friends and fellow believers of unfaithfulness to God because of all his trials. Like the modern "prosperity medicine show" preacher, they declared it was all his own fault.

"Good people don't suffer. And the faithful never face trials and tribulation. If you just believe and trust in God, your road will always be smooth and easy." The Book of Job refutes that theology and, the darker the world grows, the more Job's faith stands out.

When my younger son taught music on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation at Hays and Lodge Pole, the youth taught him the word "yaze" I never got an actual translation, but the gist of it is basically the same as "Bull Hockey" (or whatever similar translation you chose). The Book of Job is the account of a righteous man who, despite all his tribulations, never quit on God and never believed God had quit on him. It is saying "Yaze!" to the lie that good people don't suffer.

As many of you know, these past 20 some years have been for me, as with Job, times of one trial and tribulation after another. While I intend to keep writing the column and the daily posts, I am hoping to challenge a lot of pop culture bad theology by sharing my journey as well as Job's in the dark times.

Eventually, for Job, things turned around and the dark cave of despair became a tunnel into new life and hope. For me, I am still in the cave ... and maybe you are as well. Maybe Job is the message we need right now.

Job was assured by the world that the cave was endless and, as his wife abandoned him she suggested he "Curse God and die!" His so-called friends condemned him for bringing it all on himself through lack of faith and righteousness, and the Devil laughed at Job's suffering. Sound familiar?

I don't know the proper Hebrew for Job's response, but as I read his refusal to quit on God despite everyone else's claim God had quit on him, the word "yaze" comes to mind. And God was pleased.

Be blessed and be a blessing!

Brother John

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The Rev. John Bruington is the retired pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Havre. He now lives in Colorado, but continues to write "Out Our Way." He can be reached for comment or dialogue at [email protected].