Two Roads through the Ash Heap: A Participatory Study of Job
The participatory study method emphasizes listening to different voices and viewpoints as you study scripture. By comparing what others see and hear, we are better able to test our own ideas and broaden our understanding of the text. Accurate comparison, however, requires looking for both differences and similarities. If we only list differences, we see subjects as radically distinct; if we only list similarities, they look much the same.
There are a variety of interpretations of the book of Job. To facilitate a deeper study, Energion Publications offers two books that approach this ancient text from very different theological starting points. By looking at where these authors diverge and where they converge, we can find a richer message and application for our own lives.
Contrasting Theological Perspectives
These two works—Bruce G. Epperly’s Finding God in Suffering and Larry Dixon’s With Friends Like These…—approach the Book of Job from diametrically opposite theological starting points.
| Feature | Bruce G. Epperly (Finding God…) | Larry Dixon (With Friends…) |
| Theological Framework | Process Theology: Emphasizes a God of persuasion who suffers with us but does not determine all events. | Evangelical/Conservative: Emphasizes the historicity of the text, the sovereignty of God, and doctrinal accuracy. |
| Nature of God | Non-Coercive: God acts through persuasion and relationship. God’s power may be limited by “pockets of chaos” in reality. | Sovereign: God issues the challenge to Satan and sets the limits on evil. Suffering is “appointed” or “granted” by Him. |
| Genre of Job | Parabolic/Literary: Job is a “wisdom teacher” and the story is an “adventure of ideas” rather than strict history. | Historical Fact: Argues Job was a real man in a real place with real children, citing cross-references in Ezekiel and James. |
| Cause of Suffering | Randomness & Chaos: Pain can be attributed to “natural evils” and chance rather than God’s specific will. | Testing & Spiritual Warfare: Suffering is a “celestial challenge” allowed by God to prove faith. |
| The Restoration | Skeptical: Views the “happy ending” as “Hallmark movie” style that may not reflect real-life restoration. | Literal: Treats the epilogue as historical fact where God literally doubled Job’s fortune. |
Converging Pastoral Concerns
It is fascinating that two authors with such divergent theologies converge significantly on pastoral practice. While they disagree on why suffering happens, they are in near-total agreement on how we should respond to it. Both authors use Job’s friends as the primary negative example, forming a “pastoral alliance” on several key points:
- The Ministry of Presence: Both agree that the best thing Job’s friends did was show up and remain silent initially. Epperly praises the “virtue in silence” , while Dixon notes that sitting for seven days without speaking was a profound act of comfort.
- Condemnation of “Blaming the Victim”: Both vehemently reject “retribution theology”—the idea that a specific tragedy is a punishment for a specific sin. Epperly calls this “theological malpractice” , and Dixon warns against “weaponizing” theology against loved ones.
- Counseling as a Dangerous Profession: Both warn that well-meaning religious advice can be destructive. Epperly suggests theological counsel should follow the Hippocratic Oath (“first do no harm”) , while Dixon describes bad counsel as getting “theologically mugged.”
- Rejection of the Prosperity Gospel: Both advise believers to abandon the expectation that faithfulness guarantees material wealth. Epperly calls it a “crass” barter system, and Dixon warns against “health and wealth gospel nonsense.”
Conclusion: Choosing Your Guide
If you are considering a study on the book of Job, or on the topic of suffering as a part of life, consider putting these two books side-by-side. Whether you are looking for a rigorous biblical defense of God’s sovereignty (Dixon) or a meditative companion that finds God in the midst of chaos (Epperly), studying both allows you to participate in the “adventure of ideas” that the book of Job invites.+2
These books are available directly from Energion Publications, with quantity discounts available for study groups.
For a suggested study plan using both books, see Study Guide: Perspectives on Job.
