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| The Shack |
| Friday, January 16, 2009 |
 Apparently everyone's reading The Shack. And after several requests from people in my congregation, I gave it an honest try myself. I really did. But I just couldn't get in to it. I tried, and I tried, but it just didn't grip me the way it seems to have gripped so many others.
So, I gave it back to its owner, and looked up some summaries and synopses of the book. I've also read many reviews from several quarters -- most of them positive and affirming.
But here's my question: if most readers acknowledge that Mr. Young has skewed the biblical revelation of the person-hood of God, then why are we promoting it at our conferences, churches, and bookstores? Is it because we believe that we can discern the difference between good and evil, truth and deception, so we should feel free to cull the book for "its blessings" while ignoring its obvious mistakes? Is it because we don't want to be accused of throwing the baby out with the bathwater? But isn't this the same virus that affects the way we approach 14A movies and some of the other things we like to fudge on?
Here's what my Bible tells me:
1. that I should "....set no wicked thing before my eyes" (Psalm 101:3) Is there anything more wicked than misrepresenting the person-hood of God?
2. that Job was a righteous man who "...shunned evil" (Job 1:1) Shouldn't I be shunning it as well?
3. that "any one who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God....and if any one comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds." (2 John 9-11)
It couldn't be more clear to me -- I should shun this book, not embrace it. I think it's unfortunate that there are so many well-meaning Christians today who are willing to pay Mr. Young good money for a book that clearly diminishes and misrepresents God. There are plenty of books around that tell the same story of restoration, forgiveness, and relationship-healing that we find in The Shack, without reducing the glory and majesty of God. Why then do we give this man the floor?
I used to be a fan of William Barclay, that great old Bible commentator from a couple of generations ago. That is, until I discovered in his biography that he didn't believe that Christ is God. I haven't read his books since, because, as good as some of his insights can be, if he is wrong in the most important and fundamental doctrine of our faith, how can I trust him with anything else --- and why would I participate in and support him in his terrible error?
I have the same question about Mr. Young. Maybe you have an answer?
Labels: apostasy, truth |
posted by Alan @ 1:04 PM   |
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| 3 Comments: |
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you are pretty much right on in your assesment of The Shack. I even reviewed it on my blog.
The fact is that there is a lot of garbage even in christian bookstores.
Some of them at least try. Last year, Lifeway Bookstores refused to sell an issue of the Gospel Today magazine that had women pastors on the front. They didn't pull it because it had women on the front, but because they felt that the article was unbiblical. They have taken a lot of grief for it.
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Hey Alan,
Great post. Isn't it amazing how gullible we Christians can be? We'll fall for any fad that comes down the pike without so much as an ounce of discernment for no other reason then the fact that everybody's doin' it. Instead of us trying to find a baby somewhere in the bathwater, believers need to learn to shun evil. You make an excellent point.
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You need to read this: http://theshackbook.com/willie.html it is about the author. Who loves Jesus and whose life is about: "everything is about Jesus and Father and the Holy Spirit" before you judge and comment on a book that you haven't fully read or an author who you know little about.
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you are pretty much right on in your assesment of The Shack. I even reviewed it on my blog.
The fact is that there is a lot of garbage even in christian bookstores.
Some of them at least try. Last year, Lifeway Bookstores refused to sell an issue of the Gospel Today magazine that had women pastors on the front. They didn't pull it because it had women on the front, but because they felt that the article was unbiblical. They have taken a lot of grief for it.