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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 Harstone @ 1:04 PM   |
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| Saddam: God's Promise Carried Out |
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 While I'm not one to gloat over the destruction of our enemies (the Bible forbids us to do that -- Proverbs 24:17,18), there's no question that this man had it coming.
I was recently reading Psalm 7, and couldn't help but think of Saddam Hussein while I read it. Here's what verses 12-17 say; see if you can see God's justice on this man while you read it:
If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword;
he has bent and readied his bow;
he has prepared for him his deadly weapons,
making his arrows fiery shafts.
Behold, the wicked man conceives evil
and is pregnant with mischief
and gives birth to lies.
He makes a pit, digging it out,
and falls into the hole that he has made.
His mischief returns upon his own head,
and on his own skull his violence descends.
I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness.
Labels: justice, middle east, pride |
| posted by Alan Harstone @ 12:29 PM |
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| Self-Esteem: Have We Been Deceived? |
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When I was training to be a pastor in the early '80s, psychology was beginning to influence seminary teaching, so much so that books were being written (The Seduction Of Christianity, The Biblical View Of Self-Esteem, The Sufficiency Of Christ, etc.) warning the evangelical world not to be seduced by this new paradigm of thinking from the world. But , sadly, those prophets got lost in the desert -- drowned out by a thirst for "new revelations" from God that would explain why we still deal with inner torment as born-again Christians. "The answer is to esteem yourself," we're told by psychologists. "You are basically good. Get back to that core truth and you will begin to have peace beyond all measure."
But is this what the Bible teaches? Let me bounce a few Scripture verses off of you to consider:
"Stop regarding man, whose breath of life is in his nostrils; for why should he be esteemed?" (Isaiah 2:22)
"Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God." (2 Corinthians 3:5)
"There is no one who does good, not even one." (Psalm 14:3)
"I say to the Lord, you are my Lord; I have no good apart from you." (Psalm 16:2)
It might be helpful at this point to lay down a definition for self-esteem. So here's a helpful one from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary: a confidence and satisfaction in oneself. Coupled with that is generally a generous helping of self-love and ego-building, according to a number of psychology sources I consulted.
But the Bible is crystal clear on this issue. Self-love is a problem, not a solution (2 Timothy 3:2); man is basically wicked and sinful, not good (Ps. 14:2); our hearts are deceitful and can't be trusted (Jeremiah 17:9); only God is good, and any good we have comes from Him, not our flesh (Ps. 16:2; Mark 10:18; Romans 7:18).
Jesus said that it is the meek and poor in spirit who will finally be blessed and at peace with God and with themselves (Matthew 5). "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore submit to God." (James 4:6-7)
The answer to our life-quest isn't to find more worth and love in ourselves, it is to find our worth and love in God.
2 Cor 11:3-4
"But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted--you may well put up with it!"
Col 2:6-10
"Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power."
Labels: deception, faith |
| posted by Alan Harstone @ 11:29 AM |
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| Lazy Christians |
| Saturday, January 03, 2009 |
 I have to admit that the first time I saw this picture I laughed myself half to death. I mean, how much more lazy does it get than this? But before we pass too much judgment on this couch potato, maybe we should examine ourselves.
How often do you make excuses not to go to church? How often do you let other people down because you've got "better things to do"? I'm sitting here at my keyboard today waiting for the remnants of our worship team to come and practice at the church. It's -30 C outside today, and I've already had phone calls from people who don't want to make the journey. They don't see the need; they aren't willing to take the risk. And I often wonder how God must feel when we act like this.
Jesus was willing to leave His throne in glory to come down and "mix it up" with men -- we just celebrated that this past Christmas. He made the journey! He was willing to take the risk! But most of us? ...... if it was a hard week at work, we'll take a "pass" on participating in church things if we can, even if it affects other people.
Jesus stood before the Jews and proclaimed the year of the Lord. He made the journey! He was willing to take the risk! But if our throat's a little sore, or our stomach's a little upset, we call in sick and cancel our Sunday School class.
Jesus endured the whips! He was willing to wear the thorns! He made the journey! He was willing to take the risk! But if it's too cold outside we aren't willing to come. And I think to myself, "no wonder the Gospel has so little impact in our culture today". No wonder people respect Muslims more than they do Christians today, because Muslims are willing to stand up and be counted; they're willing to die for the cause. But God help the church if we get the sniffles.
What's it saying if I'm not willing to crawl out of bed to serve the Lord? What's it saying if I can't take the risk on icy roads? It's saying that #1 I don't trust God to get me there and/or strengthen me, and #2 it's saying that serving the Lord just isn't worth it if I don't have all my ducks lined up in a row.
The Bible says:
"Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented-- of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. And all these......obtained a good testimony through their faith" (Heb 11:36-39)
But it seems that in our generation if we can't walk the dog with our SUV's, then it's just not worth the effort. And our churches are withering from the impact of this cold postmodern mindset.
"Oh, Lord, give us more men and women of steely and unbending faith!"
Labels: christian service, faith, love |
| posted by Alan Harstone @ 3:22 PM |
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| About Me |
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Name: Alan Harstone
Home: Saskatoon, SK, Canada
About Me: Senior Pastor
Saskatoon Evangelical Free Church
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