BROTHERS BEWARE OF "THE SHACK"!

On my recent plane flight to the Philippines I had the opportunity to read the book, "The Shack". A book I have been wanting to read due to the widespread acceptance and love it has received in the mainstream bible believing evangelical church. As I read the book, I would highlight the parts that were objectionable or down right heretical. When I was finished, there was more yellow on the pages of the book than there was black and white. Now I know it is a fiction work, but every writer who writes a fiction book, or non-fiction book has a reason and a purpose for their writing. It is not that someone just sits down and aimlessly writes a book. All authors have a target they are shooting at with their work, and this author is no different.

I am sure that one of the things the author of "The Shack" wants to get across is that God is there in the midst of tragedy and that He truly does care. Both are true and both are worth stating, but the way he brings that across is reprehensible! The story goes that the main character, "Mack" had a daughter who was abducted and murdered on a family vacation, though her body was never discovered. One day Mack gets a letter in the mailbox from God inviting him out to the shack where this all occurred. Mack decides to go and the book is basically a discussion between Mack and the Triune God.

Unfortunately God the Father is an African Woman. The Holy Spirit is an Asian Woman and Jesus is a bumbling happy go lucky middle eastern carpenter. It goes down hill from there as the Father, called Papa, though a woman, warns Mack about eating too many greens as they could give him "the trots"! The God head tells Mack that they submit to him, they come across as powerless, unknowing, unwitting and frankly not anything like the God of the Bible. Without getting into too much detail this book promotes Goddess worship, Modalism, and a Unitarian universalized view of Salvation. No one will read the Shack and find the gospel in it. There is not way of salvation, there is no Christ as the only way, in fact there is no gospel at all!

Having said that, pastors it is up to us to beware of the wolves that lurk just outside the camp of our flocks. People are reading this book by the millions and there are famous well known believers like Eugene Peterson who are comparing this book to Pilgrims Progress! Nothing could be further from the truth, and it makes me wonder if Peterson actually read the work. Whether he did or not, in fact whomever recommends this book, we must stand for truth regardless of who we end up standing against.

"The Shack" is a great example of how easy it is for the elect to be deceived, and it is a great lesson for us all as shepherds to not simply recommend or criticize a book based on someone we respects opinions. It is up to us to do the work for ourselves. We must be leaders who go to primary sources ourselves and form our own opinions and conclusions, based on what Gods Word teaches. Brothers beware of "The Shack", it will lead your people astray, and it will also give unbelievers a false sense of security all the way to Hell!