Review of THE SHACK from Calvary Distribution
www.calvaryd.com
Once such pastor is Gayle Erwin, whose teaching DVD's I have watched at my own Calvary Chapel church, and who has this to say about The Shack:
Riveting, with twists that defy your expectations while teaching powerful theological lessons without patronizing. I was crying by page 100. You cannot read it without your heart becoming involved.Another is Tom Stipe (www.crossroadsdenver.org), who started out as a Calvary Chapel Pastor in Costa Mesa. He is also friends with the author of the book.
Gayle E. Erwin, Author The Jesus Style
He says of The Shack:
His church’s website also defends The Shack:
If someone were to ask me to draw a picture of the Trinity I would not know where to begin. Yet, Paul Young in The Shack presented through words an open door to me that allowed me to think about what it might be like to be behind the proverbial veil where God can be approached an interacted with. The idea of having a weekend retreat with the Trinity with all my own questions, doubts, frustrations and fears was frightening, intriguing and entertaining all at the same time.
I enjoyed what I experienced as I was challenged and encouraged by the content of The Shack. I wanted the people of my church to have a chance to share the experience and as Bill had done to me, I suggested that many of them read the novel.
-www.smalltownpreacher.com/2008/10/01/tom-stipe-interview/
“It has become quite obvious that as responsible shepherds we must reluctantly get involved in the fracas that has erupted as it relates to the controversial book by William P. Young entitled The Shack. While there are literally millions of people who have read the book and feel drawn towards the God of the Bible and the redemption, forgiveness and grace that accompanies such drawing, there is also a small segment of religious people who hold to the extremist and fundamentalist position that this book is heretical and very possibly from the devil himself. We believe the book to be a wonderful and very powerful tool for the purpose towards which Young intended and that is to provide a literary picture for readers to be able to see the sentiments of a loving God towards fallen, ravaged and hurting humanity.”Can you believe that? I must admit, what they have said is then true of me. I am a religious person who holds to the extremist and fundamentalist position. I believe it is called the narrow way. And I religiously believe in the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ.
-www.crossroadsdenver.org
I pray that these shepherds will see the truth.
I am posting these things, not to gossip or slander, and not as an attack, but to show that a great deception is now upon the church here in North America, and even the elect are falling for it. They are also publicly promoting and endorsing these things that are not true to God's Word, as the very heart of the gospel is being challenged and trivialized. There has never been a more important or sobering time for us to know what we believe, and what God's Word says.
Please pray for your pastor. These are incredibly perilous times.
Related info:
“The Shack” and Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale
the8thperson.wordpress.com
Update on the Shack: New Age Similarities, Popularity Continues, and Calvary Chapel Gives Official Statement
www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com
Pastor, consider carefully...
mywordlikefire.wordpress.com
Discernment in an Age of Deception
Defining the Believer's Biblical Call to Judge
by Bob DeWaay
cicministry.org
*Important “trivia” that is not such a trivial thing:
This best selling book that is ‘just fiction’ will soon be appearing in more than 30 languages around the world and also in audio versions in many other countries.
~ ~ ~
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears"
~2 Timothy 4:3~
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears"
~2 Timothy 4:3~
9 comments:
Thank you for taking the time to post on this. Like you I am an extreme fundamentalist - and I revel in the title. I have not read The Shack, but I have I heard enough respected Christians criticize its theology to know that I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole. Why waste my time reading such a controversial book, when my time would be far more profitably spent reading the Bible.
Sadly, everywhere I turn this view is not held by others, those who have not succumbed to other heresies are enamored with this book (to the extent in my church where house groups are to spend 4-6 weeks studying the book - at the expense of the Bible). Madness!
We must cling to Jesus and pray for increasing discernment for ourselves, our leaders and our fellowship.
I just stumbled upon your post and wanted to comment, as a strong Christian who has read The Shack.
While this book was a huge fad and there was much controversy, I think it is rather harsh to say that it is dangerous or causes harm to readers. It is an illustrative book to help us understand better what we can not conceive of in our minds: the Trinity and how it works together in three persons.
The best way to defend ourselves against to evil one is to read the Bible, pray and know what it is the enemy is using. If in fact the enemy is using "The Shack" as a secret weapon against us (which I doubt he is) then it is best to acquaint ourselves with it so that we can have a defense against it. Please do not judge the book based on the opinions of others, but instead prayerfully read it with a grain of salt.
Another consideration is that the enemy may not be using the contents of the book to cause problems, but instead the conflict within Christian community. If we can not be united in the Body, then it is extremely difficult to stand and defend ourselves against evil. Let's stop fighting one another, and instead prayerfully lift one another up to build a strong house for the Lord. Our fight is not against each other, it is against the evil one.
Please remember that all books written by humans must be taken with a grain of salt. It is only the Holy Bible which is above reproach, the rest will have flaws. Instead of tearing those people down, let's see how God uses everything that happens in this world for HIS glory.
Grace and peace-
A missionary in Hungary
I think you will all be surprised at how loving God will be when we are all in His presence. Everyone needs to realize that Paul Young will be standing with us all in heaven amongst the Son of Man. If God loves him with no bias then I will love him. Are you all sure that God is not using this entire situation around the world for His good? If the Shack has accomplished anything for Christ, was it not good? Or do we all need to have God's work fit within our preconceived ideas of what He needs to do? Or what He is allowed to do? Cannot God meet a muslim in his own bed at night in his dreams? And make him realize that He is the Christ? If that person does, did Christ not travel the road of his life to meet him where he is at? Does He not wrap his arms around him and hold him and love him and encourage and heal him in his walk there forward? Or does he need to move to a different city and start going to the nearest Baptist church to get things right? Who are we to say God will not meet anybody anywhere in any situation so they will become brothers and sisters in Christ under one God? If you are to love your enemy, what does that mean we are to do to those who are in Christ Jesus? Which Paul Young is amongst!!
It's not about us "getting things right" so much as being faithful to what God has said about Himself. The portrayal of the three persons of the trinity in The Shack is not consistent with what God has told us in His Word about who He is. Also, this same author of this book has publicky denied the substitionary sacrificial penal atonement of Jesus Christ on the cross, and has recommended a book filled with essays by enemies of the cross who are examining the 'alternative atonement theories', including Marcus Borg. This book is endorsed by Brian McLaren, another enemy of the cross. By endorsing this book alone, the author of The Shack has shown his true colours.
I cannot say who will be standing in heaven before the Bema Seat of Christ, but the author of the Shack believes that everyone will be there, no matter if they have believed in Jesus Christ alone for their salavation or not. But the Bible says that those who have not believed will sadly end up at the Great White Throne Judgement, having made their choice to pay for their own sins.
The author of The Shack has entered into dangerous theology. He can call it fiction as much as he likes, but people are saying it has actually changed their view of God. Unfortunately, this is a very unbiblical image of God which is leading many astray.
If you want to hear that interview I mentioned, or read that transcript, just type 'Transcript of Interview' into the searchbox in the upper left corner of this blog.
The reason I responded is I have met Paul twice now and know his heart. He is a God fearing believer that has been twisted and turned around to have meant many things he never even said. Sure, he might believe different than you on some issue that are bigger, but he stills believes that Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father. I know he believes this. I know He loves the Lord and His Son and the holy Spirit. Plus, I have never heard of who is being led astray and to what degree. The countless number of people that I know that have read the book have been challenged to not see God in a box that religion seems to put Him in. Reading the book, I can seriously say that it does not promote universalism, but has been said that it does. And the idea of God apearing in a fictional novel as a black women is pure imagination, and he admits it. I would believe that God can reach out to any human that has been damaged and touch them in a way that only God would understand to. Only God knows our inner workings and how we think and react. No 2 people are alike, yet God knows us all intimately. We must all still chose faith in Christ for salvation, but how we make that chioce and come to the realization is free reign with the Lord. Paul, in my understanding, has never crossed that line into heresy or universalism. Only that God loves us so much to meet us on our depraved level to bring us to the saving grace of Jesus Christ. He is a firm believer and will stand next to you in heaven at the Bema Seat Judgement. I know his heart and have seen it.
Better to keep your eyes on Jesus than try to see the heart of men. We cannot see Young’s heart, but Jesus said we can know them by their fruit. You may sincerely believe you see his kind heart, and no doubt he is a very sincere, kind and likeable man, but have you examined the fruit that I mentioned in my previous comment? Don’t make the very common mistake of letting yourself be blinded to the facts because of the way you feel.
20If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god;
21Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.
Psalm 44
And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God.
Luke 16:15
...for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 2 Tim 4:3
The Shack, universalism, James De Young
“After The Shack was written, the editors worked more than a year to eliminate its universalism (as they assert on their website). [The Shack author] now disavows universalism. Yet, like all universalists, he affirms that he ‘hopes’ that none will experience eternal suffering. But the critical question is this: Does universalism remain in the book? By comparing the creeds of universalism with The Shack, one discovers many tenets of universalism and other errors are implicit in the book:
1) Universalism subjugates God’s justice to his love. The creed of 1878 asserts that God’s attribute of justice is ‘born of love and limited by love.’ The novel asserts that God ‘cannot act apart from love’ (pg. 102, 191), that God ‘chose the way of the cross where mercy triumphs over justice because of love’ and that God did not choose ‘justice for everyone’ (pg. 164-65)” –from an article by James De Young
De Young also writes, “Who is [The Shack] author? For more than a dozen years I have known William P. Young. We have discussed much theology in a ‘think tank.” More than four years ago [the author] embraced universal reconciliation and defended it on several occasions. He claimed that universalism changed his life and his theology.”
Source:
mywordlikefire.wordpress.com
I do not have an opinion about The Shack. I do not know the author or the pastor you are speaking about. I am thoroughly disturbed by your post. I cannot even begin to tell you how arrogant, rude, and self righteous your entire post was. If that behavior is preached at your church then please tell me so I NEVER come there. Your comments are the reason people turn away from the church and God. Who gave you permission to act this way?
Dear Annie,
In all humbleness and respect, if you do not have an opinion about The Shack, don't know the author or the pastor you are speaking about, may I ask how you can be thoroughly disturbed by my post? Or how you can say how arrogant, rude, and self righteous my entire post was if you know nothing about the subject matter? 'The Shack' is a book that misrepresents who God is and promotes an unbiblical (and heretical) message of universalism. The author said that he doesn't believe in a major biblical doctrine of the Christian faith. Pastors of churches who believe the Bible should not be promoting such a book. This is the truth, not self righteousness.
Prayerful discernment is preached at my church, but sadly, not every church. This blog exposes some of the false teachings which have, unfortunately, made their way into the church, as Jesus said would happen.
I pray that you will seek God and not look at religion or people, but seek him through His Son, and His Book - the living Word, the truth, the way, and the Life. If my blog disturbs you, then please don't read it. It's geared towards Christians who are in, or have left, churches that are compromising and not being true to God's Word.
I apologize if you view this as acting unbecoming as a Christian, but all Christians are instructed to be discerning and examine everything, which is all I have tried to do by discussing this alarmingly false book called The Shack (that many other Christians are very alarmed at). There is a spirit of deception at work here that comes from the power of darkness - that wants to deceive, not only the whole world, but even Christians, if it were possible, and some are actually falling for the lie.
Please understand, churches are not perfect, Christians are not perfect, but we must all strive to obey the Word of God and love Him first. If you've been hurt by a church or by Christians, please don't turn away from God. And please don't fall for the lie.
I pray that you will find peace, grace and mercy in the arms of God.
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