The Shack Complete Discussion

I thought Casey’s presentation, comments and positions were right on target! I so appreciated his passion and conviction, as well as his spiritual perspective on this book. I believe one of the biggest problems facing the American Chuch is a lack of clear Biblical knowledge learned from reading the scriptures in a descerning manner. Many “Christians” in the U.S. and other more prosperous countries are so inured in their comfort zones that they find reading the Bible to be either too taxing intellectually or they simply don’t wish to be rocked out of that comfort zone. God never says in His Word that life will be easy once we accept His Son as Lord and Saviour. In fact, it is just the opposite.

Another point Casey made in particular I heartily agreed with is that reading a fictionalized account of who the trinity is, is dangerous. I love a good fantasy/fiction/scifi novel anytime I can get one however, the Bible is the truth and should not be diluted or bastardized in any way. There are very many Christians who are not yet mature in Christ enough to discern the difference, or who can be confused by false teachings. I have had several friends either fall away from the truth completely or fall prey to false doctrines because the false teaching “fit” them better, or they thought the false doctrine showed a more all incompassing loving God than portrayed in scripture.

It is also obvious that the author, as pointed out by Casey and Jim (I believe) had a problem with scripture. My question to the author (and others who write spiritual fiction) is: if he could write so stirringly, why not just tell the Truth as the Truth? Why twist it? While C.S. Lewis may have fictionalized some doctrinal issues (The Screwtape Letters), I don’t remember Lewis ever twisting them or representing them falsely. Guess I’ve said quite enough…however –

A drop of sewage in a vat of wine still ruins the wine.