Theology Reigns... or Rains

I’ve stated numerous times I am no theologian…nor do I really care to be. That said, sometimes there are Christian tenets or doctrines that seems to disrupt the body of Christ and take off like they have a life of their own. I must comment...

Just ask someone if they’ve read “The Shack”. If they have… oooohhh, I’m telling you; you will get an earful of either the person loving it or thinking its sacrilege. I happen to be one of those rare persons right in the middle that thought it somewhat entertaining in its approach, but certainly wasn’t offended in any way. It’s a book. It was written with children reading it in mind. I don’t believe William P. Young had malice in his heart or delusions of Christian grandeur running through his head when he wrote it.

As most Christians will attest, understanding the totality of the relationship we have with our Holy Father can be daunting, testing, and even quite confusing at times. This author chose to take a fantasy approach to illustrate the qualities, personalities and characteristics that would help explain the holy relationship we can have as Christians.

Was he 100% completely theologically correct... probably not. I don’t know of many respected pastors, or anyone else for that matter, that would make such an absolute claim. He simply wanted to illustrate concepts in a way people could wrap their minds around.

Let’s face it…we do it all the time. How many of you Christian parents out there ever asked your kids, “Do you want to accept Jesus into your heart?” Would you be offended if I said you were being unbiblical asking that question? I have yet to find anywhere in the Bible that uses that particular word picture, but we use this illustration all the time to help people conceptualize the relationship. Wouldn’t it be a shame if we were labeled “blasphemer” every time we shared our faith in that manner.

Maybe I’m just too non-confrontational by nature… but I do know for a fact that Satan is laughing his ass off over the divisiveness this has caused Christians. He doesn’t care how it happens; whether or not it’s sound doctrine or a bunch of baloney. All he cares about is getting us to take our focus off of Christ and on to anything else.

Go ahead and read The Shack. Go ahead and take a stand on whether or not you liked it. But for heaven’s sake, let’s not get so embroiled in the way this guy expressed what he believed into a theological debate that takes our eyes off the prize. We’re better than that. Share your faith however you need to share it and spread the gospel as best you know it... but for your own spiritual sanity, don’t let Satan get a foothold on this.

Greg Morton
© August 25, 2008