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I admit to being a bit perturbed here about some issues popping up over a certain book that has now become a movie. Nobody has to go see it, endorse it, or approve of it. People are free to question the theology, in fact, I really approve of that kind of thing. Discernment is a work of truth and beauty.
I am also the first one to step in line and defend the Fatherhood of God, the Divine patriarchy, the complementary nature of the masculine and feminine. I think there is so much truth to be found there, so much healing, so much order suddenly coming to our chaos when we embrace that concept, and these things lead me to totally reject the notion of “Mother God.” However, I’m certainly not going to condemn anyone who reaches for the more feminine face of God, because I have no idea where they have walked, what God is speaking to them. Ultimately God exists outside of our concepts of gender anyway. He is above and beyond and greater than our own biology. We need to stop navel gazing God.
The very nature of the trinity should open up our minds to the idea that while I certainly believe in the masculine face of God, God is even bigger and beyond that rather limited human, biological ability to perceive Him. Notice I said “Him.” I truly do endorse the Fatherhood of God.
Jesus Christ, a man, but so much more, is our human face of God, given to us in part so we could fit the watermelon concept of God into our pea brains.
Jesus Christ who scandalously curled Himself up in a teen mom, was born in a stable, slept in manger, and spent His life in poverty and service to others, should not be limited to our human perceptions of what is proper and appropriate Godly-behavior. We did not expect to find the King of Kings among the manure, sour milk rags, and humanity’s mess, and yet that’s exactly where we found Him.
God is full of surprises, scandalous, shocking, offensive even. The cross is offensive to far more than our delicate sensibilities about what Godly behavior is supposed to look like. It was a brutal, humiliating, painful, vulnerable, sacrifice, made on our behalf. It was not what one would expect of a King, but as He said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
A King who would call us friends, pretty shocking and out of the ordinary. What is man that you are mindful of him?
God Himself has many names in the bible, He portrays Himself in parables and allegories, He speaks of pulling us into the comfort of his wings, of warming us like baby chicks. God is not a chicken or an angel, nor is He really a sweet babe in a manger, but He gifted us with all those images to bring us into closer relationship with Him.
So, those of you who would be horrified, offended, outraged by the fact that God may appear to someone as a black woman, really need to re-examine that, take a hard look at what you are saying about yourself, your God, and the world around you. It’s an allegory, not a doctrinal decree.
There was a black woman long ago when I was a child. Her name was Louise and she added an “er” to every thing she said. She wore house slippers 24/7. No, she wasn’t God, but I saw the face of Christ in her in ways I never saw it in anyone else. He words, her face were all I had to hang onto for many years.
Every time I have wrestled with faith, every time I have struggled to believe that God is good, He has whispered to me, remember when I sent you Louise? Louise simply loved me as Christ loved her and it changed everything.
No theology, no doctrine, no book, no wagging little pharistical fingers, could ever do what Louise did. She simply put a human face on the love of Christ and showed me He was real. Those who think a black woman can’t do that or an Asian woman, or a woman at all, need to ask themselves some serious questions. All is not well with your soul.
Janet said:
I enjoyed the book and look forward to seeing the movie! Nice post! 🙂
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atimetoshare.me said:
You ate so brace. I admire your tenacity.
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atimetoshare.me said:
Lol autocorrect 😜. You are so brave.
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atimetoshare.me said:
I’ve heard there’s a new Bible translation of which is gender neutral as to God.
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insanitybytes22 said:
Yes, I heard about that, too. Somewhere around here there is even a post about it. I actually did not approve,but than again, rewriting and editing scripture is a bit different than writing a novel, a testimony, that doesn’t even claim to be a treatise on theology.
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atimetoshare.me said:
Amen
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MJThompson said:
I still haven’t read the book or seen the movie, but the story as I’ve vicariously received its message by reading this blog seems to to be a modern day parable that apparently has been interpreted by many varying and opposing perspectives. Such are the revelations of GOD.
Everyone looking into the spiritual realm initiates their journey in the ‘flesh’ – the natural inclinations and reasoning common to humanity. But one can only travel so far guided merely with ‘this worldly’ facilities. An important ‘cross-roads’ is eventually reached where a personal challenge is given to every sojourner – surrender to God and in all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths [Pr. 3:6]. Although it is impossible for the mere ‘natural man’ to comprehend this, the fact remains: “The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor CAN he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” – 1Cor. 2:14.
If God can use an ass (which He did in Num. 22:21-35) to deliver His message, then how absurd is it to think He is in any way limited to only manifestations already verified? Instead of accepting the message from the ass, the ignorant run the risk of becoming an ass.
“Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools…” – Ro.1:22.
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insanitybytes22 said:
Well heaven forbid you read it now! I’d hate to be guilty of the sin of leading someone to unauthorized book reading. Contributing to some one’s deliquency, destroying their soul and all that. 🙂
I’ve actually never read a book that didn’t have some kind of theological issues, except for the bible of course. I keep reading the opposition,the critics, and while concern is valid, discernment is good, no matter how hard I try, I cannot spin it as anything else but the fact that it all boils down to, we seem to believe that child sexual abuse by Christians is not blasphemous, but someone portraying God as a black woman sure is.
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MJThompson said:
QUESTION RE: ‘The book’ – is the molester redeemed in the story, or is that left to the reader to determine?
The ever-so-wide scope of God’s mercy always surpasses human capacity. The arguments AGAINST forgiveness are proclaimed with ‘moral indignation’ that is founded upon vengeance rather than mercy, So, it seems rational to many that God’s redemption doesn’t received unilateral application. Is Hitler in heaven?
Thank God for my sake, He does NOT judge as a man, considering much more than the SIN of which we ALL are guilty. Ideologies that embrace any notion of inferiority of “GREATER SINNERS” is at the very heart of ALL hypocrisies. Godly ‘equality’ is THIS – we have ALL sinned and come short. But many professing godliness have forgotten the important adage – but for the grace of God…
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insanitybytes22 said:
I cannot recall the specific details about the child molesters, but the child murderer and the abusive Father are redeemed. The book’s entire focus is pretty much about forgiveness and healing.
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patrickhawthorne01 said:
Hmmm…I leave for a little bit and what do I find upon my return? IB causing another uproar. I would expect no less. 🙂
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insanitybytes22 said:
I told you not to leave me unsupervised. First Wally, than you. What did people expect would happen? 🙂
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MJThompson said:
Thanks! That in itself should stay the naysayers.
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Debbie L said:
Again, I’m with you!
Geez, a politically correct Bible? Come quickly Lord, come quickly!
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Shattered in Him said:
I say several times a day anymore, “Lord, come quickly! Come quickly!!”
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Debbie L said:
Amen!!!
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The Mr. Anonymous said:
Ikr? Politically correct has come to mean no certain truth these days, the “Well, if it’s alright for you then that’s ok” mentality. If there’s no truth, then we’re left with nothing but a chaotic world in which to roam where no rules can be established.
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Debbie L said:
And chaotic it is! Thankfully, God is still in control as this was prophesied about in the OT.
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anitvan said:
I never read the book and I haven’t seen the movie, nor do I plan to, and not for theological reasons. It simply doesn’t appeal to me, that’s all.
I’m not terribly concerned with the “outward” portrayal of the person’s of the Trinity – God, after all, once chose to show Himself as a bush. On fire. I guess I’m ok with a little creative license. I’m more concerned with how the works of each Person are portrayed. So they testify of the work of Christ? Do they declare it for YOU? Or I guess for the main character. You know what I mean. Is it about “Jesus FOR you”?
Like I said, haven’t seen it, so I can only make broad generalizations. It doesn’t sound like my cup of tea, but I suppose there are far worse ways to spend 90 or so minutes in the dark. 😉
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Rebecca LuElla Miller said:
If anyone’s interested, Randy Alcorn, who actually knows the author of The Shack personally and sat down with him to discuss the book has written an article with his thoughts. Fair warning: it is LONG. But it might be worth skimming, or reading the parts that address particular questions. http://www.epm.org/resources/2012/Sep/26/reflections-shack/
Becky
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Rebecca LuElla Miller said:
There’s a much shorter article that also gives a fair and balanced look at the work. http://www.speculativefaith.com/six-lies-christians-believe-the-shack/
Becky
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anitvan said:
Thanks for sharing, Becky. I thought this was a pretty fair and balanced take on the subject.
I can certainly see why there is theological concern, but I can also see how the story would appeal to broken people in need of grace.
Discernment should be used when we consume media. If you’re able to pick the meat and spit out the bones, great; but as always, Scripture, and not works of fiction, are our source and norm for all doctrine.
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Mel Wild said:
Thanks for posting these articles. I read Acorn’s and I think he was being fair. It would be great if everyone was willing to do this before they slam the book. I’m not sure Acorn totally understood the theological viewpoint behind some of the statements in the book. I found myself disagreeing with some of his conclusions. It may be because there’s honest disagreement there (not even all respected theologians agree on all the points he brought up). That’s not bad. And, as he said, the book was never meant to give a balanced view of the full nature of God. It’s what Mack needed so he could be healed and move on with his life. The last thing he needed was a lecture on wrath and judgment, considering his past. To bring those up in the book, as Acorn suggests, turns the book into a legal document instead of an encounter. Real life rarely gives a balanced view of anything. I understand not wanting to mislead the reader but no one should be treating a fictional novel as a theological book anyway. I could point to several Christian fiction books and popular songs that have terrible theology. I don’t see the same uproar over those.
I do agree on being careful about Young coming across like the local church is not necessary. God does have a government with leaders and authority. It’s certainly flawed with humans, but it’s how He works with us in relationship. Thanks again. Blessings.
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Rebecca LuElla Miller said:
I appreciate everything you’ve said in response to Alcorn’s article. I’ll just add that I have to agree with the author of the second article, that The Shack is not actually a novel; it’s an extended metaphor at best. It exists for the purpose of presenting theology, so it doesn’t get a pass because it is “fiction.” But you’re also right that there are novels running under the banner of “Christian fiction” that are off in the theology they show. It’s too bad that we haven’t sharpened our discernment enough where we can recognize and expose those, too.
Becky
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Mel Wild said:
Yes, I agree. All Christian novels are going to reveal someone’s theology. But, like with parables, we shouldn’t read too much into the details, instead focus on the main point.
And I don’t agree with some of Young’s anti-church views, and perceived dim view of God-ordained authority. But I don’t have to totally agree with someone to benefit from what God may be saying through them.
Again, thanks for the information. My prayer is that we all become better representations of Christ and His church through all of this. And if we need pruning in our theological assumptions, may we know it’s so we can be more fruitful and glorify our Father.
Blessings to you, sister.
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Mel Wild said:
“However, I’m certainly not going to condemn anyone who reaches for the more feminine face of God, because I have no idea where they have walked, what God is speaking to them. Ultimately God exists outside of our concepts of gender anyway. He is above and beyond and greater than our own biology.”
Amen. Again, so well said, IB. (You trouble-maker!) 🙂
It’s funny how God can be a rock, a strong tower, a dove, a mother hen, have wings and feathers, can speak through a burning bush, the wind…but somehow it’s blasphemous if He dare speak through an African American woman. Hmmmm?
Sure glad I’m not trying to tell God what He should be like!
I think we’re getting the point here that this book is meant to be allegorical, a story, a parable…. And the only point that matter is that God comes into our Great Sadness, or deepest wounds (our “Shack”), however He wants to reveal Himself, and brings healing and freedom. That sounds like love to me.
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~M said:
Finally somebody has expressed clearly what I have not been able to. This is my point exactly, and yet still the masses refuse to see it. I’m not planning to see the movie, as the book was too good to destroy my memory of it through Hollywoods version. God can take on any form, and the way he’s depicted in the book, is just as He most certainly is. A person full of love, ready to be there for someone who’s in need. If that isn’t representative of God, than I don’t know who is. Great post IB!
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Shattered in Him said:
She is often able to articulate the things on my heart that I cannot! I love this blog for that reason! 🙂
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~M said:
She certainly is! 😉
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Shattered in Him said:
Thank the Lord for people like your precious Louise. I so hope I can be that representation of Christ for someone out there, too. God has certainly sent some Louises my way when I needed to see Him in others.
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SLIMJIM said:
It does sound like people have brought up legitimate concern about the book theologically. But good point about that lady you know being a representative of Christ and so should all of us no matter our ethnicity or gender.
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Julie said:
“We need to stop navel gazing God.” Amen sister.
“The very nature of the trinity should open up our minds to the idea that while I certainly believe in the masculine face of God, God is even bigger and beyond that rather limited human, biological ability to perceive Him.”
Genesis 1 tells us right off the bat that we are made in His image – male AND female. So at least some of the trinity is feminine. Abba Father God is out. Jesus – “this is my Son, with whom I am pleased”- is out. So that leaves the Holy Spirit, who leads us into all truth and wisdom. And since a feminine pronoun is used for wisdom throughout proverbs, I can easily see a black woman starring in the role of the Holy Spirit.
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Citizen Tom said:
Have not read the book. I have some friends who seemed to like it, but it is not up there on my reading list. Too many other options. Nevertheless, I read violetwisp’s post and the post she links to. Here is the guts of it.
violetwisp would do well to read her own post. Are some men so sinful they ignore what the Bible says? Yes. Most of us ignore or deliberately misunderstand something. Being good and holy does not come easy to creatures with a free will. That is why we need a savior.
I think the reason we have the Bible is that God knows better than to trust us to remember His Words correctly. Did He not read Animal Farm before George Orwell wrote the book?
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insanitybytes22 said:
“Did He not read Animal Farm before George Orwell wrote the book?”
Yes! Well said, Tom. That made me laugh. It’s true.
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bossesmade said:
Thank you all for contributing to this stream, and once again i agree with some notions here: but others not so much, nevertheless, works such as these fiction or not does really push the constraints of our minds and allow us to expand our faith in God and his infinite capabilities. John said: And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. By faith not by sight is what brings the things God has provided for us from the spiritual realm into the physical realm. God said I AM that I AM speaking from the Bush Showing us clear indication that God is that which he chooses to be, God is all and everything to me and we must try to see God in everything, according to his Holy word, do you believe? Colossians 1:17 ► NIV He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. The Lord Jesus said: Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves John 14:11 10. I have to run now but thank you all for sharing this amazing post. Remember God is God of the rainbow sun and stars Lord of all streams & Creator of all things. I just like to leave you with this verse: Then God said to Jonah, “Do you have good reason to be angry about the plant?” And he said, “I have good reason to be angry, even to death.” 10Then the LORD said, “You had compassion on the plant for which you did not work and which you did not cause to grow, which came up overnight and perished overnight. 11“Should I not have compassion on Nineveh, the great city in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know the difference between their right and left hand, as well as many animals?” Peace love and blessings to you all
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mick25117 said:
God is colourless and genderless in my eyes
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thesilence2017 said:
God is pure light for me, He revealed to me whe I was 18. Now I’m 32 and I finally understand everything that I passed. Everything for God, trust in Him. Amen.
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The Mr. Anonymous said:
Thanks for your thoughts. Thought this was interesting, but nowhere in the Bible is God mentioned as even being a human form, let alone have a gender. God is neither male nor female. The only thing we have that is gender identification in the Trinity is Jesus, and He was obviously male.
So I think the whole gender profiling of God needs to stop. He’s not a black woman. He’s not a white man. He’s a being, not material.
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lifeisgloriousblog said:
YES! I completely agree with everything you said!! Loved the movie & loved how they expressed God and all the characters – with love! Such a healing movie ❤️
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afatherslove2017 said:
Thank you. I agree!!! God is WHATEVER I need Him to be at any given moment in my life. Only one thing God cannot do and that is LIE … (Titus 1:2) … “in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began”
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valariesthomas said:
Thank you. I’m listening to The Shack right now. Great post.
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