Warning - Stay Out Of The Shack!

Bad things happen in there.

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Please stay out of The Shack. Both the novel and now the movie. The novel is theologically dangerous. The movie, opening Friday March 3, 2017, is an extension of the novel. Be careful.

Please understand, I love good stories and good movies. I wouldn’t be  advising you to stay out of The Shack unless there was significant cause for concern.

Jesus said, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” (Matthew 7:15 ESV)

1 John 4:1 says, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

Christians are told to be discerning. But it seems that many Christians lack discernment.

Others have analyzed and written about the many misleading aspects of The Shack. So, I don’t need to write more—you can read their great articles here:

• Albert Mohler, “The Shack – The Missing Art of Evangelical Discernment”

• Randy Alcorn, “Reflections on The Shack”

• Tim Challies, “The Shack” by William P. Young

• Tim Keller, “The Shack–Impressions”

What I’d like to do is answer some of the reasons I’ve heard for why it’s OK to read, watch and recommend The Shack:

1. For heaven’s sake, The Shack is just fiction.

This argument is that the misleading theology in The Shack shouldn’t be taken seriously, since everyone knows it’s just a story.

The problem with this argument is that stories are some of the most powerful ways of teaching. Jesus used stories (parables) constantly to make His points.

Stories are so powerful for teaching that we read in Matthew 13:34 “Jesus used illustrations to tell the crowds all these things. He did not tell them anything without illustrating it with a story.” (GW)

One of the most popular Christian books of all time is Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan. That book teaches through the story of Pilgrim and his progress on a spiritual journey. It’s a wonderful book that teaches great biblical truth through story.

Stories are great teaching tools. Unfortunately, The Shack teaches untruth through story. Stay out of The Shack.

2. But many have been spiritually helped by The Shack.

Christians also argue that The Shack is a great book because people have found it spiritually helpful and encouraging. So, don’t throw the baby out with the bath water, they say. People like it better than anything they’ve ever heard about Christianity.

The problem is that it’s more palatable than the Bible because it dilutes Biblical Truth.

Watering down spiritual truth to make it more appetizing is exactly what we’re warned about in 2 Timothy 4:3: “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions.” (ESV)

Please stay out of The Shack and help others to know about the errors also.

3. Mark, you’re just a spiritual nitpicker.

This argument is that people like myself are just too uptight. We just need to relax a little.

If The Shack had problems with minor doctrines, I would certainly not be concerned. The problem is that it misleads relating to major doctrinal areas such as salvation, the eternal state, and the nature of God.

I would not be doing my duty as a Christian leader if I didn’t sound an alarm: “You will be doing your duty as Christ’s minister if you remind your church members of these things (false teaching), and you will show yourself as one who owes his strength to the truth of the faith he has absorbed and the sound teaching he has followed. But steer clear of all these stupid Godless fictions. Take time and trouble to keep yourself spiritually fit.” (1 Timothy 4:6-7 ESV)

Note the interesting phrase in verse 7 of this passage: “But steer clear of all these stupid Godless fictions.” 

4. It promotes Jesus and that’s got to be a good thing.

Promoting Jesus is a good thing, if the Jesus promoted is the Jesus of the Bible. Unfortunately, the Jesus and theology of The Shack is often not that of the Bible.

All cults promote Jesus. But they are false cults devised by false teachers. They lead people to spiritual destruction.

Promoting Jesus is not always a good thing, when the promoting is done by false teachers.

Let’s be aware of the warning of 2 Peter: “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words.” (2 Peter 2:1-3 ESV)

Just because something has Jesus or God in it, doesn’t mean it is good. Stay out of The Shack!

5. Some Christian leaders have reviewed and endorsed it.

Please don’t imagine that anything produced by a “Christian publisher” or endorsed by a “Christian leader” must be OK. Unfortunately, that is not true.

Christian leaders make mistakes. Christian publishers publish books that have errors and mislead.

Some “Christian leaders” leave the faith. Others begin to believe doctrines that are not biblical. Follow Christian news and you’ll see this happening frequently.

You might ask, “But Mark, why should I believe you and not this other Christian leader?”

Actually, I’m not asking you to believe me. I’m asking you to read the articles by other discerning Christian leaders listed above. Study Scripture, pray and ask for spiritual discernment.

In studying for yourself, you’ll be like the commendable Bereans: “Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” (Acts 17:11 ESV)

Please examine the Scriptures for yourself and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you.

In conclusion, this is not a small issue. It’s a big one because it goes to the heart of the Gospel: “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:8 ESV)

The bottom line: Stay out of The Shack!

Note: There are many ministries I can enthusiastically endorse. For a list, see my Recommended Resources page.

Additional resources about related subjects on this site:

• Have You Written Your Own Bible?

• Beware of Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing

• Is Donald Trump a Christian?

• Jesus Wasn’t Always “Seeker Sensitive”

• Video vlog: Twisting Scripture

• Podcast: Does salvation come only through faith in Christ? (exclusivism)

NOTE: Facebook is random. Email is reliable. Subscribe via email and you won’t miss any of my articles, podcasts or videos. You’ll also get my eBook: 10 Prayers to Unlock Heaven on Earth

Hi From Brazil - Seeing Jesus’ Impact Around The World!

The astounding influence of Jesus Christ.

Jesus’ impact around the world is amazing. I’m here in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil doing ministry and a little vacation time with Carolyn. It’s been a wonderful trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina, then Montevideo, Uruguay and now here. Soon I leave for Uberlandia, Brazil and then I’ll finish in Sao Paulo, which might be about the time you read this.

Here’s a video I recorded a couple of days ago on our sightseeing tour around the city.

At the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian in Rio de Janeiro.

In this video, I referenced two books about Jesus’ impact around the world throughout history. The first is What if Jesus Had Never Been Born by D. James Kennedy and Jerry Newcombe. I read it years ago, but have never forgotten it because I was profoundly impressed. I wrote a summary in an article with the same title.

The second book is How Christianity Changed the World by Alvin J. Schmidt. This is the one I’m currently reading. I’m again astounded at the impact of Jesus.

Jesus’ impact around the world is just astounding!

The following short essay does a good job summarizing Jesus’ impact around the world throughout history:

One Solitary Life.

He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He worked in a carpentry shop until he was thirty, and then for three years he was an itinerant preacher.

When the tide that popular opinion turned against him, his friends ran away. He was turned over to his enemies. He was tried and convicted. He was nailed upon a cross between two thieves. When he was dead, he was laid in a borrowed grave.

He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never owned a home. He never went to college. He never traveled more than two hundred miles from the place where he was born. He never did one of the things that usually accompanies greatness. Yet all the armies that ever marched, and all the governments that ever sat, and all the King’s that ever reigned, had not affected life upon this earth as powerfully as that One Solitary Life.

To find out how to know God personally today through Jesus Christ, please click HERE!

Additional resources about related subjects on this site:

• The 3 Best Explanations Why Jesus’ Resurrection Never Happened

• 10 Reasons Why the Resurrection Matters

• 4 Powerful Proofs that Jesus Lives

• 4 Reasons You Can Love and Trust the Bible Today

• The Best Quick Biblical Answer to Suffering

• Why is There so Much Pleasure in the World?

• 5 Keys that Help Unlock the Mystery of the Trinity

NOTE: Facebook is random. Email is reliable. Subscribe via email and you won’t miss any of my articles, podcasts or videos. You’ll also get my eBook: 10 Prayers to Unlock Heaven on Earth

Why A Loving God Sends People To Hell

2nd in my series: “The Top 10 Objections to Christianity Answered.”

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The Bible is clear that God sends people to hell. Or perhaps it is better stated that they send themselves there. That bothers many. How could a loving God do or allow that? It confuses people. I’ve had to contemplate this issue carefully.

The USA Supreme Court represents the highest level of justice in the land.

This is the second article I’m writing in a countdown of “The Top 10 Objections to Christianity Answered.”

I’ll give my answers to why God sends people to hell in two categories:

1. God is just.

2. God is love.

1. God is just (fair).

Why do I say this?

a. The Bible reveals that God is completely just.

Justice means fairness. The God revealed in the Bible is completely fair.

“He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything he does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is!” (Deuteronomy 32:4 NLT)

One of the things that irritates people most is unfairness or lack of justice. We can be very glad that God is just.

b. Justice demands payment for sins.

Most countries have a “system of justice.” In the USA, we have a hierarchy of courts, with judges, juries, and the laws to support them.

We even have a worldwide International Court of Justice with fifteen judges who sometimes wear funny wigs.

Laws are only valuable if there is a penalty associated with breaking the laws. Otherwise, who cares?

We wouldn’t want to live in a place where there were no laws and penalties. When injustice comes, people march in the streets, protest and sometimes rebel. It can get very nasty! Human beings demand justice.

c. Hell means justice.

We like to think that we know better than God when it comes to justice. But here’s the bottom line: we don’t. God is perfect. He doesn’t make mistakes. He cannot err and He cannot be unjust.

Therefore hell is just.

We might think it sounds unfair, but all that means is we lack sufficient perspective.

What we think of as good is sometimes different than what we think. Conversely, what we think of as bad sometimes isn’t as bad as what we thought.

Carolyn and I have a fun memory of two of our sons going to summer camp. One was quite excited to go. The other was reluctant and didn’t think it would be very good. When they got home, guess what. The one who thought it would be great was tepid about the experience. But the one who wasn’t excited to go came back thrilled about the experience.

The point is that it is too soon for us mortals to make judgment about hell being fair or not. Hell is in the future, so how can we disagree with God about its fairness?

What we can know from God’s written revelation however is that hell is to be taken seriously and to be avoided!

Which brings us to our second point:

2. God is love.

While it is true that God sends people to hell, Scripture says clearly that “God is love.” (1 John 4:8)

It doesn’t say God knows about love, or has love. It says God IS love!

Perhaps we need to let that soak in a little. We think we love and we know about love. But all of that comes from God because “God is love.” Take away God and you take away love, because “God is love.”

Here are some implications of the fact that God is love:

a. Because God is love, He decided to provide an alternative to hell.

There’s a wonderful story about Fiorello LaGuardia, Mayor of New York City from 1934 to 1945. As mayor, he would sometimes preside in court.

Bennet Cerf wrote that:

One bitter cold day they brought a trembling old man before him, charged with stealing a loaf of bread. ‘I’ve got to punish you, declared LaGuardia. ‘The law makes no exception. I can do nothing but sentence you to a fine of ten dollars.’

But the Little Flower was reaching into his pocket as he added, ‘Well, here’s the ten dollars to pay your fine. And now I remit the fine.’ He tossed a ten-dollar bill into his famous sombrero.

‘Furthermore,’ he declared, ‘I’m going to fine everybody in this courtroom fifty cents for living in a town where a man has to steal bread in order to eat. Mr. Bailiff, collect the fines and give them to this defendant!’

The hat was passed and an incredulous old man, with a light of heaven in his eyes, left the courtroom with a stake of forty-seven dollars and fifty cents.”

The story illustrates both components of a just but loving judge:

Justice demands a penalty.Love provides payment for the penalty.

God is infinitely more just and loving! Because God is just, He demands payment for the wrongs done by every single human being who has ever lived. But because He is love, God provided payment in the death of His Only Son Jesus Christ for our sins.

“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” (Romans 5:8 NLT)

b. Because God is love, He doesn’t force Himself on anyone.

As I explained in my article 7 Amazing Ways God Reveals Himself to Us, God could overwhelm us and force us to follow Him. But that would negate love.

Instead, He invites us to receive His gift of salvation through Christ Jesus. He invites, but He doesn’t force Himself on us.

The invitation is open, but there is no coercion.

c. God is waiting patiently for you to respond to His love.

Some wonder why God doesn’t come and end all the suffering on earth. The answer is:

“The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” (2 Peter 3:9 NLT)

He is patiently waiting for YOU if you have never received His loving gift of eternal life. To find out how to do so today, please click HERE!

WARNING: This is an eternal issue not to be taken lightly! Jesus said, “But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.” (Matthew 7:14 NLT)

Will you enter the narrow gateway to eternal life? To learn how to do so, please click HERE.

Additional resources about related subjects on this site:

• Hungry for Heaven

• How Moving is Like Going to Heaven

• Six Reasons all Roads DON’T Lead to Heaven

• Podcast: What exactly is hell?

• Podcast: What God would send people to hell?

• Podcast: If I commit suicide, will I go to hell?

• Podcast: Since hell is real, what is a Christian’s mission?

• Podcast: Isn’t Christianity arrogant to claim to be the only way to heaven?

• Podcast: Since Jesus paid the price, is everyone heaven-bound?

NOTE: Facebook is random. Email is reliable. Subscribe via email and you won’t miss any of my articles, podcasts or videos. You’ll also get my eBook: 10 Prayers to Unlock Heaven on Earth