I've just read a worrying article published by CT on the novel called The Shack. Cindy Crosby reviewing The Shack describes it as one of the best Christian novels of recent times. Yet she points out that in its pages we will meet with God as we never imagined. God The Father it says appears as an African woman with a edgy sense of humour, the Holy Spirit as an Asian man and Jesus as a Middle Eastern Labourer. Crosby asks, heresy? and answers no! I would answer that it sounds like heresy because it is! If we imagine God in anyway other than He has revealed himself in his word we have built an idol. God is invisible, majestic, transcendent. Yet God humbled himself and became a man in the person of His Son and died in our place. If we want to encounter God we must not use our imagination we must turn to His word to see Him as He truly is. Mediating upon his word , and praying to Him to reveal Himself to us.
Then we will meet with God who is beyond our wildest imagination!
Shalom
Stephen
Then we will meet with God who is beyond our wildest imagination!
Shalom
Stephen
2 comments:
Amen! Christianity Today sometimes isn't Christian at all, at least not in the historic, evengelical sense that it should be. Very disappointing this kind of drivel comes out of a mag with "Christianity" in its name.
I just Googled "Reformed Christian Novels" and found your piece on "The Shack". I've not read the book, but its name has buzzed around my ears recently. It's a very interesting question: Can we represent God in literature without being heretical? At the risk of being self-serving I would like to offer you a free copy of "The Wordsmith, the Kid & the Electrolux". It has been reviewed as "a thoroughly Christian allegory in the Reformed Protestant tradition with an embedded classic Van Tillian apologetic". This was my intention as the author and would love to have your perspective. If you're interested please contact me at: cleigh@evergreene.com
Cliff Leigh
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