There is a book on the market called “The Shack” which masquerades as some sort of “Christian” message about the Trinity. It is infiltrating so many churches and seducing so many undiscerning church goers that it needs to be exposed for the disgrace that it is. Eugene Petersen had this to say “This book has the potential to do for our generation what John Bunyan’s ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’ did for his. It’s that good!” It should scare any Christian that Eugene Petersen is somehow allowed to teach in any Bible college let alone command respect as a commentator on anything Christian. I’m still scratching my head as to how his pathetic “The Message” gets passed off as a Bible translation. But Petersen isn’t the only one buying into the multitude of heresies propogated by William Young’s bogus work of fiction. Michael W Smith is another of several high profile people to endorse “The Shack”.
To be clear from the outset, the god of “The Shack” is not the God of Scripture and is an imposter of the worst kind. Preacher and Scholar Dr Michael Youssef preached a sermon recently which exposed 13 major heresies taught within the pages of “The Shack”.
Here they are listed below:
1. God the Father was crucified with Jesus (p96).
Because God’s eyes are pure and cannot look upon sin, the Bible says that God would not look upon His own beloved Son as He hung on the Cross, carrying our sins (Habakkuk 1:13; Matthew 27:45).
2. God is limited by His love and cannot practice justice (p102).
The Bible declares that God’s love and His justice are two sides of the same coin — equally a part of the personality and the character of God (Isaiah 61:8; Hosea 2:19).
3. On the Cross, God forgave all of humanity, whether they repent or not. Some choose a relationship with Him, but He forgives them all regardless (p225).
Jesus explained that only those who come to Him will be saved (John 14:6).
4. Hierarchical structures, whether they are in the Church or in the government, are evil (122).
Our God is a God of order (Job 25:2).
5. God will never judge people for their sins (p120).
The Word of God repeatedly invites people to escape from the judgment of God by believing in Jesus Christ, His Son (Romans 2:16; 2 Timothy 4:1-3).
6. There is not a hierarchical structure in the Godhead, just a circle of unity (p122).
The Bible says that Jesus submitted to the will of the Father. This doesn’t mean that one Person is higher or better than the other; just unique. Jesus said, “I came to do the will of Him who sent me. I am here to obey my Father.” Jesus also said, “I will send you the Holy Spirit” (John 4:34, 6:44, 14:26, 15:26).
7. God submits to human wishes and choices (p145).
Far from God submitting to us, Jesus said, “Narrow is the way that leads to eternal life.” We are to submit to Him in all things, for His glory and because of what He has accomplished for us (Matthew 7:13-15).
8. Justice will never take place because of love (p164).
The Bible teaches that when God’s love is rejected, and when the offer of salvation and forgiveness is rejected, justice must take place or God has sent Jesus Christ to die on the cross for nothing (Matthew 12:20; Romans 3:25-26).
9. There is no such a thing as eternal judgment or torment in hell (p248).
Jesus’ own description of hell is vivid … it cannot be denied (Luke 12:5, 16:23).
10. Jesus is walking with all people in their different journeys to God, and it doesn’t matter which way you get to Him (p182).
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, and no one will come to the Father but by me” (John 14:6).
11. Jesus is constantly being transformed along with us (p182).
Jesus, who dwells in the splendor of heaven, sits at the right hand of God, reigning and ruling the universe. The Bible says, “In Him there is no change, for He is yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 11:12, 13:8; James 1:17).
12. There is no need for faith or reconciliation with God because everyone will make it to heaven (p122,192).
Jesus said, “Only those who believe in me will have eternal life” (John 3:15, 3:36, 5:24, 6:40).
13. The Bible is not true because it reduces God to paper (p65,66,134,198).
The Bible is God-breathed. Sure, there were many men through 1,800 years who put pen to paper (so to speak), each from different professions and different backgrounds, but the Holy Spirit infused their work with God’s words. These men were writing the same message from Genesis to Revelation. If you want to read more about the place of Christ in the Scripture, read “We Preach Christ” (2 Timothy 3:16).
Scott Bailey 2008
time2stand said
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God bless,
Your brother in Christ,
Jeremy Strang
http://www.time2stand.wordpress.com
http://www.time2stand.net
http://www.time2standladies.wordpress.com
Chad said
Scott,
I posted the following response to your “reply” to my post titled “Love and Heresy and The Shack”. I regret that you confirmed the stereotype that I have referred to in the post. You are very much “a defender of the faith”.
Chad
Reply from Host:
I think this is funny. And I mean that in a fairly disrespectful way. Love is not rude. I’m not sure what prompted anyone to want to cut and paste the whole 13 heresies… But I think its rude. So rude that I just have to laugh and think, “This guy has no idea what he’s doing.” I wonder, sir, if you actually read the post. I did hot link to the “13 heresies” for anyone who wanted to read them. Very discourteous, but I’m not surprised, I guess. Please, sir, feel free to comment on the CONTENT of any post (I can take it)… especially if you’ve read it, but refrain from cut and paste responses. Good times.
Scott said
Wow..you lost me on this one. I have not a clue what you are speaking of here. I tried to follow you, but I really am not sure where you are coming from or going with this. Sorry.
Scott said
One thing I have never seen the site that this response was on. Also, I did not put the 13 heresies in the comment section that I can remember…I do not disagree with any of them, but I did not post them there and not sure why it is linked to my blog site.
But, nothing I can do about it I don’t think.
Linda said
So I got out my copy of “the shack” and my Bible and started to compare the “13 heresies” above with what both books actually say. Neither the book page references nor the scriptural references are accurate: i.e. #1 pg 96 actually says “Mackenzie, I never left him, and I have never left you”…..”When all you can see is your pain, you loose sight of me” The Scripture ref in Matthew 27:45 is “Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour”. That is just #1! in the quote ref in #2, the word “justice” isn’t even mentioned on page 102! Some REALLY loose interpretation and out-of-context stuff going on here. BE CAREFUL.
Scott said
Interesting. This was passed on to my site…however, I read the book and agree that if a person takes the Trinity, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit seriously, “The Shack” is heresy to them. I am sorry the page numbers and verbage dont line up with your book.