Dear John, Abigail, Doves &c. -
Taking theology from The Shack is like
taking hospitality guidance from Psycho, or
getting dating advice from the Twilight
series. In other words, The Shack is
rank heresy. Don't be deceived.
Many of the absurdities in the quote you posted should be
self-evident to anyone even marginally acquainted with the
teachings of Jesus and Paul.
Near the end of His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus forewarned
us:
"Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord,
Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out
demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your
name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I
never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice
lawlessness!' " (Mt. 7:22,23).
Jesus said He would reject any professing believer who
practiced lawlessness. My dictionary defines
"lawless" as "not regulated by the authority of
law." Those who practice lawlessness are professing
Christians who refuse either to recognize Jesus' laws or
commandments, or to live by them. Re-read the Great
Commission in Matthew 28. We are to observe
everything the Lord commanded. Biblical faith is not
"anything goes" and especially not "anything goes" under
the supposed, subjective guidance of your "feelings" that
we pretend is the "leading of the Holy Spirit." YES,
the Holy Spirit does lead us, but He does so by
the Word. He illumines our understanding of
scripture so we can live lives that please God.
Those lives are not "law-less." We have guard rails
and speed limits, so to speak. We have specific
commands from Jesus Himself - the One we call 'Lord.'
A disciple is one who is under discipline.
Jesus asked, "Why do you call me 'Lord' but do not do
the things I command?"
The New Testament removes the Law as the basis for our
justification but does not nullify the law. "The
law is our 'tutor' to bring us to Christ."
Taking this toxic lunacy from The Shack at
face value: abortion is okay, pedophelia is okay,
murder is okay, idolatry is okay, homosexuality is okay
.....
"Yes, in Jesus you are not
under any law. All things are lawful."
I hope I've made my point. God help anyone (and He
won't) who rejects the Law of Christ and trusts in the
unbiblical fantasies of James Paul DeYoung.
Best,
Steve
Anakypto Forum