Mercer, Arlis C, Rene,

 

thank you for posting your concerns and warnings against reading the book "The Shack". I understand your position and agree with you that if the author is subtly seeking to sway readers over to a "Universalist" belief system, (that all will eventually be saved, even the devil himself because God is so loving etc.) then indeed caution should be used. I was following a strong prompting from the Holy Spirit when I posted this book as recommended reading along side another powerful book, ("A Land Unknown Hell's Domain") that I believe God intended to be read with The Shack, and now it makes sense because the other book should answer all arguments about Universalism by stating clearly that hell is eternal and final.

 

Maybe that was God's point all along. I can think of no stronger argument to correct this Universalist view than a direct revelation from God about the truth of hell and its eternal, unchangeable, final punishment for rejecting the gift of life with God. This is the central theme of this other book and stands in powerful position of witnessing to the reality of how serious the consequences of our choice is. God explains to this atheist that it is the most loving and kind thing that God could do to give us the choice and then make us have to face the consequences of our own choice. He isolates those who choose evil from those who choose Him and keeps them from contaminating His good land. He explains that even if after a thousand years of hell, if you were to let someone out and gave them another chance, they would only conclude that the consequence is not lasting and they would return to evil again. If they will not repent now, they will not repent even in hell. He also explains that annihilation or ceasing to exist would be against His nature of being a life giver and not taking back the gift of life but rather allowing the choice made to be experienced to its own outcome. But He does warn of what the consequences are and hopes that we will choose Him and life.

 

As for The Shack, maybe it's one of those "to the pure all things are pure" things, but when I read the book I didn't see a Universalist belief being preached in there. What I took from the book the most was a glimpse of what a relationship with God can and should be like. I also did not see a "New Age" kind of "Impersonal Force" type of "deity" presented as God at all. God is portrayed as a personal God who cares about our every need and our care is His constant concern. Like a loving Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep and calls them by name and wants to be with them and get to know them and them Him.

 

One of my biggest sadnesses about the Christian community that I see is that people have a relationship with an organization or a pastor or a book or a belief system or a way of life or a creed or an ethic or everything except with God Himself and they think that this is salvation. One of the suggestions regarding The Shack is that it be only approached if you are a scholar in the Word of God. But Jesus mentioned to the Pharisees that they were experts in the scriptures and thought that this gave them eternal life and here was the Word Incarnate in their midst and they did not recognize Him for who He was and did not want to come to Him to actually have life.

 

John 5:

 39.  Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
 40.  And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

 

I liked The Shack because it focuses on how a relationship with God can be. He is that personal and fun to be with everyday. He wants to be involved with our everyday events and especially the big ones but even down to the minutest things. If we neglect this, having all the "scholarly" stuff going on won't mean anything. Or to put it Paul's way,

 

1 Corinthians 13:

 

 2.  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

 

Or to put it Jesus' way:

 

Matthew 18:

 

 3.  And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
 4.  Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.