God in three persons...

The other day I was handed a copy of the 'The Shack'. You may know that this book by William Young is way up there on Amazon's Best Selling list, just below Rick Warren's 'The Purpose Driven Life'. And it's getting some rave reviews from some sections of the Christian press, even heralded as a modern day Pilgrim's Progress! OK, enough said, I thought I'd take a read.

It’s the allegedly true story of a guy called Mack who was going through life carrying a Great Sadness, the result of a tragic event years before when his young daughter was abducted from a cabin (the shack), and murdered. Some years later, Mack received an anonymous invitation (from God??) to meet at The Shack, an invitation which resulted in a personal, healing encounter with the 'Trinity'. Here's where the account (and Mack insists that it is an account and not a Frank Peretti style prophetic prophecy) gets challenging. God the Father is, and I quote: 'a big black woman with a questionable sense of humour.', called Elousia, Jesus, a young carpenter, and the Holy Spirit, a flighty Asian woman called Saraya.

Oh dear. A number of Scriptures started springing to mind & I felt distinctly uncomfortable reading on. I guess that many would justify the story from the result - Mack's healing. I'm afraid that doesn't satisfy me. As someone who has recently been reflecting on the wonder of the Trinity, this awesomely wonderful Father, Son, Spirit Unity of three Persons, knowing, loving and helping me, I find this caricature very inappropriate.

Instead of launching into an appeal to Scripture, may I recommend that you take a look at the latest Newfrontiers magazine, the theme of which happens to be ‘The Trinity’. It is excellent – and there’s a great One to One with Mark Driscoll as well!
Last word from John Piper:

'People are starving for the greatness of God. But most of them would not give this diagnosis of their troubled lives. The majesty of God is an unknown cure…. They need someone, at least once a week, to lift up his voice and magnify the supremacy of God. They need to behold the whole panorama of his excellencies.’

Now read that magazine!

Goff