Tales, truth and the Trinity

I wrote a blog about The Shack several weeks ago (‘God in Three Persons’ 10th April) but feel provoked by the affirming reviews it’s getting in the Christian press, to write some more! There is something very important at stake here. Throughout the history of the Christian Church, one of the primary test of orthodoxy, that is, the way to distinguish between authentic Christian belief and error has been the Nicene Creed, and in particular, the wording concerning the Trinity. Adopted in 325 AD, it was the outcome of a hotly contended debate; Are God the Father and the Son of the same substance or similar substance? Guys such as Athanasius paid a high price, safeguarding crucial Biblical truth concerning the Godhead. Go wrong here and all the major doctrines of our faith start to unravel.

But hey, The Shack is just a story! Exactly – in fact ‘Ah sketch’ is an anagram for The Shack! But that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t matter. In fact, being a story, it actually means that we need to be even more discerning. Let me explain.
A story-teller has a purpose, a journey in mind for the reader. Instead of giving facts, formulae & beliefs, a novelist uses a story line to engage the imagination & get you thinking. A good story line works on the reader’s emotions, encouraging a favourable, compelling response. In other words, a good story teller is manipulating you!

So back to The shack – anyone who reads it is immediately wrong-footed. Of course it’s a compelling story! Of course your emotions reach out to the plight of the ‘hero’! Of course you are pleased by the positive outcome! That’s what a ‘good story’ is all about! But does that make it good doctrine? Absolutely not! And there’s the danger. The author obviously wants to make you think about the Trinity, but he is taking you on a dangerous, dare I say heretical journey, because if you DO take your understanding of who God is & how the Trinity works from this book, then you are being led into heresy. Is God the Father to be compared to, 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? That’s what the author intends. No matter how well-intentioned these fictional characters might be, PLEASE don’t confuse them with the God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

I’ve taken a slightly different line here, and not itemised the theological issues raised. I could talk about Arianism, Modalism & idolatry. Maybe another time. Meanwhile, if you have 8 minutes, I recommend you have a listen to what Mark Driscoll has to say about this. Check out: ‘Mark Driscoll the shack’ on Youtube.com

And if you haven’t read the book, please let me recommend a couple: For an easy read, there’s ‘Walking with God’ by John Eldridge, or one that’s excellent but a bit more stretching: ‘The Reason for God’ by Tim Keller. Both on the Bookstall – along with the new Brighton Conference CD, Salvation’s Song: price only £11.00!

Goff

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