The Shack Movie

[evangelist6589]

This will be released in March. The book sold more than 20 millions copies and in my POV is deceiving many into the false doctrine known as Universalism. Note not to be confused with Unitarianism Universalism. So many false doctrines exist on this board so what are your arguments in defense of Universalism? Let's hear them.

 

[ChrisTheSaved]

Yes, the author from what I have heard, has done nothing but paint us in the worst light possible.

 

[Salty]

This will be released in March. The book sold more than 20 millions copies and in my POV is deceiving many into the false doctrine known as Universalism. Note not to be confused with Unitarianism Universalism. So many false doctrines exist on this board so what are your arguments in defense of Universalism? Let's hear them.

Why dont you give us your definition of Universalism?

 

[Steven Yeadon]

If you are referring to information inside the novel, then I'm at a loss. The only thing I know of "the Shack" is off the wikipedia plot summary for the novel.

From the Wikipedia article I can say that the novel's plot sounds incredibly contrived. It also sounds downright unbiblical for showing God the Father and God the Holy Spirit as women. It seems downright Gnostic and therefore pagan influenced to have the character of Sophia or God's wisdom. It also shows God giving pentecostal/charismatic style revelations to someone that can later be verified by the public, which as far as I know is of the Enemy.

Now I don't know of the theology of the triune deity of the book, but if you could explain it so that we can discuss the book's theology that would be great.

 

[Revmitchell]

If you are referring to information inside the novel, then I'm at a loss. The only thing I know of "the Shack" is off the wikipedia plot summary for the novel.

From the Wikipedia article I can say that the novel's plot sounds incredibly contrived. It also sounds downright unbiblical for showing God the Father and God the Holy Spirit as women. It seems downright Gnostic and therefore pagan influenced to have the character of Sophia or God's wisdom. It also shows God giving pentecostal/charismatic style revelations to someone that can later be verified by the public, which as far as I know is of the Enemy.

Now I don't know of the theology of the triune deity of the book, but if you could explain it so that we can discuss the book's theology that would be great.

http://www.albertmohler.com/2010/01/27/the-shack-the-missing-art-of-evangelical-discernment/

 

[annsni]

Tim Challies has some great reviews of the book and the movie and a blog post of why he is not going to see the movie.

http://www.challies.com/articles/the-bestsellers-the-shack

http://www.challies.com/articles/why-i-wont-be-seeing-or-reviewing-the-shack

http://www.challies.com/articles/why-papa-of-the-shack-is-not-aslan-of-narnia

http://www.challies.com/book-reviews/the-shack-by-william-p-young

This post has some insight into the writing of The Shack and the author's beliefs
http://www.challies.com/book-reviews/burning-down-the-shack

 

[evangelist6589]

Why dont you give us your definition of Universalism?

What the dictionary states. Eventually all will be saved because all are in union with Christ.

“universalism. Known historically as apokatastasis, the belief that all persons will be saved. Hence universalism involves the affirmation of universal salvation and the denial of eternal punishment. Universalists believe that ultimately all humans are somehow in union with Christ and that in the fullness of time they will gain release from the penalty of sin and be restored to God. Twentieth-century universalism often rejects the deity of Jesus and explores the “universal” bases of all religions. See also apokatastasis.”

Excerpt From: Stanley J. Grenz, David Guretzki & Cherith Fee Nordling. “Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms.” InterVarsity Press, 2010-03-17. iBooks.
This material may be protected by copyright.

Check out this book on the iBooks Store: https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewBook?id=870800064

 

[Steven Yeadon]

The book sounds like an unholy tool of the Enemy after reading both the wikipedia plot summary and the Albert Mohler article. Simply put, the bible does not support the theology of "the Shack" at all, and the bible teaches in a number of instances against such theology.

To the point of this thread, the New Testament contains so many passages calling people to escape the coming wrath of God by trusting in the Lord Jesus by faith and living a sinless life deserving of our calling, that I see no real point in a debate except to research the bible and quote scriptures that show such.

I think I'll stop there as this debate could open many cans of worms I don't want to open such as the debate over a biblical understanding of the Trinity, mankind's inferiority and submission to God Who looks past this enough to save us through His Son so that we can be friends and children, whether God would ever give a revelatory mountain-top experience to a man or woman wavering in faith, and the problem of evil.

I would like to spiel a bit on the problem of evil as I believe it more than anything else is the driving force behind the novel and its message and perhaps why it has such impact on people. I myself see no other angle to understand why this novel captures so many minds beyond the clear contrived problem of evil plot and that someone actually has a God that the world so clearly loves speak forth at all, which the bible explains kills this as being a godly work immediately (I was going to quote some bible verses but this website does so much better: http://biblereasons.com/reasons-why-the-world-hates-christians/).

I'll ponder more on the problem of evil though and get back to you guys and gals.

 

[just-want-peace]

I remember starting this book, and after several pages something just didn't jive. Read a little bit more and decided that this was a heap of bovine excrement. Didn't even give it away; it went straight to file 13.
I don't remember how much I actually read, but seems like less than 1/4 of the book.

 

[Salty]

I remember starting this book, and after several pages something just didn't jive. Read a little bit more and decided that this was a heap of bovine excrement. Didn't even give it away; it went straight to file 13.
I don't remember how much I actually read, but seems like less than 1/4 of the book.

Evan is going to be upset with you!!!

 

[evangelist6589]

Evan is going to be upset with you!!!

Actually I congratulate him for tossing the book.

 

[Steven Yeadon]

Instead of discussing the problem of evil, I see that the issue is that Universalism is an easy sell. It tells us that we do not have to mourn for so many individuals damned to hell on faith in the Judgment and the Day. Thus, it causes us to forfeit part of the blessing discussed in the beatitude of Matthew 5:4 by pretending there is nothing to mourn over. As usual God has been the author of woe in the lives of men and women and people have abandoned Him in droves because of this.