Comments on: What’s Wrong With The Shack: 13 Heresies http://www.generationcedar.com/main/2009/06/whats-wrong-with-the-shack-13-heresies.html Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:36:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Rob Rasner YouTube http://www.generationcedar.com/main/2009/06/whats-wrong-with-the-shack-13-heresies.html/comment-page-1#comment-42093 Rob Rasner YouTube Sun, 08 May 2011 14:16:35 +0000 http://www.generationcedar.com/main/?p=3306#comment-42093 Excellent blog post, yet hey I got this problem we cannot appear to be able to register this rss feed, I’m making use of google and yahoo reader FYI:) Anyway did you hear mid east wonderful announcement! Kudos ! Rob Rasner YouTube Excellent blog post, yet hey I got this problem we cannot appear to be able to register this rss feed, I’m making use of google and yahoo reader FYI:) Anyway did you hear mid east wonderful announcement! Kudos ! Rob Rasner YouTube

]]> By: Word Warrior http://www.generationcedar.com/main/2009/06/whats-wrong-with-the-shack-13-heresies.html/comment-page-1#comment-40991 Word Warrior Thu, 21 Apr 2011 18:47:09 +0000 http://www.generationcedar.com/main/?p=3306#comment-40991 No, sorry. This is a really old post and I probably didn't read all of Aram's response. I just had a baby and am the mother of 9 children...it's all I can do to keep up with current posts and comments ;-) Furthermore, I've read enough excerpts and commentators from people I trust to know that I don't agree with the premise of The Shack, regardless of those who do. At this point, it's more a matter of differences in theology which requires more time than I have right now. No, sorry. This is a really old post and I probably didn’t read all of Aram’s response. I just had a baby and am the mother of 9 children…it’s all I can do to keep up with current posts and comments ;-) Furthermore, I’ve read enough excerpts and commentators from people I trust to know that I don’t agree with the premise of The Shack, regardless of those who do. At this point, it’s more a matter of differences in theology which requires more time than I have right now.

]]> By: Mark http://www.generationcedar.com/main/2009/06/whats-wrong-with-the-shack-13-heresies.html/comment-page-1#comment-40990 Mark Thu, 21 Apr 2011 18:15:47 +0000 http://www.generationcedar.com/main/?p=3306#comment-40990 Wordwarrior I don't see any comment to Aram's response to your article. He has made my day by taking the time to point out so many wonderful things in this book. No rebuttal? Wordwarrior I don’t see any comment to Aram’s response to your article. He has made my day by taking the time to point out so many wonderful things in this book.

No rebuttal?

]]> By: Mark http://www.generationcedar.com/main/2009/06/whats-wrong-with-the-shack-13-heresies.html/comment-page-1#comment-40989 Mark Thu, 21 Apr 2011 18:06:10 +0000 http://www.generationcedar.com/main/?p=3306#comment-40989 Hi. I very much appreciate your and the author's(of these 13 points) viewpoint, but I think you are overreacting in some ways. Absolutely there is some content in this book that is inaccurate, BUT it is a FICTIONAL book, billed as such, and I think the overall message warrants as much credit as the underlying problems. This book spoke to my soul! I agree with all your biblical arguements here, except that I think really some are moot as the book didnt come out and SAY straight up some of these things but I guess they could have been inferred. all are moot in that it is fiction. Of course it is a pastors or teachers responsibility to protect their flock and sometimes doing so requires taking an unpopular position, BUT this book has stuff in it that you cannot deny, through the mastery of this authors ability to tell a heart wrenching and at the same time warming story, is real soul searching and speaking stuff! Please give credit where credit is due! Of course there must be doctrinal related warnings with this reading, but to discredit the entire novel based on these is a mistake that I think a lot of folks are making. I am forever changed by this book, but not because of the heresy in it. I find that we as Christians are sometimes too tight around the collar to accept any good, if we can find something questionable in it. and that is NOT how God works in our lives! Blessing always to you for your faith and expression. Mark Hi. I very much appreciate your and the author’s(of these 13 points) viewpoint, but I think you are overreacting in some ways. Absolutely there is some content in this book that is inaccurate, BUT it is a FICTIONAL book, billed as such, and I think the overall message warrants as much credit as the underlying problems.
This book spoke to my soul!
I agree with all your biblical arguements here, except that I think really some are moot as the book didnt come out and SAY straight up some of these things but I guess they could have been inferred. all are moot in that it is fiction. Of course it is a pastors or teachers responsibility to protect their flock and sometimes doing so requires taking an unpopular position, BUT this book has stuff in it that you cannot deny, through the mastery of this authors ability to tell a heart wrenching and at the same time warming story, is real soul searching and speaking stuff!
Please give credit where credit is due!
Of course there must be doctrinal related warnings with this reading, but to discredit the entire novel based on these is a mistake that I think a lot of folks are making.
I am forever changed by this book, but not because of the heresy in it.
I find that we as Christians are sometimes too tight around the collar to accept any good, if we can find something questionable in it. and that is NOT how God works in our lives!

Blessing always to you for your faith and expression.

Mark

]]> By: Jeremy Choate http://www.generationcedar.com/main/2009/06/whats-wrong-with-the-shack-13-heresies.html/comment-page-1#comment-33782 Jeremy Choate Fri, 31 Dec 2010 14:44:59 +0000 http://www.generationcedar.com/main/?p=3306#comment-33782 Hello everyone, I just finished "The Shack", last night, and as usual, I take the approach of eating the meat and spitting out the bones. While I'm not prepared to address all of Dr. Youssef's points, I do think that quite a few of them appear to be taken out of context or inferred. However, I would like to address one statement from the book that I see being roundly condemned: “I don’t need to punish people for sin. Sin is its own punishment, devouring you from the inside. It’s not my purpose to punish it; it’s my joy to cure it.” Parents truly understand that there are two forms of punishment - positive punishment and natural consequences. If I see my son sneaking a cookie from the jar, I could say, "if you eat that cookie, I'm going to give you a spanking." That's positive punishment. If I say, "if you eat that cookie, it will ruin your appetite for dinner." That's a natural consequence. I believe that Young is right in asserting that sin carries its own natural consequences and even the ultimate punishment, eternal separation from God, is the natural consequence of a free-will decision to reject God. However, he goes too far in asserting that God never positively punishes. I think it's rare, but it is certainly within God's purposes (see Nebuchadnezzar, Ananias and Sapphira, etc.) One would have to refute several scriptural passages to assume the belief that God is not a God of punishment as well as a God of mercy. There is a great danger in elevating or emphasizing any of God's attributes above all the others. In doing so, we actually create an idol -- a monster that is undeserving of our worship. Just my $0.02. Hello everyone,

I just finished “The Shack”, last night, and as usual, I take the approach of eating the meat and spitting out the bones. While I’m not prepared to address all of Dr. Youssef’s points, I do think that quite a few of them appear to be taken out of context or inferred.

However, I would like to address one statement from the book that I see being roundly condemned:

“I don’t need to punish people for sin. Sin is its own punishment, devouring you from the inside. It’s not my purpose to punish it; it’s
my joy to cure it.”

Parents truly understand that there are two forms of punishment – positive punishment and natural consequences. If I see my son sneaking a cookie from the jar, I could say, “if you eat that cookie, I’m going to give you a spanking.” That’s positive punishment. If I say, “if you eat that cookie, it will ruin your appetite for dinner.” That’s a natural consequence.

I believe that Young is right in asserting that sin carries its own natural consequences and even the ultimate punishment, eternal separation from God, is the natural consequence of a free-will decision to reject God. However, he goes too far in asserting that God never positively punishes. I think it’s rare, but it is certainly within God’s purposes (see Nebuchadnezzar, Ananias and Sapphira, etc.)

One would have to refute several scriptural passages to assume the belief that God is not a God of punishment as well as a God of mercy.

There is a great danger in elevating or emphasizing any of God’s attributes above all the others. In doing so, we actually create an idol — a monster that is undeserving of our worship.

Just my $0.02.

]]> By: Word Warrior http://www.generationcedar.com/main/2009/06/whats-wrong-with-the-shack-13-heresies.html/comment-page-1#comment-29044 Word Warrior Fri, 22 Oct 2010 12:36:04 +0000 http://www.generationcedar.com/main/?p=3306#comment-29044 My mistake--it doesn't appear the publisher is Christian; I assumed. My mistake–it doesn’t appear the publisher is Christian; I assumed.

]]> By: Jennifer http://www.generationcedar.com/main/2009/06/whats-wrong-with-the-shack-13-heresies.html/comment-page-1#comment-29037 Jennifer Fri, 22 Oct 2010 03:31:36 +0000 http://www.generationcedar.com/main/?p=3306#comment-29037 No kidding. My mom liked "The Shack" and I'm guessing some seasoned Christians might appreciate whatever truths it has. But for many, it can be dangerous. The point about how sin destroys the self was valid, but to say God doesn't punish us as well? Very incorrect, and dangerous. Besides, there are those who are fallen enough to enjoy sin and God often has to punish them while they still live, in order to stop their deeds against others if nothing else. As for "Conversations", it is indeed appalling. I'm still reeling at the diatribe a teen girl who loved it gave me; just trust your heart? Especially as a TEEN? I noticed that the book for teens had far lower ratings than the "Conversations" book for adults on Amazon; I'm guessing even liberal adults couldn't help seeing the consequences that lifting parental authority from teens would have. There's a book for small children too, "The Little Soul", telling children that nobody actually does any wrong, at least not on purpose. I had no idea the book has a "Christian" publisher. No kidding. My mom liked “The Shack” and I’m guessing some seasoned Christians might appreciate whatever truths it has. But for many, it can be dangerous. The point about how sin destroys the self was valid, but to say God doesn’t punish us as well? Very incorrect, and dangerous. Besides, there are those who are fallen enough to enjoy sin and God often has to punish them while they still live, in order to stop their deeds against others if nothing else. As for “Conversations”, it is indeed appalling. I’m still reeling at the diatribe a teen girl who loved it gave me; just trust your heart? Especially as a TEEN? I noticed that the book for teens had far lower ratings than the “Conversations” book for adults on Amazon; I’m guessing even liberal adults couldn’t help seeing the consequences that lifting parental authority from teens would have. There’s a book for small children too, “The Little Soul”, telling children that nobody actually does any wrong, at least not on purpose. I had no idea the book has a “Christian” publisher.

]]> By: Word Warrior http://www.generationcedar.com/main/2009/06/whats-wrong-with-the-shack-13-heresies.html/comment-page-1#comment-29026 Word Warrior Fri, 22 Oct 2010 00:34:07 +0000 http://www.generationcedar.com/main/?p=3306#comment-29026 Thanks, Jen. The subtle nuances (and not so subtle) of some of these new "best seller" books are very dangerous in my opinion. By the way, I saw "Conversations with God for Teens" at a local thrift store and was foaming at the mouth after a few pages. That a Christian publisher would even publish such nonsense is appalling. Thanks, Jen. The subtle nuances (and not so subtle) of some of these new “best seller” books are very dangerous in my opinion. By the way, I saw “Conversations with God for Teens” at a local thrift store and was foaming at the mouth after a few pages. That a Christian publisher would even publish such nonsense is appalling.

]]> By: Jennifer http://www.generationcedar.com/main/2009/06/whats-wrong-with-the-shack-13-heresies.html/comment-page-1#comment-29025 Jennifer Thu, 21 Oct 2010 23:25:44 +0000 http://www.generationcedar.com/main/?p=3306#comment-29025 Great answers, Kelly. Great answers, Kelly.

]]> By: wordwarrior http://www.generationcedar.com/main/2009/06/whats-wrong-with-the-shack-13-heresies.html/comment-page-1#comment-29017 wordwarrior Thu, 21 Oct 2010 20:44:49 +0000 http://www.generationcedar.com/main/?p=3306#comment-29017 Oh, I absolutely agree with you about the difference in punishment and discipline, and yes, if he were talking about Christians, that statement might bear truth. I don't believe he is talking about Christians. For one, it isn't specified and that's an important oversight if it was meant. Secondly, by saying, "it's my joy to cure it" insinuates that he's referring to "all people and all sin". The cure has been supplied; but that cure is only effective in the regenerate, repentant heart, and we know not all are or will be regenerate. Therefore, as Scripture has made clear, God's judgement requires him to "punish" the evildoer/sin/the wicked on judgement day. It is a popular shift (as seen in this book and many others) to deny this part of our holy God because it seems so horrible that our loving God will and must punish sin in the end. But, to say otherwise is, in fact, heresy. Oh, I absolutely agree with you about the difference in punishment and discipline, and yes, if he were talking about Christians, that statement might bear truth.

I don’t believe he is talking about Christians. For one, it isn’t specified and that’s an important oversight if it was meant. Secondly, by saying, “it’s my joy to cure it” insinuates that he’s referring to “all people and all sin”. The cure has been supplied; but that cure is only effective in the regenerate, repentant heart, and we know not all are or will be regenerate.

Therefore, as Scripture has made clear, God’s judgement requires him to “punish” the evildoer/sin/the wicked on judgement day. It is a popular shift (as seen in this book and many others) to deny this part of our holy God because it seems so horrible that our loving God will and must punish sin in the end. But, to say otherwise is, in fact, heresy.

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