Some Thoughts on the Shack Book

Staying on the cutting edge, as always, I just finished the wildly popular Christian book, The Shack.  People have been asking me for a while to read it and “give my thoughts.”  I am not a huge reader, though I go through spurts of reading, and of course, like most of us I wish I read more.  (At least I wish I wanted to read more)

So I finally did get around to read it, and to be honest I am kind of scared to write a full review of the book.  Why?  I am not sure there has been a more polarizing book in a long time.  There are two, very distinct, categories of people that want my thoughts on this book.  First are those that think this is the greatest book ever and is now the definitive Christian book on answering the question of how a Christian should deal with pain and suffering.  The second group are ready to reinstate heresy panels whereby the author may be tried, convicted and excommunicated.

Let me just say that my feelings on the book are, well, shall we say, somewhere in between the two.  I am afraid that whatever I say, I won’t love it enough or hate it enough to satisfy anyone.  “Come on, you spineless weasel! Take a stand.”

I think what he has to say about the “problem of pain” is actually pretty sound and comforting.  He pictures God as not the cause of pain, but one who will use the pain in our lives to bring some good.  All pain, in one form or another, is derived from the world’s separation from God and independence.  Again, God does not cause this pain, but it is a natural consequence from the collective rebellion of people.  Why then does God not choose to intervene and prevent pain?  The author gives a solid two part answer.  God desires to give us freedom and choice, and who knows how much pain and suffering he is preventing.  We will never know, because he prevented it.  Does that leave you unsatisfied?  Probably, and rightly so.  There are some questions that cannot be answered simply, and I don’t believe that even 48 hours in the physical presence of God can give satisfactory, complete answers to some of these questions.

Does the author go too far some times?  Yes.  I would say that he is not a theological scholar when it comes to the Trinity.  Is that going to bend me out of shape?  No.  Was I shocked by his portrayal of God as a black woman?  No.  Was he trying to be shocking?  Yes.  Again, does some of what he does go too far?  Well, what do we even mean by that?  He reduces God to human form as three separate people.  Even the author recognizes this will be incomplete.  Should he have therefore not done it? Of course not.  Anytime we describe or try to explain who God is, we will use limited analogies and words.  It doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t try.  We just need to recognize the limits, which I believe the author does.

All that to say, I am not a big fan of trying to be shocking for shock value sake.  “God’s a black! woman!  Ooooooohh.”  I found the book to drag in parts.  It still was a pretty quick read.  It is worth your time to read, especially if you have a personal interest in the question of how can their be pain and a loving God.  If you are a theological, doctrinal watchdog, as I can be sometime, you will have to turn some of that off at times and say, “it’s a fiction book.  It’s a fiction book.”

Well, despite my original intent, I did comment some on this.  Did you read it?  What did you think?  Any specific questions that you wish I had answered? Topic I should have covered?  Let me know.

Fellowship Journal

Hey Everyone,

I just wanted to make sure that you all knew that I am the blogger o’ the week at Fellowship Journal this week.  Check it out:

http://www.myfellowshipjournal.com/

Blog organization

The blog is now about six weeks old, and just like my desk, car and life, I wonder if it is getting little disorganized.  Give me some feedback and some advice on how it could be organized differently or if you think that is just fine.  I am especially concerned about the “Lists” section, a few more of those and the drop down menu will be unmanageable.  Come on organized people, what do you think? If you think, it’s fine, relax you OCD freakshow, that’s good too.  Just let me know what you think.

Baptizing Children

Before we get started, if you are looking for a post about whether or not our church baptizes infants and why the other churches are wrong, you will have to go somewhere else.  I will intentionally inject controversy into this site at another time, and certainly with a different topic.  Suggestions?

Anyway, one of my most favorite parts of my job is when I find out that children want to get baptized.  They have received Christ and want to take the next step.  Typically they will come up to me and tell me and the parents will ask, “what do we need to do?”  This is where, sometimes, pastors and parents can get a little squirrely. (Hmm, the spell check did not recognize the word squirrely.)  We feel this pressure at times to “make sure” that the child has become a genuine believer and we can put together a checklist of things that a child must say or do to be “ready” to be baptized.

I get this.  I have been there myself.  I was hesitant to baptize both of my kids when they were young.  As a parent, you want to make sure that they are making the decision to get baptized for the right reason, not because their friends do it, parents want them to, or (I’ve heard this one) it looks cool and I like water.  This is important and is why I want to talk to not just kids but adults as well before they are baptized.  We want their baptism to be a memorable moment that came from a genuine decision.

However, we go too far when we begin to inflict upon our children a very rigorous theological test.  How well do they understand Trinitarian theology and do they have a full grasp on the doctrine of substitutionary atonement?  You may be thinking, what?  If so, in part you have made my point.  We want children to have a depth to theology that they aren’t capable of having yet and we get nervous if they don’t.

Mark 10:13-16

¹³People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. ¹⁴When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. ¹⁵I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” ¹⁶And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

Jesus says that all of us need to receive God’s kingdom like a child.  He doesn’t say that children need to receive the kingdom like an adult.  How do children receive?  They very believe simply and sincerely.  They know that God loves them.  They know that their sin is wrong and they know that Jesus gave his life for them.  Is it intellectually deep? No.  Is it sincere and passionate? Absolutely.

All that to say, I love talking with children and hearing them express their love for God and their desire to follow him.  I love hearing their simple passion that comes from deep inside their hearts.  They come to talk to me in part for me to teach them more about the gospel.  Often they teach me more in the faith that they model.

Men’s Leadership and Braveheart

I am putting together a series for our Men’s Leadership class that uses scenes from Braveheart.  Something along the lines of Biblical lessons on servant leadership from Braveheart.  I hate title.  We’ll get a better one.  As the series unfolds, we will put on cloften.com so people could go through it online or use it in other ways.  Anyway, what are the most inspiring scenes from Braveheart for you?

Can Pastors Like Each Other?

Something happened today that was fun for me and seemed normal to me.  I saw a fellow pastor drive past me and pull into a restaurant.  (Ok, I will tell you who it is.  It was Paul Luman from Grace Family Church.  Website here).  I immediately pulled out my phone and texted him (I wasn’t driving.  I would never text and drive.  It’s against the law, you know.)  I said “I just saw the coolest pastor in town pulling into Colton’s.”  (I like inserting links).  We texted back and forth teasing each other.  It ended with him complementing this blog and me saying thanks.

Does that seem unusual to you?  Shouldn’t I be sending him hate mail?  Shouldn’t I be jealous, resentful and disdainful towards other pastors?  In our world, it is not unusual.  I really like Paul.  Would it surprise you that I spoke at one of the men’s groups at his church? Would it surprise you that men from his church come to one of our men’s groups?  Would it surprise you that some of my best friends in Cabot are “rival” pastors?  Would it surprise you that I recommend their churches to people?  Would it surprise you that I have recommended their churches to people who were currently visiting our church?

We are not rivals.  We are not competitors.  We are on the same team.  How can two churches trying to accomplish the same goals, led by the same God be on different teams?  The answer is rhetorical and obvious, if not rightly applied by people.

I hope that wherever you go to church, that God is blessing you and using you to impact the world.  I hope that all churches in Cabot and Central Arkansas and around the world prosper.  We are all on the same team.  Do you believe that?  I hope you do.

Fellowship Journal

Just finished writing next week’s blog posts for myfellowshipjournal.com. We will finish Mark next week and then start Romans.  Be sure to go to the site every day (I mean now, not when my blogs go live).  This is a great way to get into the Bible every day.  When the year is over, you will have read through the entire New Testament, connected with 26 different pastors and staff at Fellowship, and with people all around Central Arkansas and the world.  What a great discipline to start the year with.

BTW, writing is hard, especially if you want what you write to be insightful and interesting.  I am very tired right now.  Hats off to people who are writers and can do it well.

Date Your Daughter

I just got back from a date with my younger daughter Lauren.  We went to go see Alvin and the Chipmunks the Squeakuel (more on this later) and then had lunch at TGIFridays.  However, what we did doesn’t matter near as much as that we did it.  I love spending time with her.  I love spending time with each of the three ladies in my life.  It is amazing how lucky I am that I am the most important person in the world to three different ladies.  Last night when I told her that we would have a date today, her face lit up.  I would do anything to see that look on her face.  How special it is that spending time with me would be enough to make her light up like that.

How do I want her to remember her dad growing up?  My dad was so cool, he had a blog.  My dad was great, no one could watch sports on TV like him.  He was great at playing video games.  I think not.  I want her to know and remember that I would often take time out of my week to spend one on one time with her, talking to her, doing the things that she loves to do.  I want her to remember how much I loved her and how valuable she was.

What I have to remember and all dads need to know is that how I treat her greatly affects three views she has.  How does she view herself?  Is she beautiful? Is she valuable?  How does she view what to expect in a boyfriend/husband?  How will he treat me? What does love mean?  How does she view God?  She will continue to read in the Bible and hear at Church that God is Father.  What image will she have when she hears that?  What is a father like?

I want Lauren to know that she is of immeasurable value, and that a date should treat her with utmost respect.  Most importantly, I want her to think that a father, like her heavenly Father, loves her unconditionally and would sacrifice himself for her the way God did/does through His son, Jesus.  I want her to know that her dad loves her deeply.

Community and Christmas

Guest blogger JohnO

My Christmas tree growing up was made up of what is affectionately known as “homemade” ornaments.  NO, not just any old ornament would do, these had to be original.  They were lovingly assembled by children who thought that what they had crafted was nothing less than a masterpiece.  I grew up loving our tree and the different symbols displayed for all to see.  I often wonder what others who visited our home thought about when they saw the ornaments hanging on our tree.  You see, the thing is, my tree growing up represents true community.     We had collected an assortment of different pieces; large and small, red and blue, green and purple–different.     Each ornament had it’s own identity.  Each represented a thought, a creative idea, a picture of Christmas.

I can’t help but compare my tree to how I see living in community.  We all bring different thoughts, feelings, and ideas to our local church.  We have colorful pasts and each of us brings a unique story to this journey called the Christian life.    Individually,  the ornaments may not have been much to look at, but together they do what could never do alone…..tell a story about an amazing Savior.

No Stress at Christmas

I want to give you permission to not be stressed the rest of this week.  I wish I had told you this earlier this month.  For many of you it is already too late.  If you’ve been stressed, take a break.  Also, if you are stressed, I want to give you permission to not feel guilty about it.  Too often one of our Christmas traditions is to be super-stressed at Christmas and then feel guilty about it, because we are forgetting the real meaning of Christmas.  We then go to church and a well-meaning (?) pastor heaps more guilt on us for being too materialistic, stressed and not focusing on God enough.

I would like for you to give yourself a break from that.  The fact that we are too stressed, materialistic and we don’t focus on God enough will still be true in January and February.  You can work on those issues then.  For now, just take a deep breath, finish your checklist and enjoy your family, enjoy giving gifts to each other, go to a Christmas Eve service at your church, or another if you don’t have a church home or your church doesn’t have a Christmas Eve service.  Remember this, God loves you, Jesus came to give you life, and he really doesn’t want you to be overly stressed at his birthday party.

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