Has anyone ever read the book called "The Shack"? It is a very popular book that presents a different - very different for some people - view of God and His relationship with people. I will not give a summary of the book or spoil the ending or anything, but if you have read it then you know what I am talking about. And if you have not read it, then I hope that you do. At the very least, it is an interesting read.
But here is the problem that we run into when things like this come out. These are the things that are on the edge - the things that are slightly controversial but extremely helpful. There are two groups that people fall into when these books or videos or music comes out: the group that immediately denounces these things because they do not agree with strict Christian theology and the group that gets something out of these books that helps their lives. But we do not need to form these two opposing groups. We do not need to have controversies and arguments and meaningless debates with two sides who will never change their positions. We don't need to have rebels, and we don't need to have theological dictators.
What we need to have is a Middle Road - a place where we can all walk together.
Recently, I have been researching what the Christian media has been saying about The Shack because of a discussion that I have been having with the editor of Treasure Valley Christian News. But this discussion and mild research has brought to light a disturbing phenomenon. It is something that we need to stop doing because it is getting us nowhere.
These controversial books and resources are something that certain Christian leaders and media members like to prey upon. It seems like anything - anything - that is inconsistent with theology and Scriptures is immediately deemed heresy and red stamped with a "DO NOT READ" sticker. It almost seems like these leaders use a metal detector to find things that could potentially somehow cause people to go astray - while completely ignoring any benefits that the books can have, as well. In the case of The Shack, the book is a fiction book. It is not meant to be a systematic theology or a Bible study. It is simply a fiction book that wants to try to tell a story that can help people connect better with the Lord.
And that is exactly what it does. Despite any of its alleged or real faults, the book does a great job of helping people get closer to Christ. Maybe proponents of the book are too defensive and are furthering the argument - but that is beside the point. It is undeniable that The Shack has helped people get one step (or many steps) closer to God. Basically, The Shack is an interesting fiction book that has uniquely helped people get closer to God.
We have to quit arguing. We have to quit putting things down because they are minutely off-base - so minutely that no one would ever notice if leaders and media members had not negatively identified them. While theology and Scripture are definitely important to our faith, its defense needs to be tempered with reason and experience. The Shack is a good book that can help people get closer to the Lord - plus it does not hurt to be reminded of our Scriptural and theological foundation.
Our in-house fights and controversies are getting us nowhere. But if we figure out how to walk on the Middle Road together - well, that will take us somewhere.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
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