“The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?” (Jeremiah 5:31)
In the novel, The Shack, the “Jesus” says of “God,” “Isn’t she great?” (pg.88)
Actually–theologically–she’s a horror.
With all the controversy still raging around this novel, with the author’s admission that he does not believe the Father punished Christ on the cross for our sins, a demonic goal has been accomplished: Goddess worship has entered the church.
This may seem like a wild exaggeration.
Yet, as Professor Mary Kassian has noted, the liberal, mainstream church introduced “Christa,” a “female” version of the Lord decades ago. There has been a significant change since that liberal, limited attempt of the 1980s–that is, the Body of Christ as a whole is far more amenable to errant theology. No denomination has entirely rejected the lure of The Shack.
According to Kassian, “The Shack contains terribly wrong concepts about God. Plain and simple. If you think it doesn’t, then you’re well on your way to accepting the image of the Christa on the cross. In a few years, you’ll be hanging her up in your church. I don’t think I’m overstating the case. In my book I’ve carefully documented the way it happened in mainline churches. The arguments used to justify their feminist Christa are the same ones The Shack uses to justify its feminized version of God. In essence, there’s no difference between the artistic image of a feminized Jesus (a.k.a. “Sophia”) hanging on a cross and the artistic image of a feminized Aunt Jemima Papa god in a book. If the latter doesn’t offend you, then the former really shouldn’t.” (Re-Imagining God In The Shack by Mary Kassian)
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12)
There are three objectives in spreading The Shack theology among God’s people: The introduction of goddess worship; the introduction of a false “christ;” and a denial of the purpose of the cross.
Thus the fertile garden of the apostate church becomes increasingly evident. How else is it even possible that Christians can defend this book EVEN AFTER THE AUTHOR HAS DENIED SUBSTITUTIONARY ATONEMENT? This is not to say that every single person deceived by this book is apostate. Not at all. But look at the defense of this thing, despite all the Biblical evidence warning against it. This signifies something.
This spirit has seethed its way into hearts before. Consider the experience of the prophet Jeremiah:
As for the message that you have spoken to us in the name of the Lord, we are not going to listen to you! (Jeremiah 44:16)
But rather we will certainly carry out every word that has proceeded from our mouths, by burning sacrifices to the QUEEN OF HEAVEN and pouring out drink offerings to her… (Jeremiah 44:17)
Call it a novel if you wish; stray from Biblical understanding for purposes of entertainment; but beware, He may not be as malleable, or as casual, as you choose to believe. Because the Lord is not the Father-goddess of The Shack.
I read this book and am sorry to say that I passed it on to a friend. At the time I was not aware that the spirit had crept into our midst and was deceiving unsuspecting folks into accepting another gospel. Even after reading the scriptures and hearing preaching regarding the end times and how if it were possible even the very elect would be deceived, one would not suspect it to come in this manner. The author seems so sincere in his explanation of wanting to leave his children with a picture of GOD that will be beneficial to them. DUH. IS the BIBLE not enough!
Thanks for sharing this. Great insight. I personally have not read this novel, but to my mind, the image that it promotes of the Godhead is quite dangerous and is nothing but seed being sown by the enemy to open up the elect to being led astray by false doctrine.
Thanks for the kind words, Julie.
Thank you for using your gift of discernment to speak God’s truth boldly. The darker the times get, the more strength and courage we need to stand strong for God. We need His help daily.
People are still trying to conform GOD into their image or what their little brains tell them about GOD..It is a mockery that people won’t take GOD’S WORD for it!!!!
Thank you, Joann. The Shack in many ways can be seen as a dividing line between the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the other gospel spoken of in Galatians, which is not the gospel at all.
John,
I pray God will use this to open the eyes of so many who are ignorantly led astray. Hopefully they will repent and return. May God bless you for not calling evil good.
Joann Brookhart