We are now at the point where a growing number of Christian organizations are no longer able–or willing–to discern what constitutes an offense against Christ, or what may be spiritually harmful to people.
Stories From The Shack, a live stage event, will open at the WAMU Theatre in Seattle on May 8. Featuring aerial displays, music, and celebrity interviews, this is supposed to provide opportunity to share the stories of those who believe they have been helped by The Shack. Scheduled also is an interview with author Paul Young.
One of the promoters of this event is a Christian radio station, Spirit 105.3 FM. Listed under SPIRIT EVENTS on the station’s website, the prospective attendee is asked:
“Have you ever read The Shack by Paul Young? Did it change your life? The Shack has sold over 20 million copies and has impacted countless lives. It is a story of forgiveness, loss, and hope. Pick up your copy today and get ready for Stories From The Shack, the live theatre event…” [1]
Spirit 105.3′s sister station, KCIS 630 AM, features on its website an advertisement for The Shack, via the station’s Christian Book Club. [2]
The concerns about this novel are well documented. Yet, never is a warning given that this is errant theology layered in fiction. Never are those reading the radio websites informed that Paul Young denies the penal substitutionary atonement of Christ. (READ or LISTEN)
For centuries it has been understood that Jesus was sent by the Father to take our place of punishment for the sins we have committed against Him. He was sacrificed so that we do not have to suffer the Holy wrath of a righteous God. But, remove the substitutionary atonement in our theology, and there is simply no gospel message of Jesus Christ.
In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4;10)
Christ willingly took our place. But there is a catch–we must repent and accept His free gift of Salvation. We must be born again.
Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God and afflicted. But he was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. (Isaiah 53:4-5)
And so Christ became flesh, and offered Himself up for us.
As it turns out, the radio stations are owned by the mega-ministry Crista, which ministers in areas ranging from education, to humanitarian aid, to nursing homes. The stations are simply two of Crista’s many ministerial endeavors. According to the organization’s Statement of Faith:
“We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice; and all that truly repent of their sins and believe in Him are justified on the grounds of His shed blood.” [3]
Yet, the radio station is not honoring this Biblical doctrine. When asked how Spirit 105.3 could take part in promoting The Shack, written by someone who rejects the penal substitutionary atonement, the station’s General Manager, Stan Mak, said it was fictional writing and therefore some poetic license should be given.
Unfortunately, we are not really talking about “poetic license.” Here is what we are really dealing with: For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we not have preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully. (2 Corinthians 11:4)
Stories From The Shack is reportedly scheduled to appear in four cities, with more to come should funding be made available. Remade versions of ”jesus” will continue to spread, brought to us by sincere and likable people like Paul Young and others. Just three years ago, it is doubtful a “Christian” radio station would even have considered being so closely associated with The Shack.
But we are long past times of caution and Biblical discernment. Apostasy is here, and it grows stronger by the day.
PART 2: ”Gay Christian” supporter a key “Stories From The Shack” promoter? READ
Endnotes:
1. Spirit 105.3, SPIRIT EVENTS, http://www.spirit1053.com/spiritevents.php?calendarID=9960&pageNum=1
2. KCIS 630 AM, KCIS Extras, http://www.kcisradio.com/kcisextras.php?articleID=420
3. http://www.ministrywatch.com/profile/Crista-Ministries.aspx
Hope you are writing about this Robison deal.
Thank you friend. That priest who regularly appears on Fox news, is always interviewed on ‘aliens’ and the catholic church. He recently said that if they find intelligent life forms, the church would have to ‘update’ their dogmas. We know what that means..eventually they will say man was created by aliens. The new agers think that there will be a ‘rapture’ and those taken away will be taken away by aliens so that they don’t impede ‘human evolution’. UGH.
You are welcome. I linked to your site today in my post about Robison. Keep it up, my sister, you help many.
Sorry John, Couldn’t find your email. OH MY GOSH ABOUT THE LINK YOU SENT ME. i’M GOING TO HAVE TO WRITE ON THIS!!! This is unbelievable. So emergent in your FACE talking about unity and all that. WOW. Thank you so much for giving me this link.
These stations that support the SHACK, do nbot surprise me. Many of todays Christian radio/TV, are only concerned about the money. I could give many, many examples. Many Christian stations have ministries that attack cardinal teachings of the Historic Christian faith. Many are located in WASHINGTON. One Christian station in AR has 5 anti-Trinitarian ministries airing. They even air the anti-Deity of Christ ministry of Roy Masters. I noticed KCIS has a Southern Gospel program. Are they aware that there are well known SG artists that attack/deny the Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ? One artist has 8 Dove awards to his credit, has written over 300 Gospel songs, many of them well known, and writes and speaks attacking the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus, and the Holy Trinity. His music is played on Christian radio, and he performs concerts in Christian churches. Something’s very wronh here!!!
This station has many a loyal and unsuspecting follower. I saw that the station had a “four pack” of tickets offered–for families in one of the ads on the site. Sad.
We must be moving into the time when it is becoming clear who is and who is not true to the faith. This apostasy simply does not end, but grows every day. Another reason why I don’t bother with “Christian” music.
This is more evidence of the superficial Christianity that is so prevalent in America: bear in mind that not everything labeled ‘Christian’ truly is.
Lyn