A Messy Theology

There is a lot of controversy about the fictional book, The Shack.  It’s been great to read all the differing opinions and articles online about the book.  Some love it, some hate it, and some dismiss it all together.  I read the book the summer after it came out… I think in 2007.  A friend of mine loaned me his copy, and to be straight up about it, I hadn’t thought about it since.  

I had been seeing more blog posts and opinion articles on it as the motion picture adaptation was gearing up to be released.  The other morning I ran into a friend at a local coffee shop and after we spent a moment catching up, he asked me, “So what do you think about The Shack?”.  I smiled and asked, “That sounds like a loaded question.”.  We had a good chuckle.

He shared how a group of his colleagues were in conversation a few weeks back about the book and the discussion got pretty heated.  I was a bit surprised by that.  But after further reflection I can see how people can feel the way they do on both sides of the pro-Shack team and the anti-Shack group.  Some feel it’s a full frontal assault on Christianity and others found it quite powerful as they were able to identify with the main character who suffered some incredible loss.  

The Shack is not scripture.  The Bible is the only authority that we have to derive our understanding of God and His nature.  Theology, the study of God and His nature, for the christian comes from the totality of the canon of scripture.  Fictional writings, commentaries, biographies, writings from the early church fathers and the like are great resources to help in understanding God in our context.  But… this is a big ‘but’… everything must be held against the truth of scripture.  

Can you go and enjoy The Shack motion picture as a christian? Without reservation, absolutely.  Should you derive your understanding of God and stake your faith upon this book, or dare I say, work of art?  No, we should look to scripture to see what God says about His sovereignty in the midst of loss and tragedy.   We should look to scripture to derive an understanding of the Trinity.  Studying the book of Job would give us great insight to the nature of God and the sovereignty of God in the life of the suffering believer.

The slippery slope we run into in the boycott of this fictional tale is, if we’re intellectually honest, we’re then boycotting and protesting The Chronicles of Narnia.  While there are glaring theological deficiencies in this new Hollywood production, this is a fictional story.  The Shack was originally written by Paul Young as a way for his kids to understand him more and “the God that their father was in love with”**.  I commend Mr. Young for his attempt to bear his soul to his children and be vulnerable, putting his messy life and theology out there for all to see (and to criticize… but Mr. Young is making a pretty penny on this… so I don’t feel too bad for him). 

Our view and understanding of God is imperfect at best.  There are realities and truth in scripture that are clear and non-negotiable.  I don’t feel the need to tar and feather a man who is doing his best to understand his Creator and Savior, actually wrestling with the deep things in life.  I applaud those that wrestle with these things in a respectful, dignifying, and in an enlightening manner. This book/movie will be another thing that comes and goes, but the word of God remains… put your trust in that… that’s what I’m doing.

Peace. 

**http://www1.cbn.com/700club/william-young-look-inside-shack

"His Scent Stayed With Me For Days"

The post for this Thursday is a guest post from a friend of mine, Emily Coates, who has been walking with my family and I for a long time.  Emily, with her family, lives in Tacoma, WA.  Her passion is Jesus and it is shown by the love and the high value she places on everyone that she meets.  She posted this on her Facebook page last month and it is worth sharing.  I've asked her permission and she has graciously allowed me to do so.  

...

His scent stayed with me for days. Even after I had showered, applied hair product numerous times, rubbed scented oil into my skin... I would catch a whiff of it, from nowhere. 

"Hey, how's it going"

"Girl, this sunshine is so bright and I'm thankful, but I am STARVING."

"You're hungry?"

"Hungry isn't even the word."

"Are you allergic to anything? What can I get you?" 

"I'm too poor to be allergic to anything. I'll take anything you can spare." 

I went inside, and got as much as I could see and grab quickly. I made a mental note to keep more ready-made foods with protein available in my quick-grab box. 

He stood outside looking nervous. Like maybe he was aware of how big a risk he was taking to ask for exactly what he needed. Like maybe he was afraid I would change my mind. Like maybe he had been hurt before. 

These days are so confusing, and weird. We have to look up news articles to find out what news articles we can trust. I am overwhelmed all. of. the. time. I believe so strongly in the innate value each of us has. These days, it feels like the first thing you have to do to be on any team is strip the other of their dignity and worth. I don't want to be on a team. My Facebook feed is so incredibly small these days, and I analyze every single like or comment I make, wondering, "who will see that I liked what, and what will they think of me for that?" There's so much fighting and mistrust. I have watched comment threads turn into deep wounds among families and friends. I cry for people I have never met, as I see their words twisted and used against them by angry mobs on all sides. Jesus, come soon. 

I walked outside with the offerings I had for this man who had given me the gift of telling me exactly what he needed. He gave me the gift of not being frozen. Of not feeling conflicted about my words or deeds. He needed food. I had some. I handed them over, and he embraced me in a genuine hug. He looked me in the eye, said thank you, and kissed my cheek. His scent lingered for hours, a reminder of this perfect moment. I texted my neighbor and said, "did you catch that?? I just had an interaction that made me feel like everything is going to be okay." That feeling was fleeting, but it was so real. 

So for those of you who, like me, feel like you are fumbling through these bizarre and troubling times: keep your head up and your eyes open. Keep your heart guarded, but not closed. Look for opportunities to plant into this world what you wish to see cultivated. Seek justice, and love kindness. It's not naive to hope. 

I Love you.

Thursday is for Thoughts

So, I've been wanting to write a bit more.  I have a personal goal to become better at writing.  This blog is an effort to do just that.  While I hesitate being another voice amongst a sea of noise, this is more for my benefit than anything.  If you find it helpful or useful, great!  

I am going to try and contribute something every Thursday.  Thursday is for thinking type of thing.  I'm not into the gimmicky things, but it works.   Thursday is for thoughts, Thursday is for theology, Thursday is for tacos (oh wait, that's Tuesday... well can you ever really have enough tacos??), Thursday is for things, etc.

What can you come up with?  Let me know your thoughts!! 

Prosperity of the City

“But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.”  Jeremiah 29:7.

This has been my favorite verse as of late.  It hits me on many levels of my life. 

1. I’m in “exile”.  This is not my home.  As a believer in Jesus Christ, I’m here temporarily as the ambassador of Christ seeking to represent Him and His kingdom by His grace. Heaven is my home. 
2. God sent me here.  My authority and purpose comes from God alone.  Being fearfully and wonderfully made, there is a purpose that I’m to fulfill and be obedient too. 
3. I’m to seek the welfare/peace of those in the city.   This is a mandate of God to His people.  While this is an Old Testament passage for a specific time and people, there is a real practical parallel when we look at Matthew 28 and the great commission; also the effective playing out of the book of Acts.  
4. I’m to intercede for the people.  The prayer of intercession is a command that is given by God Himself.  That I become integral and integrated into the life of the the community, being able to beseech God on it’s behalf. 
5. That when the city (the people) prospers, so will I.  Everything about this verse is outward focused, save this part.  There is something in us that wants things to go well in our lives.  This is accomplished when we focus on the betterment of others, we too are then better.  This is the paradox of Christianity… when we lose our lives for Christ’s sake, we find them.  When we become servants to the “least of these”, we are among the greats in the Kingdom. 

I find the few verses that come after this verse pretty humorous.  

“For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that they dream, for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you in my name; I did not send them, declares the Lord.”  Jeremiah 29:8–9

You have God telling the people, through Jeremiah, don’t listen to your prophets.  The prophets normally spoke for God, they were His mouth piece.  But here He says, “do not listen to them… I did not send them.”   Meaning that there was an ordained time to where He was sending them into exile.  He was purposefully sending them into hardship.  Sending them to a specific place, with a specific purpose, for a specific time. If there was someone with a contrary message... it wasn't from God, even if they said it was!

Now, look again at the list I wrote above.  

I think there is something we need to consider changing if our actions and rhetoric alienate us and distance us from the people we are sent to serve.  It’s easy to serve ourselves and look out for our own interests.  As Christians, we are called to serve something and Someone greater.  Who are we to be serving? Ultimately, Jesus, but played out through those we find around us as we examine where we live, work, and play.  

“Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’  Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’  Matthew 25:44–45

This isn’t an easy thing to do.  It’s actually really hard to do consistently.  The balance we strike is striving to be holy and righteous in our conduct in and amongst an unrighteous people, who may or may not want anything to do with us.  I strive to serve and fear a holy God and at the same time show grace and mercy to those I come in contact with, because He shows that same extravagant grace to me.  

Studying the gospels, I feel that the more I grasp and see what Jesus has done, I have an example to follow.  Seeing my own need for Jesus, gives me the tenacity to pursue others and the ideas of how I might be apart of sowing shalom in my city.  

May God grant us the grace and strength to pursue “the city”, seeking it’s peace and welfare.  For when it prospers, so will we. 

All Bible verses quoted from The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.