Posted on 06/09/2010 12:11:25 PM PDT by Alex Murphy
Q: Am I surprised at the opposition to "Burning Down the Shack" that has arisen in some segments of the Christian community. What accounts for this?
Answer: On the one hand, I am surprised, for the Christian community ought to be concerned ultimately for the truth, which, Jesus said, is alone able to set us free (John 8:32). All books, including fiction, ought to be critiqued with this in view.
Christian fiction does not get a free pass to say any thing it wishes. It belongs to a literary type called theological fiction where the doctrine is the main point and the story line is brought into the service of the doctrine. "The Shack" and other recent fiction (as well as some much earlier) belong to this genre....
Both Jesus himself and the Apostles warn Christians not to be deceived. Jesus condemned those who substituted their tradition for the authority of the revelation of the Old Testament. In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, he appealed to Moses and the Prophets as giving authoritative revelation about life after death; and that this was sufficient for people to find truth about the afterlife. Even if one should return from the dead (which Jesus would later do), people would not be convinced if they have rejected Scripture (see Luke 13), which is what happened after his resurrection.
In addition, the Apostle Paul warned in the severest terms about distorting the Gospel. He condemns to hell those who teach another gospel that differs from what he proclaimed (see Galatians 1). If "The Shack" fails to tell the truth, then it should be exposed. All writing should be so critiqued by asking: Does it measure up to the touchstone of Scripture?
(Excerpt) Read more at wnd.com ...
Christian fiction does not get a free pass to say any thing it wishes. It belongs to a literary type called theological fiction where the doctrine is the main point and the story line is brought into the service of the doctrine. "The Shack" and other recent fiction (as well as some much earlier) belong to this genre. Unfortunately, many Christians are blissfully unaware of the need to read such fiction with special care....
I think quite a few Christians have been lured into enjoying this brand of theologically questionable fiction and don’t wish to be brought face-to-face with their having been deceived. At best, it’s a waste of time when we consider the very good literature that ought to be read.
But anyone who reads a novel expecting truth is a numbskull.
someone gave me a copy, raving about how great it was. I read the first chapter, skimmed the next dozen or so pages, then put it down. Theology aside, it’s badly written, and, in general, incredibly lame.
I started to read “The Shack” because the blurb on the cover had so many endorsements from well-known Christians.
About half-way through it, I felt a very bad “check” on my spirit to STOP reading and discard the book. NOT DONATE to Goodwill, or pass it on, like I usually do, but destroy it.
I trust those insights.
a lot of Christians read Harry Potter and/or the Twilight series and claim that theres nothing wrong with them...
yes well other than being unBiblical...
At best, it’s a waste of time when we consider the very good literature that ought to be read.
The market for (nominally) Christian schlock fiction is huge.
At the nearest Borders, as one for instance, there is more shelf space devoted to Christian romances and silly little fantasies than there is for all theology. And that includes Orthodox, RC, liberal/pagan, LDS and the mad-at-God pop atheists.
About half-way through it, I felt a very bad “check” on my spirit to STOP reading and discard the book. NOT DONATE to Goodwill, or pass it on, like I usually do, but destroy it.I trust those insights.
I've got a shelf especially for the questionable to heretical to non-Christian stuff.
I’ve actually got no desire whatsoever to read “Teh Shack”. Not time enough to read the good stuff.
You are SO RIGHT about that
Entertainment is a sin.
And you NEVER EVER in your life at ANY time do ANYTHING that is not expressly approved of by the Bible?
Why would I want to do that ???
You never go have fun without reading the Bible to make sure the activity that you are about to enjoy is in there?
I have less of a problem with “Christian” fiction posing as fiction than with fiction posing as sound Biblical teaching (e.g. anything by messrs Hinn and Dollar).
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