Choosing The Bible Over Fiction: In the Bible, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, says “I am the way and the truth and the life”—the only way to God our heavenly Father (John 14:6; John 3:16). But the biblical Word of God also says, “the time will come when…they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to [fiction]” (2 Timothy 4:3-4). However, the Bible is the inspired Word of God—the whole truth (2 Timothy 3:16-17). And our Lord Jesus Christ condemns anyone who adds to or takes away from the words of the Bible (Revelation 22:18-19). Nevertheless, books like The Shack by Wm. Paul Young, may add to and take away from the Bible by fictionalizing parts of it. No matter how entertaining man’s fictions are, we should choose to believe in God’s Holy Word as the only way to our heavenly Father.
CHOOSING HOW WE SEE GOD
A Biblical Presentation of God
In the past God spoke through his prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us through his Son, Jesus Christ, by whom he made the universe (Hebrews 1:1-2). Jesus said no man has seen God the Father except the only begotten Son of God who is from God (John 1:18).
Although Jesus was equal with God, Jesus chose to become a servant of God the Father, by taking a human to die as an atonement for the sins of mankind (Hebrews 10:7; Philippians 2:6-8).
Jesus said, I am the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except by me, his only begotten Son (John 14:6). For God so love the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life; but whoever does not believe in him is already condemned (John 3:16-18).
After the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit came into the world, not in the flesh, but as the “Spirit of truth” to glorify Jesus (John 16:13-14). And to empower believers to obey the Lord (Acts 1:8).
A Fictional Portrayal of God
In the fiction of The Shack, three imaginary persons of God appear in a shack to help a man named Mackenzie “heal the wound that has grown inside,” because of one of his daughters being murdered and the way God neglected to respond. The healing process begins with the three demonstrating their love to Mack as an example of how he should show love and forgiveness to whoever has cause his pain.
The person of God the Father is portrayed as “Papa.” In showing his love, Papa cooks delicious meals and spends time conversing with Mack. The person represents Jesus, the Son of God, is called “Jesus.” He takes Mack with him to a place near a peaceful dock and lake, where he engages in building a loving relationship (chapter 7). The Holy Spirit, depicted as “Sarayou,” shares love and affection while escorting Mack through her “magnificent garden” (chapter 9). Mack became so impress with their demonstrations of love that he told them, “I really want what the three of you share” (p148).
CONSIDERING TEACHINGS ABOUT RECONCILIATION WITH GOD
Teachings of the Bible
It is by the atoning cross of Jesus we are healed (Isaiah 53:5). God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son; and whoever repent and believe in him should not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16; Acts 2:38).
This is how we know what the greatest love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we should lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. (John 15:13; 1 John 3:16). Those of us who follow Jesus Christ are empowered by the Holy Spirit to conform our lives to the likeness of the Son of God. We are enabled by the by the Spirit to obey our Lord. And to teach and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ so that others might be drawn to him, to repent, believe and be saved from their sins.
By preaching the good news of Jesus Christ, “many are called but few are chosen” as a result of repenting and believing the gospel (Matthew 22:14; Romans 10:14-15). Jesus said, enter in through the narrow gate, for the gate to destruction is wide, and the road that leads to hell is easy; and there be many that enter it (Matthews 7:13). The Bible says, many shall turn their ears from the whole truth of the gospel and turn aside to fables. And for this reasons God will allow them to believe a delusion and a lie that they might be damned. (2 Timothy 4:4; 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12; Proverbs 14:12).
Yet, the Bible says God does not want anyone to perish (2 Peter 3:19). The Lord instructs those of us who are blessed to believe in the truth, to gently and prayerfully instruct those who do not believe the truth of Scripture, in the hope God will grant them repentance to believe in the truth of Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 2:25).
Teachings of Fiction
Sarayou counseled Mackenzie: “Every time you forgive, the universe changes; every time you reach out and touch a heart or life, the world changes; and with every kindness and service, seen or unseen, my purposes are accomplished and nothing will ever be the same again” (p237). Papa advised Mack: “You will discover a miracle in your heart that will allow you to reach out and begin to build a bridge of reconciliation” (p 228). Furthermore Papa told him, “there is power in what my children declare” – Mack declared with increasing conviction, “I forgive you. I forgive you. I forgive you” (page 229). In his encounters with God, Mack felt he was acting “for the entire human race” (p113).
Speaking on forgiveness and reconciliation of mankind, Papa said: “In Jesus I have forgiven all humans for their sins against me” (p227)—I don’t do humiliation, or guilt, or condemnation…They were nailed into Jesus on the cross” (p225). “Through his death and resurrection, I am now fully reconciled to the world” (p194). Mack followed Papa’s statements with questions: “The whole world? You mean those who believe in you ,right?” Papa did not respond to questions about believing in Jesus Christ, or about the need to repent to be reconciled with God. (p194).
CHOOSING THE BIBLE GOSPEL OVER FICTION
The author of The Shack refers to his book as “a tale” and tells his readers that maybe his book “is not actually true in one sense, it is still true nonetheless” (p249). Not actually true—still true? Who would believe such nonsense? Yet, the author says he gets emails from all over the world letting him know how his book had “intersected their lives” (p252). The Bible, which “is given by inspiration of God,” which tells the whole truth, says that in the last days many people would turn away from the truth to fables—which might be called fictions today (2 Timothy 4:3-4). Scripture says, “let God be true, and every human being a liar” (Romans 3:4). Are people who prefer to believe fiction like the Shack rather than the Bible, a case of those whom God has allowed to be under “strong delusion… that they may be damned who believe not the truth” (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12)? God knows for sure.
No matter what the intention of or method used by a teacher, pointing out their teaching that is not aligned with God’s Word may prevent some people from being misled and separated from God forever. Our responsibility as people who believe in and live by the truth of the Bible is to teach and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ that many others might choose to believe in our Savior and Lord.
