CROSS-EXAMINING DETERMINES THE WHOLE TRUTH

Those who have truly repented of their sins and believed in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord are guided by the Holy Spirit in applying God’s inspired biblical written Word (Act 2:38; John 16:13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). Nevertheless, the Bible informs us there are others who do not really repent, and who follow false teachers who twist the Bible-truth to tell them what they want to hear (2 Timothy 4:3-4). 

The devil and his powerful unseen evil forces use false teachers to draw away people from God (Ephesian 6:12). Yet, the Holy Spirit uses his power with the Word of God to cross-examine teachings, and to guide God’s people through the evils and maze of false teachings of this world. The Word of God is powerful and  “is a discerner of the thought and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12; Psalm 119:105; Acts 1:8).

THE LORD IS OUR PERFECT EXAMPLE OF HOW TO DETERMINE THE WHOLE TRUTH

The devil attempted to draw Jesus to be his follower by distorting scriptures. The devil used scriptures out of overall scriptural context and meaning to tempt Jesus three times. But Jesus correctly used other scriptures to rebut and rebuke the devil. Jesus said man should live by every word of God. (Matthew 4:1-7). 

The Word of God instructs the Lord’s followers to study the scriptures to have a correct and comprehensive understanding of God’s words (1 Timothy 2:15; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). We are encouraged to study the scriptures, as people of the Berean Church did. They searched the scriptures to determine if what the Lord’s apostle Paul was teaching them was truly aligned with the Scripture on a whole (Acts 17:11).

AN EXAMPLE OF HOW FALSE TEACHERS MAY LEAD PEOPLE TO COMPROMISE THE TRUTH

Much of false teaching is done from the pulpit. But books like The Shack, may be seen as an example of a continuing line of written works that twist, distort and minimize Scripture to attract a large number of readers away from the whole truth of the Bible. The author of The Shack refers to his book of fiction as “a tale;” but he tells his readers that although his book “is not actually true in one sense, it is still true nonetheless” (p249). And the author says he gets emails from all over the world letting him know how his book had positively “intersected their lives” at some point (p252).  

However, the writer of The Shack does not promise that his book intersects with the spiritual needs of the reader, which would point to Jesus Christ as solely “the way, the truth and the life,” and who leads to God the Father of everlasting happiness (John 14:6). And his book does not point to the Bible as the inspired Word of God, which “thoroughly equips” people to deal with all of life’s needs—spiritual, physical, mental and social; and which guarantees eternal life.  (Timothy 3:16-17; Matthew 6:33; John 3:16).

EXAMINING THE FICTIONAL “TALE” Of THE SHACK IN LIGHT OF BIBLE TRUTH

The Bible, in its entirety, is the divinely inspired revelation of God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son God the Holy Spirit. And the biblical Word of God tells us how our lives should be totally intersected by every word of God. Nevertheless, the Shack uses the names of God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit in different ways than the Bible does. And this fictional work, the writer twists scriptures out of line with their essential biblical meaning, in drawing away people from the Lord. 

>> FICTIONAL PORTRAYAL OF GOD AND HIS LOVE

In the fiction of The Shack, three imaginary persons of God appear in a shack to help a man named Mackenzie to “heal the wound that has grown inside,” because of one of his daughters being murdered; and the way he feels God neglected to respond. The healing process supposedly begins with the three make-believe persons of God demonstrating their love to Mack. They show him examples of how he should demonstrate love, and thereby relieve his own pain, and in the process positively changing the world. 

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 who person misrepresents Jesus, the Son of God, is actually 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).

>> FICTIONAL RECONCILIATION OF THE WORLD

Sarayou counseled Mackenzie: “Every time you forgive, the universe changes; every time you reach out and touch a heart or life, the world changes” (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). Feeling a sense of responsibility to and “for the entire human race,“ Mack repeatedly stated, “I  forgive you. I forgive you. I forgive you.” (p113; p 229). 

Would God need to send his only begotten Son into the world to die for the sins of the  world (John 3:16), if mankind’s love and goodness could reconcile the entire human race (Romans 3:9-12; Isaiah 64:6)?

BIBLE TRUTH ABOUT THE FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT

In the past God spoke through his prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us through his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, by whom he made the universe (Hebrews 1:1-2). Jesus said no one has seen God the Father except the Son of God, who alone came into the world in bodily form to die for the sins of mankind (John 1:18; Philippian 2:6-8). After the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, he asked the heavenly Father to send the Holy Spirit into the world, not in the form of flesh, but as the “Spirit of truth” to glorify God’s only begotten Son Jesus Christ (John 16:13-14). And the Holy Spirit came to live and work in whoever repents of their sins and believes in the atoning sacrificial death of Jesus to conform them to the likeness of Christ (Romans 8:29).

BIBLE REVELATION OF GOD’S LOVE AND RECONCILIATION

God determined that mankind needed a divine sinless Savior in the person of Jesus Christ to reconcile them to God. And the power of the Holy Spirit to conform their character to the likeness of Jesus.

• God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son to die for the sins of mankind, and that whoever repents and believes in his atonement might have everlasting life (John 3:16; Acts 2:38).
• The Bible says repenting and believing  Jesus is the truth, the way, and the life is the only way to God the Father (John 14:6).
• Jesus died for us while we were still sinners; and said no man has greater love than him who lays down his life for us (Romans 5:8; John 15:13). Jesus Christ is the only one who can reconcile the world to God—He reconciles those who repent of their sins and believe in his sacrificial atonement on the cross (2 Corinthians 5:19;  Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38)
• The Holy Spirit came to glorify Jesus Christ (John 16:14); and to live in us as our helper and comforter (1 Corinthians 3:16; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 4:30). He helps us to deal with all problems in our lives, and to be conformed to the likeness of Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of God (Romans 8:28-29).

If we seek first the spiritual kingdom of God and its righteousness by repenting and believing in Jesus Christ as the Bible says, God the heavenly Father, through the Holy Spirit living in us, will provide all other things we need (Matthew 6:33)