TRUE WAY OF SOLVING PEOPLE’S PROBLEMS

TRUE WAY OF SOLVING PEOPLE’S PROBLEMS

There are many books that claim to tell the truth about solving people-problems. Guinness World Records says, “The best-selling book of all times is the Christian Bible.” And It claims all writings of the Bible are “given by inspiration of God,” with the complete solution to all human-problems. Yet, there are many other best-selling books today that offer answers to the problems that people face, which are incompatible with the Bible. How do you decide which is right? Carefully comparing the content of the Bible with that of best-selling books may help in deciding which is right

COMPARING AUTHORITIES OF THE BIBLE AND OTHER BOOKS

For example, the authority of many best-selling books, like “The Shack,” may be compared to the authority of the Bible in helping to decide which is right.

>>> AUTHORITY OF THE BIBLE: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God^] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17). “Men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21). In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. The Son, Jesus Christ, said: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 3:16). The Bible tells how Jesus performed all kinds of miracles that no one else could do (John 15:25). And ^“how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him” Acts 10:38).

>>> AUTHORITY OF THE SHACK: 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).

COMPARING CONTENTS OF WRITINGS:

In Acts 17:11 of the Bible we are told how people of the early Berean Church searched the Scriptures to determine if what even the chosen apostle Paul was teaching them was truly aligned with comprehensive Scriptures. The apostle commended them for examining the Scriptures. And we are urged to study the Scriptures to see if what we are taught is in line with the Scriptures on a whole (2 Timothy 2:15).

The author of “The Shack” refers to his book 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).

“THE SHACK” TELLS A “TALE” ABOUT THE LORD GOD THAT IS OUT OF LINE WITH THE BIBLE.

In the tale or 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 woman named “Papa.” In showing love for Mack, Papa cooks delicious meals and spends time conversing with him. The person in The Shack representing the Son of God is actually called “Jesus.” He takes Mack with him to a place near a peaceful dock on a lake, where he works on 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).

THE BIBLE GIVES GOD’S TRUE TESTIMONY ABOUT THE FATHER, THE SON AND THE 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 demonstrated his love by coming 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).

THE SHACK’S ACCOUNT OF GOD’S RECONCILIATION WITH THE WORLD DOES NOT ALIGN WITH THAT OF THE BIBLE.

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). Sarayou told Mackenzie: “Every time you forgive, the universe changes; every time you reach out and touch a heart or life, the world changes” (p237).

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)?

CERTIFYING THE TRUTH

The Bible certifies God’s true way of solving the problems of mankind. God determined that mankind needed a divine sinless Savior in the person of his Son Jesus Christ to atone for the sins of mankind and reconcile them to God. And that they needed the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit to conform their character to the likeness of Jesus. In this way they are able to live in love and harmony with God and one another. The Bible comments further on this in the following scriptures:

“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, ²but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. ³The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven” (Hebrews 1:1-3).
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 as 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 be conformed to the likeness of Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of God; and to deal with all problems in our lives, and (Romans 8:28-29).

The Bible says “We must obey God rather than human beings!” And 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 who lives in us, will provide all the other things we need—physical, mental, social, etc. (Matthew 6:33).

Yet, because Jesus Christ loves and died for all people, the biblical Word of God tells believers to “pray for all people” (1 Timothy 2:1-6); this includes praying for those who may “distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them” (Acts 20:30). Messengers who mislead people, may themselves be deceived by the spiritual enemy of all people (Ephesians 6:12,18; 2 Corinthians 4:4; 11:13-15).

The Holy Bible instructs its believers to pray and, as God give you opportunity, “Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth” (2 Timothy 2:25). And to as many as believe in the truth of the Son of God as the way, he gives “the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).