Monday, 30 November 2009
Wednesday, 25 November 2009
CHOCOLATE MILLIONAIRE'S SHORTBREAD
Ingredients
200g/7oz plain flour
25g/1oz cornflour
25g/1oz chocolate
175g/6oz unsalted butter, cubed
75g/3oz golden caster sugar
397g can Carnation Caramel
200g/7oz plain or milk chocolate, broken into squares
Line a 23cm/9in loose based round tin with non stick baking paper
Method
1 Preheat the oven to gas mark 4/180C (160C in a fan oven)
2 Put flour, cornflour, cocoa, butter and sugar in a bowl, rub in until it forms crumbs, then press together to form a ball. Alternatively put the ingredients into a processor and blend until the mixture forms crumbs, then pulse a little more till it forms a ball.
3 Next, turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead to combine. Press into prepared tin and bake for 20 mins, till firm to touch. remove from oven and cool.
4 Spread caramel over chocolate shortbread. Melt the chocolate either in the microwave as per manufacturers instructions or traditionally in a bowl over a pan of simmering water. Spoon on top of the Caramel, spread evenly, to cover.
200g/7oz plain flour
25g/1oz cornflour
25g/1oz chocolate
175g/6oz unsalted butter, cubed
75g/3oz golden caster sugar
397g can Carnation Caramel
200g/7oz plain or milk chocolate, broken into squares
Line a 23cm/9in loose based round tin with non stick baking paper
Method
1 Preheat the oven to gas mark 4/180C (160C in a fan oven)
2 Put flour, cornflour, cocoa, butter and sugar in a bowl, rub in until it forms crumbs, then press together to form a ball. Alternatively put the ingredients into a processor and blend until the mixture forms crumbs, then pulse a little more till it forms a ball.
3 Next, turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead to combine. Press into prepared tin and bake for 20 mins, till firm to touch. remove from oven and cool.
4 Spread caramel over chocolate shortbread. Melt the chocolate either in the microwave as per manufacturers instructions or traditionally in a bowl over a pan of simmering water. Spoon on top of the Caramel, spread evenly, to cover.
Tuesday, 17 November 2009
Courtship and Marriage; Divorce and Remarriage
When I was a member of a Christian group on MSN I did 2 studies (was supposed to be 3, but never got around to doing the 3rd) on Godly Relationships! These are the 2:
Marriage and Courtship
It is such a vast subject that I can't cover it all so these topics just skim the surface of a vast ocean of godly living for couples.
Please remember, dear brothers and sisters, that: 2 Timothy 3
16All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. We also have to remember that because God is truth and He cannot lie, then His word is absolute truth too.
16All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. We also have to remember that because God is truth and He cannot lie, then His word is absolute truth too.
Marriage is so important to God, it was the first institution to be set up by Him.
Genesis 2
18And the LORD God said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him." 19Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. 20So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him.
21And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.
23And Adam said:
"This is now bone of my bones
And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man."
24Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
25And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
18And the LORD God said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him." 19Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. 20So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him.
21And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.
23And Adam said:
"This is now bone of my bones
And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man."
24Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
25And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
He instituted it for long term companionship, security, procreation and because we are uniquely created in His image and different from the animals.
It is a picture of God's covenant with His people, the Israelites and was not to be broken
Malachi 2
11Judah has dealt treacherously,
And an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem,
For Judah has profaned
The LORD's holy institution which He loves:
He has married the daughter of a foreign god.
People who fall away from this covenant had to be delivered
Proverbs 2
16To deliver you from the immoral woman,
From the seductress who flatters with her words,
17Who forsakes the companion of her youth,
And forgets the covenant of her God.
Marriage is also a picture of Christ's relationship with His church
Ephesians 5
23For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.
25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
Revelation 21
9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, "Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife."
At the heart of marriage there is to be intimacy and oneness
Genesis 2
18And the LORD God said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him."
Genesis 2
24Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
God only intended marriage to be between a man and a woman - we see this clearly in all of these verses. Also sexual union must only take place after marriage:
Hebrews 13
4Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
I would go further and say that 2 people should not start courting unless they have marriage in mind! God takes His covenant seriously, and so should we!!
Sexual union is the ultimate binding together of the lifetime covenant between a man and woman - it is the sealing of their marriage vows. In effect they are both saying that they belong to each other and no other human! To have a relationship involving any sexual activity before marriage is going against God's eternal plan, not just for Christians but for the whole of humanity. It is also committing fornication - something Scripture condemns!
Far too many Christians take courtship and marriage too lightly - before entering into any relationship time should be spent on both sides praying and seeking the Lord's divine wisdom and counsel! You ask permission to marry a person from your earthly father, how much more we should consult with our Heavenly Father on these things!! God sees marriage as being very important. Contrary to modern thinking - marriage and the family are still the backbone of society! Why do you think Satan is using all his power to attack this very institution that is at the centre of God's heart?
Who should I marry then? The Bible is very clear on this issue:
2 Corinthians 6
14Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
"I will dwell in them
And walk among them.
I will be their God,
And they shall be My people."
17Therefore
"Come out from among them
And be separate, says the Lord.
Do not touch what is unclean,
And I will receive you."
18"I will be a Father to you,
And you shall be My sons and daughters,
Says the LORD Almighty."
Amos 3
3Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?
God tells us in His word that we are not to be conformed to this world (Romans 12:2). We have to be seperated from all worldliness - how can we be seperate if we marry someone who is of this world and has no love for Christ in their hearts? Christ would never allow an unbeliever to be part of His bride!
Mixed marriages lead to sin:
Exodus 34
16and you take of his daughters for your sons, and his daughters play the harlot with their gods and make your sons play the harlot with their gods.
Also read in 1 Kings 11, how Solomon turned to the gods of his heathen wives!!
In Nehemiah 13:23-27 - judgement fell upon those who were deliberately marrying heathens!!
We need to stand firm in the faith and not do as the world does - the world waters down the word and makes it ineffective for witnessing! How can God bless us and send His Holy Spirit down to revive the church if we are going against His will and word? If we honour Him, He will honour us (1 Samuel 2:30b).
NB: If you are already married to a non-believer - don't go rushing out to get a divorce!
May He bless you all richly with all the abundence of His providencial graces,
In Him
Carolyn xxxxDivorce and Re-marriage
As marriage is an institution set up by God and it should last until 'death do us part', divorce should never be taken lightly. Of course, we live in a world which is groaning under the weight of sin! This topic is not being posted by me to be judgemental - it is how I see Scripture as God views divorce in the light of His covenant with His people!
I wish to remind you that marriage was the first institution set up by God way back in Genesis 2:21-25
Genesis 2
21And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.
23And Adam said:
"This is now bone of my bones
And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man."
24Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
25And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
21And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.
23And Adam said:
"This is now bone of my bones
And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man."
24Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
25And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
It is a picture of God's covenant with Israel and in the new covenant a picture of Christ (as the Bridegroom) and His church (the Bride).
The first allowance of divorce was back in Moses' day - Deuteronomy 24
Deuteronomy 24
Law Concerning Divorce
Laws Concerning the Family
1 "When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it happens that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some uncleanness in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house, 2when she has departed from his house, and goes and becomes another man's wife, 3if the latter husband detests her and writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house, or if the latter husband dies who took her as his wife, 4then her former husband who divorced her must not take her back to be his wife after she has been defiled; for that is an abomination before the LORD, and you shall not bring sin on the land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.
Law Concerning Divorce
Laws Concerning the Family
1 "When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it happens that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some uncleanness in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house, 2when she has departed from his house, and goes and becomes another man's wife, 3if the latter husband detests her and writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house, or if the latter husband dies who took her as his wife, 4then her former husband who divorced her must not take her back to be his wife after she has been defiled; for that is an abomination before the LORD, and you shall not bring sin on the land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.
Christ also mentions this fact in Matthew 19:8
Matthew 19
8He said to them, "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so."
The only grounds in Scripture for divorce is because of adultery.
Matthew 5
32But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.
If someone divorces their spouse and re-marries then they are committing adultery
Mark 10
12And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."
Luke 16
18"Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery.
1 Corinthians 7
Keep Your Marriage Vows
10 Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. 11But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.
Those above passages imply that anyone who is divorced must not remarry! I do know of Christians who have been divorced (through no fault of their own - the divorce has been filed against them!) so should they have remarried? One person was not a believer when he got divorced but has remarried after becoming a believer! This is such a tricky area to cover. I have discussed this with a friend and she believes that people can remarry - so long as they were the innocent party (ie - the divorce was filed against them and not vice versa!).
What if I have an unbelieving spouse? I am going to stick my head above the parapit here and say (from Scripture) that if you were a Christian before you married your unbelieving spouse, then you have gone against Scripture (as discussed in the previous topic), but
1 John 1
9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
You must not however rush out and seek a divorce!
1 Corinthians 7
12But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. 13And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him.
Although it is Paul who says this and not the Lord, he was an apostle, personally chosen by the Lord Jesus Christ and he had an immense grasp of scriptural truth!
If an unbelieving spouse is not happy, then they are permitted to leave
1 Corinthians 7
15But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace.
If you are married to an unbeliever then you must act in a godly way and be a witness to them
1 Peter 3
Submission to Husbands
Serving and Suffering for God's Glory
1 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, 2when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear.
These days we hear of people getting divorced for such trivial and ridiculous reasons - the spouse became too fat, had too many wrinkles, burnt the toast etc etc. Divorce is serious!! Marriage is also serious - it has to be worked out - just as our salvation is worked out! OK it is tough and there will be times when your spouse will wind you up and drive you crazy, but remember, marriage is a picture of Christ's relationship with His church - one which is from eternity and will go into eternity, so with this in mind, let us all seek to have godly marriages, striving to serve and honour the Lord within this God-given institution and not looking for a way out when things get tough - seek the Lord in ALL things!
Another thing to remember - Satan is the enemy of God and he is always out to destroy anything that God has put in place - marriage and proper relationships in general seem to be under such heavy attacks in these days! Stand firm, put on the armour of God and resist the devil, then he will flee from you (even within a troubled marriage!!)
Sanctification can come through our marriages!
May the Lord bless you richly within your homes and marriages, beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord.
In Him
Carolyn xxxx
Saturday, 31 October 2009
The Precious Gift
No shining tinsel in the stall
No Christmas wreaths upon the wall
No lights nor tree, no singing stranger
Just a small babe in a manger
No decorations in the stable
No plump turkey on the table
No moist pudding or Christmas cake
But a babe who came for our sake
No ringing bells in church steeple
No celebration, nor laughing people
No stockings, no baubles on the tree
Just a babe who was from eternity
No pomp offered to the King
No rich palace for Him to live in
Just a manger and a stall
For the only Precious Gift of all
No religious leader came to Him;
But shepherds and some wise kings.
A lowly place of manger and stall
For the only Precious Gift of all
No Christmas wreaths upon the wall
No lights nor tree, no singing stranger
Just a small babe in a manger
No decorations in the stable
No plump turkey on the table
No moist pudding or Christmas cake
But a babe who came for our sake
No ringing bells in church steeple
No celebration, nor laughing people
No stockings, no baubles on the tree
Just a babe who was from eternity
No pomp offered to the King
No rich palace for Him to live in
Just a manger and a stall
For the only Precious Gift of all
No religious leader came to Him;
But shepherds and some wise kings.
A lowly place of manger and stall
For the only Precious Gift of all
There is a Time
Christmas is a time for giving
A time for self-sacrifice
A time of fun and laughter
A joyous time for living
Christmas is a time for sharing
A time for songs
A time for eating and drinking
A time to start caring
Christmas is a time for family and friends
A time for peace
A time for lights
A time we wished there was no end
Christmas is a time we should remember
A time to reflect
A time to recall!
It's not just another day in December
In the fulness of time God sent
His only begotten Son
Who lived a life we could not
To Calvary He went
In the fulness of time He will come again
From the place beyond our comprehension
He will take His redeemed
To the place where there is no time
A time for self-sacrifice
A time of fun and laughter
A joyous time for living
Christmas is a time for sharing
A time for songs
A time for eating and drinking
A time to start caring
Christmas is a time for family and friends
A time for peace
A time for lights
A time we wished there was no end
Christmas is a time we should remember
A time to reflect
A time to recall!
It's not just another day in December
In the fulness of time God sent
His only begotten Son
Who lived a life we could not
To Calvary He went
In the fulness of time He will come again
From the place beyond our comprehension
He will take His redeemed
To the place where there is no time
The Night Before Christmas - Long
Twas the night before Christmas
And I think we can bet
That millions of people
Have gone into debt,
To buy special presents
Some big and some small
Some will be accepted
Some not at all
With excesses of food
Fridges, with beer
Other alcohol too.
Children, excited
Won’t go to bed late
They try to be good
And make everyone a mate
Nothing will change,
As they all grow –
Cos Christmas is about goodwill
As you know.
So if someone knocks over
Your drink in the bar
You brush it aside
Just for one day a year
Have you ever stopped and wondered
Why it’s not the same
As other celebrations
You could care to name?
Is it really about
A fat man in red coat,
Lights, decorations
And carnival floats?
Is it about getting yourself
Into debt,
Getting uptight
And starting to fret?
Have I bought this
And have I bought that?
I mustn’t forget
My dear pet cat?
There’s far more to Christmas
Than you could ever expect;
A man came to pay for
Your life full of debt.
He came to this earth
To live a life we could not,
He paid for our sins
When He went to the cross
He was born in a stable
A manger for a crib
He taught many people
How to love and forgive.
He even loves those
Who mock Him and tease
And try to destroy Him
By the lives that they lead!
For 2,000 years man has
Tried to destroy
Every man, every woman
Every girl, every boy
Who truly believes
That He is the One
Who is their Redeemer
And God’s only Son!
But for 2,000 years
The church still goes on,
No liberal, no commie
Can destroy God’s Son.
So whether you believe
He came to save YOU!
Have a merry CHRISTmas
And happy New Year too!
Written by me 17th December 2008
Friday, 30 October 2009
The Shack
Young, William. P, The Shack, Hodder and Stoughton, 2007
A Synopsis of the Story:
Mackenzie (Mack), the main character, had a bad childhood where his father was externally religious but was an alcoholic, wife beater and strict disciplinarian. He left home at the age of 13 taking some of his mother's perfume with him. He went to church, but had a love/hate relationship with religion and suspected God of being a brooding, distant and aloof person. His wife, Nan had a deep relationship with God. They both had 5 children. When Mack's wife refers to God she calls Him Papa!
Mack took 3 of his children camping and on the last day the older 2 went canoeing (they were teenagers) while Missy, the youngest, stayed with Mack and coloured in her book. After a while Mack heard some commotion from the lake where his children were canoeing, they had capsized and his son was having difficulty coming to the surface, so Mack left Missie colouring while he went to rescue him. When he got back from the rescue, Missy was missing and on her colouring book, a pin with a ladybird on it had been left there. When the police were called they told Mack that there had been a child serial kidnapper/killer and the ladybird was his signature. Mack was weighed down by the disappearance of his daughter and called it The Great Sadness. When the police started searching for Missy they came to an old shack and found Missy's red dress and a blood stain near the fireplace, but there was no sign of the little girl!
Mack was alone in his house a while after the incident had occured. He went to the post box and found a note in there which asked him to go to The Shack for a particular weekend. It was signed Papa. As the story title implies, Mack decided to go to the shack - for this he borrowed his friend's 4 wheel drive as the shack was in a remote place. Mack decided not to tell Nan [his wife] about his trip! She was going to be away that particular weekend.
He drove to the shack that specific Friday evening and met the 'trinity' there and went through different experiences with them - much was revealed about his life as he spent time with each member of the 'trinity'. It was going to be a long journey of reconciliation with himself, God and his family.
In the final chapters we see Mack being reconciled with his father and also being taken to the place where Missy's body had been dumped! There was closure in his life (or so it seemed) until the final chapter where you find out that Mack had been involved in a car accident on the Friday night and never got to the shack. He wakes up in hospital. After recouperating he took the sheriff to the place where Missy's body was - it was actually there! Because of the discovery of Missy's body the authorities hunted down and caught the Ladybird Killer and also found the other little girls' bodies.
A Biblical View of the Book:
On the front cover of the book is this commendation by Eugene Peterson:
This book has the potential to do for our own generation what John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress did for his. It's that good!
I would disagree with Peterson. John Bunyan's book showed the state of mankind and all that goes with being human - each sin is personified etc, but this book shows God in a distorted and unbiblical way, it lacks reverence towards a holy, righteous and all powerful God.
Young writes of a story Mack would tell Missy, one she particularly enjoyed hearing. Basically the story was about a young Indian girl who sacrificed her own life for the life of her love. Missy likened it to the story of Jesus who redeemed His people - it centred on a father who loved his only child and a sacrifice foretold by a prophet.
Mack talking to Missy after she had asked if God was being mean: Sweetheart, Jesus didn't think his daddy was mean, He thought his daddy was full of love and loved him very much. His daddy didn't make him die. Jesus chose to die because he and his daddy love you and me and everyone in the world, he saved us from our sickness, just like the princess.
Later on in Chapter 7 the doctrine of sin is mentioned again when it was stated by one of the godhead in the story: I don't need to punish people for sin. Sin is its own punishment, devouring you from the inside. It's not my purpose to punish it; it's my joy to cure it. The problem with this line of thinking is - it is implied hell does not exist but according t0 Scripture hell does exist and it exists as a punishment for our sin - The wages of sin is death says Paul in Romans 6:23. Jesus became sin to punish sin in our place. Sin is more than a sickness which affects us all - it deserves the death penalty. There is a subtlety here in the fact that 'god' said it. If we want a true picture of God we should go to the Bible and not take it from a mere man who has his own view of the Trinity.
2 Timothy 3:16, 17
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
The Trinity described in The Shack
Mack does go to the Shack and is greeted by:
Papa - an African-American woman who smelled of his mother's perfume [the Father]
Sarayu - a small asian woman whose hair blew as if in a wind. At first meeting she was collecting tears in a bottle. [the Holy Spirit] (Sarayu is in fact a river which flows through the Indian State of Uttar Pradesh. Sarayu is considered sacred in Hinduism!!
Jesus - Middle Eastern and dressed as a workman with a tool belt and gloves - he was covered in sawdust. [the Son]
Later on Sophia appears she is a personification of God's wisdom.
The problem with this picture is - in the Bible, God is never portrayed as a woman, He is always seen as a male, Father or Son. Although there are verses in Scripture, for example - in Matthew 23:37b Jesus says: How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! Jesus isn't saying that God is a mother but is using a simile for His Father. We have to be careful not to make God someone He isn't - or else we are committing idolatry. The Bible tells us who God in His Three Persons is and how He deals with humanity.
God is holy and throughout this book in many places, the author is showing God as being vulgar and crass - in many of his descriptions and the way the characters interact with themselves and with Mack shows a lack of reverence and understanding of who he is before a holy, righteous and just God. Some examples are as follows:
Jesus and Papa were cooking in the kitchen of the Shack in one of the chapters and Jesus drops a bowl of batter then on p. 105 Papa says "You just can't get good help around here." Although it was meant to be an ice breaker for the situation - a) Jesus is perfect and wouldn't have dropped a bowl of batter unless He was trying to use it as a pointer to something more godly and b) God in all His holiness would not have said this about His Son, whom He loved with a love we cannot understand. Hebrews 1:8,9 shows us the love God has for His Son:
But to the Son He says:
“ Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;
A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;
Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You
With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”
Later on p 121 after Mack had been telling Papa something he [Papa] says "...Frankly I haven't a clue what this man is talking about." God is omniscient and knows all things - because He created all things.
On p122 - "Hierachy makes no sense among us." This contradicts 1 Corinthians 11:3 where the apostle Paul writes -
But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
How can this be? - we don't know! If we could fathom an Almighty Creating God, then we would be gods ourselves, but God is infintely above us, we cannot understand Him fully.
The author is trying to explain the Trinity in such a way that people can understand Him, but in doing so, has lost sight of who God really is!
The author may have had good intentions in writing this book, but unfortunately you will not find the God of the Bible in here. Young has tried to make God human and in that he has succeeded, but he seems to have forgotten that God is holy, righteous, just and commands us to be reverent to Him (when the word Fear God is used in the Bible - it's not a trembling fear, but we come to God in reverence). In this book the god figures are so human that they are not God. Even the Jesus character is human in a sinful way, not in a divine way.
On p191 Mack asks - "... What exactly did Jesus accomplish by dying?" [Papa answers] ..."Oh," she waved her hand. "Nothing much. Just the substance of everything that love purposed from before the foundations of Creation," Papa stated matter of factly, then turned and smiled. Nothing much?? Jesus came to redeem a people for Himself - that they may have eternal life. He came from glory to an earth which hated and despised Him!
p192 - Papa says - "Honey, you asked me what Jesus accomplished on the cross; so now listen to me carefully: through his death and resurrection, I am now fully reconciled to the world." Does that imply that all will be saved? That's not what the Bible tells us! Papa goes on explaining then as he/she is going away mutters, "Men! such idiots sometimes." Psalm 103:14 For He knows our frame;He remembers that we are dust.
After spending time with Sarayu Mack asks if he will see her again to which she replies - "Of course you might see me in a piece of art, or music, or silence, or through people, or in Creation, or in your joy and sorrow." Sounds like pantheism! The heavens declare the glory of God says the Psalmist but they aren't God, so perhaps Young is referring to this concept in his book, if not then is he pantheistic? We may argue against using semantics, but words can subtley change the meaning or doctrine of something - we can see God through things, but this is different to seeing Him in things.
There is no respect for God in this book - in one part Mack uses the word cr*p on p175 while talking to Jesus, if he was in the presence of the Risen Saviour - he would fall on his face in reverence as the apostle John did at the beginning of Revelation, or Daniel did in his book, or Isaiah in Isaiah 6. All three Persons of the Trinity are ONE God so each commands reverence and respect from humans.
On p176 after walking on water, Mack and Jesus saw a fish. Jesus said that he had been trying to catch the fish for weeks. Mack watched, amazed, as Jesus started to dodge this way and that. Jesus is portrayed as a clumsy idiot - almost like the youngest child in a family - one to be pushed around. He is the Risen Saviour who is seated at the right hand of the Father in glory, not some little kid who behaves in a silly manner.
Eventually Papa changes into a male after Mack had been reconciled with his father, but Sarayu stayed female.
If people want to read this book, then the advice I was given - to read it with my Bible open - is good . I wouldn't recommend a new Christian to read it as it is full of a lot of doctrinal/Biblical error.
A Synopsis of the Story:
Mackenzie (Mack), the main character, had a bad childhood where his father was externally religious but was an alcoholic, wife beater and strict disciplinarian. He left home at the age of 13 taking some of his mother's perfume with him. He went to church, but had a love/hate relationship with religion and suspected God of being a brooding, distant and aloof person. His wife, Nan had a deep relationship with God. They both had 5 children. When Mack's wife refers to God she calls Him Papa!
Mack took 3 of his children camping and on the last day the older 2 went canoeing (they were teenagers) while Missy, the youngest, stayed with Mack and coloured in her book. After a while Mack heard some commotion from the lake where his children were canoeing, they had capsized and his son was having difficulty coming to the surface, so Mack left Missie colouring while he went to rescue him. When he got back from the rescue, Missy was missing and on her colouring book, a pin with a ladybird on it had been left there. When the police were called they told Mack that there had been a child serial kidnapper/killer and the ladybird was his signature. Mack was weighed down by the disappearance of his daughter and called it The Great Sadness. When the police started searching for Missy they came to an old shack and found Missy's red dress and a blood stain near the fireplace, but there was no sign of the little girl!
Mack was alone in his house a while after the incident had occured. He went to the post box and found a note in there which asked him to go to The Shack for a particular weekend. It was signed Papa. As the story title implies, Mack decided to go to the shack - for this he borrowed his friend's 4 wheel drive as the shack was in a remote place. Mack decided not to tell Nan [his wife] about his trip! She was going to be away that particular weekend.
He drove to the shack that specific Friday evening and met the 'trinity' there and went through different experiences with them - much was revealed about his life as he spent time with each member of the 'trinity'. It was going to be a long journey of reconciliation with himself, God and his family.
In the final chapters we see Mack being reconciled with his father and also being taken to the place where Missy's body had been dumped! There was closure in his life (or so it seemed) until the final chapter where you find out that Mack had been involved in a car accident on the Friday night and never got to the shack. He wakes up in hospital. After recouperating he took the sheriff to the place where Missy's body was - it was actually there! Because of the discovery of Missy's body the authorities hunted down and caught the Ladybird Killer and also found the other little girls' bodies.
A Biblical View of the Book:
On the front cover of the book is this commendation by Eugene Peterson:
This book has the potential to do for our own generation what John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress did for his. It's that good!
I would disagree with Peterson. John Bunyan's book showed the state of mankind and all that goes with being human - each sin is personified etc, but this book shows God in a distorted and unbiblical way, it lacks reverence towards a holy, righteous and all powerful God.
Young writes of a story Mack would tell Missy, one she particularly enjoyed hearing. Basically the story was about a young Indian girl who sacrificed her own life for the life of her love. Missy likened it to the story of Jesus who redeemed His people - it centred on a father who loved his only child and a sacrifice foretold by a prophet.
Mack talking to Missy after she had asked if God was being mean: Sweetheart, Jesus didn't think his daddy was mean, He thought his daddy was full of love and loved him very much. His daddy didn't make him die. Jesus chose to die because he and his daddy love you and me and everyone in the world, he saved us from our sickness, just like the princess.
Later on in Chapter 7 the doctrine of sin is mentioned again when it was stated by one of the godhead in the story: I don't need to punish people for sin. Sin is its own punishment, devouring you from the inside. It's not my purpose to punish it; it's my joy to cure it. The problem with this line of thinking is - it is implied hell does not exist but according t0 Scripture hell does exist and it exists as a punishment for our sin - The wages of sin is death says Paul in Romans 6:23. Jesus became sin to punish sin in our place. Sin is more than a sickness which affects us all - it deserves the death penalty. There is a subtlety here in the fact that 'god' said it. If we want a true picture of God we should go to the Bible and not take it from a mere man who has his own view of the Trinity.
2 Timothy 3:16, 17
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
The Trinity described in The Shack
Mack does go to the Shack and is greeted by:
Papa - an African-American woman who smelled of his mother's perfume [the Father]
Sarayu - a small asian woman whose hair blew as if in a wind. At first meeting she was collecting tears in a bottle. [the Holy Spirit] (Sarayu is in fact a river which flows through the Indian State of Uttar Pradesh. Sarayu is considered sacred in Hinduism!!
Jesus - Middle Eastern and dressed as a workman with a tool belt and gloves - he was covered in sawdust. [the Son]
Later on Sophia appears she is a personification of God's wisdom.
The problem with this picture is - in the Bible, God is never portrayed as a woman, He is always seen as a male, Father or Son. Although there are verses in Scripture, for example - in Matthew 23:37b Jesus says: How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! Jesus isn't saying that God is a mother but is using a simile for His Father. We have to be careful not to make God someone He isn't - or else we are committing idolatry. The Bible tells us who God in His Three Persons is and how He deals with humanity.
God is holy and throughout this book in many places, the author is showing God as being vulgar and crass - in many of his descriptions and the way the characters interact with themselves and with Mack shows a lack of reverence and understanding of who he is before a holy, righteous and just God. Some examples are as follows:
Jesus and Papa were cooking in the kitchen of the Shack in one of the chapters and Jesus drops a bowl of batter then on p. 105 Papa says "You just can't get good help around here." Although it was meant to be an ice breaker for the situation - a) Jesus is perfect and wouldn't have dropped a bowl of batter unless He was trying to use it as a pointer to something more godly and b) God in all His holiness would not have said this about His Son, whom He loved with a love we cannot understand. Hebrews 1:8,9 shows us the love God has for His Son:
But to the Son He says:
“ Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;
A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;
Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You
With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”
Later on p 121 after Mack had been telling Papa something he [Papa] says "...Frankly I haven't a clue what this man is talking about." God is omniscient and knows all things - because He created all things.
On p122 - "Hierachy makes no sense among us." This contradicts 1 Corinthians 11:3 where the apostle Paul writes -
But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
How can this be? - we don't know! If we could fathom an Almighty Creating God, then we would be gods ourselves, but God is infintely above us, we cannot understand Him fully.
The author is trying to explain the Trinity in such a way that people can understand Him, but in doing so, has lost sight of who God really is!
The author may have had good intentions in writing this book, but unfortunately you will not find the God of the Bible in here. Young has tried to make God human and in that he has succeeded, but he seems to have forgotten that God is holy, righteous, just and commands us to be reverent to Him (when the word Fear God is used in the Bible - it's not a trembling fear, but we come to God in reverence). In this book the god figures are so human that they are not God. Even the Jesus character is human in a sinful way, not in a divine way.
On p191 Mack asks - "... What exactly did Jesus accomplish by dying?" [Papa answers] ..."Oh," she waved her hand. "Nothing much. Just the substance of everything that love purposed from before the foundations of Creation," Papa stated matter of factly, then turned and smiled. Nothing much?? Jesus came to redeem a people for Himself - that they may have eternal life. He came from glory to an earth which hated and despised Him!
p192 - Papa says - "Honey, you asked me what Jesus accomplished on the cross; so now listen to me carefully: through his death and resurrection, I am now fully reconciled to the world." Does that imply that all will be saved? That's not what the Bible tells us! Papa goes on explaining then as he/she is going away mutters, "Men! such idiots sometimes." Psalm 103:14 For He knows our frame;He remembers that we are dust.
After spending time with Sarayu Mack asks if he will see her again to which she replies - "Of course you might see me in a piece of art, or music, or silence, or through people, or in Creation, or in your joy and sorrow." Sounds like pantheism! The heavens declare the glory of God says the Psalmist but they aren't God, so perhaps Young is referring to this concept in his book, if not then is he pantheistic? We may argue against using semantics, but words can subtley change the meaning or doctrine of something - we can see God through things, but this is different to seeing Him in things.
There is no respect for God in this book - in one part Mack uses the word cr*p on p175 while talking to Jesus, if he was in the presence of the Risen Saviour - he would fall on his face in reverence as the apostle John did at the beginning of Revelation, or Daniel did in his book, or Isaiah in Isaiah 6. All three Persons of the Trinity are ONE God so each commands reverence and respect from humans.
On p176 after walking on water, Mack and Jesus saw a fish. Jesus said that he had been trying to catch the fish for weeks. Mack watched, amazed, as Jesus started to dodge this way and that. Jesus is portrayed as a clumsy idiot - almost like the youngest child in a family - one to be pushed around. He is the Risen Saviour who is seated at the right hand of the Father in glory, not some little kid who behaves in a silly manner.
Eventually Papa changes into a male after Mack had been reconciled with his father, but Sarayu stayed female.
If people want to read this book, then the advice I was given - to read it with my Bible open - is good . I wouldn't recommend a new Christian to read it as it is full of a lot of doctrinal/Biblical error.
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