BLOGGING TOWARD SUNDAY…

I read a review this week of William Young’s new novel, The Shack.  The review caught my attention because Albert Mohler, president of the unltra-conservative Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, called it “heresy.”  I’m not quite sure how any NOVEL can be called heretical, but anyway, that’s how my attention was caught.

The premise of the story is that a miserable man named Mack has conversations with rather unorthodox representations of the Holy Trinity:  a thorny black woman  who speaks for God the creator; a big-nosed carpenter in a plaid shirt who, of course, is Jesus; and the Holy Spirit is an Asian sylph named Sarayu.

As a result of his conversations with the Holy Three, Mack is remade and reborn, and becomes acutely aware of God’s love.  Albert Mohler is upset because the Three are not overly fond of legalism, denominations, or doctrines.

You see how it got my attention!  Just a brief quote now from the book, and I expect that you, like I, will go straight to Amazon and order it!  Here goes:

Those who love me come from every system that exists.  There were Buddhists or Mormons, Baptists or Muslims, Democrats, Republicans and many who don’t vote and are not part of any Sunday morning or religious institutions.  I have followers who were murderers and many who were self-righteous.  Some are bankers and bookies, Americans and Iraqis, Jews and Palestinians.  I have no desire to make them Christian, but I do want to join them in their transformation into sons and daughters of my Papa, into my brothers and sisters, into My beloved.

“Does that mean,” asked Mack, “that all roads will lead to you?”

“Not at all,” smiled Jesus…”most roads don’t lead anywhere.  What it does mean is that I will travel any road to find you.”

Definitely not theological dogma, but it has the ring of truth, and it sounds like the Jesus I know.  Happy reading!

Filed under: Blogging Toward Sunday