I’ve been digesting The Shack, a controversial book that’s caused quite a stir since its release in 2007.
I haven’t reconciled some of the finer points on forgiveness – and who can be forgiven.
But I continue to be captivated by its approach and its bold statements on the Trinity and our relationship with God, the Holy Spirit and Jesus.
If you haven’t heard, it’s about a guy named Mackenzie whose daughter is brutally murdered by a serial killer. Three years later, he’s summoned to the shack where her bloody dress was found.
At the shack, he encounters the Trinity in an amazing setting. We haven’t had the Second Coming, so having a God encounter like this gives me some pause. But I imagine there are many writings from Christian writers with striking imaginations. It’s not portrayed as an addition to the Word.
Of course Mackenzie (Mack) must deal with his attitude toward the killer and his tattered faith. You can probably guess how he questions God about how He could allow his daughter to be such a victim.
Part of the controversy is how God is portrayed – for a long period as a black woman. God clearly and quickly explains why He appears this way. Maybe that should trouble me, but it doesn’t (having read the whole book).
If you like to read, it’s a great book with extensive dialog between God, the Holy Spirit, Jesus and Mack.
On evil, God tells Mack: “Evil is the chaos of this age that you brought me, but it will not have the final say … If I take away the consequences of people’s choices, I destroy the possibility of love. Love that is forced is no love at all.”
Mack …sighed. “It’s just so hard to understand.”
“Honey, let me tell you one of the reasons that it makes no sense to you. It’s because you have such a small view of what it means to be human. You and this creation are incredible whether you understand that or not…”
Later, members of the Trinity carefully explains the problem with making God the priority in our lives. The Holy Spirit questions whether that’s even possible – like how much time is sufficient each day to define that God has been a priority.
God says: “I want all of you and all of every part of you and your day.”
Jesus echoes the desire: “Mack, I don’t want to be first among a list of values. I want to be the center of everything. When I live in you, then together we can live through everything that happens to you …”
I believe God speaks to us in may ways – in the still small voice in our hearts, in dreams or visions, in circumstances, through music, etc. But I think it’s the Word and prayer that matter most.
And yet, God touched my heart. I couldn’t help but ponder him as I read the book. Was it the book or my personal reflection that connected me to my King?
What matters is that I hunger to live for Him. What matters more is that I find ways to allow Him to live more richly through my life.
I’ve had some incredible encounters with the Lord, some very simple. One day on my birthday he reminded me about the beautiful fall colors as I drove down I-77 near south of Cleveland. Another day I clearly heard Him say, “Enter My presence” as I prepared a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Another time I heard Him speak to me as I prayed and sang while folding laundry (Coldplay’s “The Scientist” played in the other room and the Lord reminded me that His way is easy as the song spoke about life’s difficulties.
I want what the Lord wants.
I’d like to take a week off work, a week away from friends and family. I’d like to walk and talk with the Lord more often and for long stretches. He’s not opposed to nice breaks. What He wants is all of me and to have first place in all I do.
My job is to die to self and yield to Him right in my car, right here in the living room surrounded by my sons and my wife, right where I work, at a Cavs game, as I clean the dishes and the very moment I wake each morning.
How are you doing with that in your life? How do you die each day?