Arts & Literature
The Hidden Heresies of "The Shack" Book
#111 in Arts & Literature
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It's just a novel...
At least that's what the folks at church group tell you. Yet on the back the endorsements of Eugene Peterson tell us that this book is equal in value and theology the classic "Pilgrims Progress" by Paul Bunyan.
Elousia calls herself god, Sarayu claims to be the Holy Spirit, and Jesus goes around saying that they are all equal in authority, contrary to the Bible teaching that he lays down all authority in deference to the Father. These and other things in the story will reveal to you, like they have to me a darker story than the one revealed in "the shack" book. What you will find is that interwoven among the storyline and chapter is is the tale and the character of a god completely foreign to Christians.
Who is Elousia?
page 119 "You don't know who I am....."
"That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;" Eph 4:14A new game
Inside it was warm and, the wood stove was glowing with dancing flames, but I never suspected that one of the games I learned then would become an allegory for the modern church. The game, we learned was called "Huckley Buckley". It's a simple game really. All that's needed is a couple of people and a thimble.
The game goes sort of like this. The person with the thimble, is given the task of hiding it in plain sight and the rest look for it. One by one, as people find the thimble, they walk away, and when out of range of the thimble, they say out loud. "Huckley Buckley". Well, I'm crying out "Huckley Buckley".
I have found something hidden in plain sight, and if you'll play the game with me, you will join me in shouting Huckley Buckley. You will see the hidden also. I'm going to show you where it's been hiding, right here in plain sight.
Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
The book was written by a man named Willie P. Young, and he titled it "The Shack." It is a story about a man named Mac, who has an encounter with a figure claiming to be God in three persons. The scene of this encounter is in a shack, where his daughter was brutally murdered several years earlier. He returns to the shack, because he receives a note in the mail inviting him there for a weekend, and the note is signed simply "Papa.".
When he arrives he is greeted by a black woman, who calls herself Elousia, another woman named Sarayu, and a man named Jesus. Elousia claims that all three of them are the same person. What I'd like to do is to tell you who the characters are and why you should worry about this story.
Elousia
Elousia is Greek for tenderness.
The icon shows the tenderness between Our Lord and His Mother, emphasizing the humanity of the Son of God.
If you look up Elousia or Elousea she is always the Virgin Mary,in the form of the Black Madonna, not God The Father. This particular Elousia "The Black Madonna, came from the middle East and is the same Character as The goddess Kali/Surga/Durga.
The miraculous image given the title, Our Lady of Vladimir, is known as an Eleousa,the Greek word meaning, Mother of Tenderness.
"The icon of the Virgin Mary and Christ child is ...In the Greek, in the Orthodox traditions, called elousia, and that word 'elousia' comes to mean a universal, loving kindness, that reaches out to the entire world."
source
So, in Catholic tradition, what other names does this "Mary" go by? If you refer to the book "The Two Babylons" you'll be able to find out the historical names for her.
in English, is "My Lady,"
in Latin, "Mea Domina,"
and, in Italina, is corrupted
into the well known "Madonna."
If you look up Elousia or Elousea she is always the Virgin Mary,in the form of the Black Madonna, not God The Father. This particular Elousia "The Black Madonna, came from the middle East and is the same Character as The goddess Kali/Surga/Durga.
The miraculous image given the title, Our Lady of Vladimir, is known as an Eleousa,the Greek word meaning, Mother of Tenderness.
"The icon of the Virgin Mary and Christ child is ...In the Greek, in the Orthodox traditions, called elousia, and that word 'elousia' comes to mean a universal, loving kindness, that reaches out to the entire world."
source
So, in Catholic tradition, what other names does this "Mary" go by? If you refer to the book "The Two Babylons" you'll be able to find out the historical names for her.
in English, is "My Lady,"
in Latin, "Mea Domina,"
and, in Italina, is corrupted
into the well known "Madonna."
Queen of Heaven
revived goddess worship straight out of the Old Testament!
In connection with this, it may be observed, that the name of Juno, the classical "Queen of Heaven," which, in Greek, was Hera, also signified "The Lady"; and that the peculiar title of Cybele or Rhea at Rome, was Domina or "The Lady." (OVID, Fasti) Further, there is strong reason to believe, that Athena, the well known name of Minerva at Athens, had the very same meaning.
Herodotus, from personal knowledge, testifies, that in Egypt this "queen of heaven" was "the greatest and most worshipped of all the divinities."
Wherever her worship was introduced, it is amazing what fascinating power it exerted. Truly, the nations might be said to be "made drunk" with the wine of her fornications. So deeply, in particular, did the Jews in the days of Jeremiah drink of her wine cup, so bewitched were they with her idolatrous worship, that even after Jerusalem had been burnt, and the land desolated for this very thing, they could not be prevailed on to give it up.
Jeremiah was sent of God to denounce wrath against them, if they continued to worship the queen of heaven; but his warnings were in vain. (Jer 44:15-17). .
Ousia was a word used by Origen when he said God is one genus of ousia yet three distinct species of hypostasis: namely the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Ousia , is the Ancient Greek noun formed on the feminine present participle for the Greek verb "to be", when you add the word el in front, you are now speaking of the Black Madonna, the cultic symbol of the Madonna and Child, the Babylonian symbol of Isis and Osiris.
(From "The Two Babylons")
Papa says "You may call me Elousia it is just a name I am rather fond of and has particular meaning to me". Later in the book Jesus explains "Elousia That is a wonderful name. El is my name as Creator God, but ousia is 'being' or 'that which is truly real', so the name means the Creator God who is truly real and the ground of all being.
From "The Shack"
Kali in Every Woman: Motherhood and the Dark Goddess Archetype
Wherever there's a woman in any home doing her work screening her smiles with her veil, she is You, Ma; she is you, Black Goddess.
Carefully rising with the light of dawn to attend with softened hands to household chores, she is You, Ma; she is You, Black Goddess.
The woman who gives alms, makes vows, does worship, reads scriptures all correctly and with a smile who drapes her sari over the child on her lap soothing its hunger with a lullaby, she is You, Ma; she is You, Black Goddess.
She can't be anyone else; Mother, sister, housewife all are You.
- Ramprasad (c.a. 1718-1775)
Herodotus, from personal knowledge, testifies, that in Egypt this "queen of heaven" was "the greatest and most worshipped of all the divinities."
Wherever her worship was introduced, it is amazing what fascinating power it exerted. Truly, the nations might be said to be "made drunk" with the wine of her fornications. So deeply, in particular, did the Jews in the days of Jeremiah drink of her wine cup, so bewitched were they with her idolatrous worship, that even after Jerusalem had been burnt, and the land desolated for this very thing, they could not be prevailed on to give it up.
Jeremiah was sent of God to denounce wrath against them, if they continued to worship the queen of heaven; but his warnings were in vain. (Jer 44:15-17). .
Ousia was a word used by Origen when he said God is one genus of ousia yet three distinct species of hypostasis: namely the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Ousia , is the Ancient Greek noun formed on the feminine present participle for the Greek verb "to be", when you add the word el in front, you are now speaking of the Black Madonna, the cultic symbol of the Madonna and Child, the Babylonian symbol of Isis and Osiris.
(From "The Two Babylons")
Papa says "You may call me Elousia it is just a name I am rather fond of and has particular meaning to me". Later in the book Jesus explains "Elousia That is a wonderful name. El is my name as Creator God, but ousia is 'being' or 'that which is truly real', so the name means the Creator God who is truly real and the ground of all being.
From "The Shack"
Kali in Every Woman: Motherhood and the Dark Goddess Archetype
Wherever there's a woman in any home doing her work screening her smiles with her veil, she is You, Ma; she is you, Black Goddess.
Carefully rising with the light of dawn to attend with softened hands to household chores, she is You, Ma; she is You, Black Goddess.
The woman who gives alms, makes vows, does worship, reads scriptures all correctly and with a smile who drapes her sari over the child on her lap soothing its hunger with a lullaby, she is You, Ma; she is You, Black Goddess.
She can't be anyone else; Mother, sister, housewife all are You.
- Ramprasad (c.a. 1718-1775)
Sue Monk Kidd and the Black Madonna
The Black Madonna of the Secret Life of Bees
On her website, Sue Monk Kidd tells us a little more about the Black Madonna,"For a lot of years, I explored archetypal feminine images and stories from different cultures and religions, and particularly what happens to women when connections with these images are missing or devalued. One thing that became clear to me is that images of a divine mother are surprisingly important in the psychological wholeness of women, especially in the process of women taking up residence in their own authority. It was through this study that I became intrigued with the ways that Mary has quietly, even subversively, functioned as the feminine dimension of God in much of western religion. I read an essay by author Kathleen Norris in which she made the amazing statement that Mary is particularly suited to post-modernism. She didn't elaborate on the reason, but my guess is that Mary, fresh with feminist appropriations, has the potential to undergird women's reformations."
The symbol of The Black Madonna, to Sue Monk Kidd, is one of feminist undergirdings and a quietly subversive model for women?
And Again she writes,
"I felt that any image of Mary in the novel would have to be black. Not only because the women who revered her were black, but because historically Black Madonnas have often been at the root of insurgence. I first became aware of the Black Madonna in my late thirties through the writings of Jungian analyst, Marion Woodman. It was a revelation to me that hundreds of very old Black Madonnas exist in Europe and elsewhere, and that their darkness is a legacy of ancient black goddesses. I think of the Black Madonna as the White Madonna before the church scrubbed the really interesting stuff out of her. I began to study the Black Madonna, and to travel to her pilgrimage sites, especially in France. I discovered that many of her stories and history reveal a Mary who is openly defiant in the face of oppression. In Poland, South and Central America, and other places, she has been a symbol of revolution."
Maybe all of this helps to explain the common thread in the emergent church leadership. Are they are all reading the works of the Roman Catholic mystics? It appears so. They openly admit that there are overtones of pagan religion and darkness.
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Joh 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Joh 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Joh 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
Joh 3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Who Is Sarayu then?
the cult of Sara or Sarayu
The most intriguing image, however, is in Les Saintes Maries de la Mere church in France. Here the Black Madonna is venerated as the patron saint of the Gypsies...they congregate and pay homage to the image they call, Kali Sara. (Whether this is Kali as Durga, Kali as in black or both is unclear.)
source
Sara-La-Kali is also known as Kali in the Spirit
Dr Matthew Fox wrote an Article
The Return of the Black Madonna: A Sign of Our Times or
How the Black Madonna Is Shaking Us Up for the Twenty-First Century
It states...
5. The Black Madonna calls us to our depths, to living spiritually and radically on this planet and not superficially and unthinkingly and oblivious to the grace that has begotten us in so many ways. The depths to which we are called include the depths of awe, wonder and delight-joy itself is a depth experience we need to re-entertain in the name of the Black Madonna. She calls us to enter into the depths of our pain, suffering and shared grief-not to run from it ...She calls us to the depths of our psyche which, as Meister Eckhart says, are "dark" and to the depths of the earth, which are surely dark and to the depths of the sky that have also been rediscovered for all their darkness.
The Sarayu was a river in ancient India, flowing beside the ancient city of Ayodhya, located in the modern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It merged into the larger River Ganga in the southern plains of U.P. and Bihar.It is often considered to be synonymous with the modern Ghaghara river
Most scholars agree that at least some of the references to the Sarasvati ( Saraswati) in the Rigveda refer to the Ghaggar-Hakra River,
Western observers who are familiar with Hindu religious customs have identified this ceremony with the Durga Pooja of India In Romani, Kali Sara means Black Sara and in India, the Goddess Kali is known as Kali/Durga/Sara. Like the Hindus, the Roma practice shaktism, the worship of Goddesses. In other words, the Roma who attend the pilgrimage to Les Saintes Maries in France and in other related ceremonies elsewhere honouring black female divinities, are in fact continuing to worship Kali/Durga/Sara their original Goddess in India.
source
source
Sara-La-Kali is also known as Kali in the Spirit
Dr Matthew Fox wrote an Article
The Return of the Black Madonna: A Sign of Our Times or
How the Black Madonna Is Shaking Us Up for the Twenty-First Century
It states...
5. The Black Madonna calls us to our depths, to living spiritually and radically on this planet and not superficially and unthinkingly and oblivious to the grace that has begotten us in so many ways. The depths to which we are called include the depths of awe, wonder and delight-joy itself is a depth experience we need to re-entertain in the name of the Black Madonna. She calls us to enter into the depths of our pain, suffering and shared grief-not to run from it ...She calls us to the depths of our psyche which, as Meister Eckhart says, are "dark" and to the depths of the earth, which are surely dark and to the depths of the sky that have also been rediscovered for all their darkness.
The Sarayu was a river in ancient India, flowing beside the ancient city of Ayodhya, located in the modern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It merged into the larger River Ganga in the southern plains of U.P. and Bihar.It is often considered to be synonymous with the modern Ghaghara river
Most scholars agree that at least some of the references to the Sarasvati ( Saraswati) in the Rigveda refer to the Ghaggar-Hakra River,
Western observers who are familiar with Hindu religious customs have identified this ceremony with the Durga Pooja of India In Romani, Kali Sara means Black Sara and in India, the Goddess Kali is known as Kali/Durga/Sara. Like the Hindus, the Roma practice shaktism, the worship of Goddesses. In other words, the Roma who attend the pilgrimage to Les Saintes Maries in France and in other related ceremonies elsewhere honouring black female divinities, are in fact continuing to worship Kali/Durga/Sara their original Goddess in India.
source
False Christ appears in India as Indra
Kali is the female form of Indra
Finally, in legend, Christ made an appearance in India in the form of Indra, the husband of Kali.
Kali is the Supreme Mahavidya, and is the Vedic Goddess Shachi RV.X.159) or Indrani, the female form of Indra the supreme Vedic divinity (RV.VI.30.4),(Indra = male form of Kali)
as the Supreme Goddess.
Is it pure luck that "The Shack" and Shaci sound alike, and that Kali,in the form of Elousia, her daughter Sara-La-Kali (Saryu or Sarayu) and Indra all meet together in the form Shaci like they meet in "The Shack"...
Do you remember when Jesus drops a bowl and splashes food all over the black goddess?
Lord Indra is the king of the cosmic gods, according to our mythology. On the one hand, according to tradition, he is most powerful. On the other hand, because he makes mistakes, he does not remain fixed in his own transcendental height. The so-called modern world is not guided or shaped by Indra.
source
Although he won't reply, I believe that Paul young knows exactly who these characters were meant to be, an I contend for the faith that it was not the God of the Bible!
It's not just a novel, it's not great Christian literature, it's just Hinduism mass marketed to blind sheep.
Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. Mat 24:3-4
Kali is the Supreme Mahavidya, and is the Vedic Goddess Shachi RV.X.159) or Indrani, the female form of Indra the supreme Vedic divinity (RV.VI.30.4),(Indra = male form of Kali)
as the Supreme Goddess.
Is it pure luck that "The Shack" and Shaci sound alike, and that Kali,in the form of Elousia, her daughter Sara-La-Kali (Saryu or Sarayu) and Indra all meet together in the form Shaci like they meet in "The Shack"...
Do you remember when Jesus drops a bowl and splashes food all over the black goddess?
Lord Indra is the king of the cosmic gods, according to our mythology. On the one hand, according to tradition, he is most powerful. On the other hand, because he makes mistakes, he does not remain fixed in his own transcendental height. The so-called modern world is not guided or shaped by Indra.
source
Although he won't reply, I believe that Paul young knows exactly who these characters were meant to be, an I contend for the faith that it was not the God of the Bible!
It's not just a novel, it's not great Christian literature, it's just Hinduism mass marketed to blind sheep.
Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. Mat 24:3-4
Some Quotes From The Shack
Dare to Compare
"Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son" (2John 1:9).
The Shack Book
God: "I am neither male nor female, even though both genders are derived from my nature" page 93
The Bible
"The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him. The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name." Exodus 15:2-3
The Shack
God: "you do understand, she continued unless I had an object to love -- or more accurately, a someone to love -- if I did not have such a relationship within myself, that I would not be capable of love at all? You would have a god you could not love" page 103
The Bible
"He that does not love, does not know God; for God is love" 1 John 4:8
"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." 1 John 4:10
The Shack
Mack: "are there any who you are not especially fond of?"...
God: "Nope, I haven't been able to find any. Guess that's jes' the way I is" page 118 and 119
The Bible
"Know therefore that the LORD thy God, He is God, the faithful God, which keeps covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations;
And repays them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hate Him, He will repay him to his face. Deuteronomy 7:9-10
The Shack
God: "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 cure it" page 120
The Bible
The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.
But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceptions while they feast with you;
Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:..." 2 Peter 2:9-14
A little strychnine is still poison, and it will still kill, a little bad doctrine, like the quotes from the Shack, is still Antichrist.
The Shack Book
God: "I am neither male nor female, even though both genders are derived from my nature" page 93
The Bible
"The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him. The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name." Exodus 15:2-3
The Shack
God: "you do understand, she continued unless I had an object to love -- or more accurately, a someone to love -- if I did not have such a relationship within myself, that I would not be capable of love at all? You would have a god you could not love" page 103
The Bible
"He that does not love, does not know God; for God is love" 1 John 4:8
"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." 1 John 4:10
The Shack
Mack: "are there any who you are not especially fond of?"...
God: "Nope, I haven't been able to find any. Guess that's jes' the way I is" page 118 and 119
The Bible
"Know therefore that the LORD thy God, He is God, the faithful God, which keeps covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations;
And repays them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hate Him, He will repay him to his face. Deuteronomy 7:9-10
The Shack
God: "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 cure it" page 120
The Bible
The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.
But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceptions while they feast with you;
Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:..." 2 Peter 2:9-14
A little strychnine is still poison, and it will still kill, a little bad doctrine, like the quotes from the Shack, is still Antichrist.
About the Emergent Church...
"he never shows up in a red suit, pitchfork in hand shouting "Here I Am"
Find out more from great authors on how to be a discerning believer...
The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment
Amazon Price: $11.89 (as of 05/11/2008)
The Truth War: Fighting for Certainty in an Age of Deception
Amazon Price: $15.63 (as of 05/11/2008)
Faith Undone: The emerging church - a new reformation or an end-time deception
Amazon Price: $10.36 (as of 05/11/2008)
New Wine and the Babylonian Vine
Amazon Price: $12.95 (as of 05/11/2008)
Emergent Church
Find out more....
emergent church links, (most are heretical)
Just who is the god of "The Shack" Book ?
Here are links for further research
Sorry, there were no matching results."The Shack" book
"The Shack" book by Paul Young
the latest blogs on the shack
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- Emergent Church Spreading Spiritual CANCER
- There is a growing movement afoot in the postmodern Church that does not abide in God's Word; hence...
- Defeated Christian's and Leaders
- I am noticing as church attendance is on the decline an increased number of defeated christians and...
- Updated | Ian Mobsby Book Tour 2008 | USA & Canada
- The day will explore the place of the emerging church as a form of missional community drawing on a...
Is Gayle Erwin Becoming an Emergent Church Leader?
Reasons why Gayle Erwin May Be Part of the Emerging Church
Gayle has recently endorsed several books by Wayne Jacobsen, who was the the author of the website for "The Shack Book" and is himself an emergent church author. Gayle highly endorsed The Shack by Paul Young on it's cover.
Gayle E. Erwin, Author "The Jesus Style"
Riveting, with twists that defy your expectations while teaching powerful theological lessons without patronizing. I was crying by page 100. You cannot read it without your heart becoming involved.
When I wrote to Gayle and inquired of his endorsement of The Shack, he has refused to respond by email, snail mail, or phone. His office refuses to comment on his position on The Shack, only stating that Gayle has very good reasons for endorsing it, and that he will respond to any questions by email or phone.
I have made 3 or 4 phone inquiries and 8 or 9 email inquiries, all without response, made from three different email addresses.
Gayle has been, and is currently extremely influential and vocal in the Calvary Chapel Movement, including being a regular speaker at Calvary Chapel Pastors Conferences.
Among the materials from Servant Quarters you'll find listed many of the teachings and books by Gayle Erwin. Among the titles are the Nature of Jesus, some Gayle Erwin videos, Gayle Erwin teachings, links to his Servant Quarters newsletter and website. Among topics he has covered are the Nature of God, Jesus , The Nature of Holy Spirit.
In the past I have believed him to be a sound biblical teacher. I just can't understand his lack of discernment and his disregard of doctrine and teaching that is clearly contrary to the Bible as he sings the praises of "the Shack".
On New Years Eve, 2007, Pastor Chuck Smith, the head overseer of Calvary Chapel gave a strong warning to the churches to beware of the Emergent Church movement. He is aware first hand of it's dangers, as his own son, Chuck Jr. was the founder and head of Calvary Chapel Capistrano Beach, has led his fellowship into the emergent movement. Chuck Jr. was my first pastor, and the man who first taught me how to study the Bible and prepare Bible studies.
It is sad to see how far that church has fallen into the contemplative and emerging church movements. It is apparent that Peter-Jon Courson is planning to continue on the Emergent Church path as Calvary Chapel Capo Beach's teaching pastor.
Gayle E. Erwin, Author "The Jesus Style"
Riveting, with twists that defy your expectations while teaching powerful theological lessons without patronizing. I was crying by page 100. You cannot read it without your heart becoming involved.
When I wrote to Gayle and inquired of his endorsement of The Shack, he has refused to respond by email, snail mail, or phone. His office refuses to comment on his position on The Shack, only stating that Gayle has very good reasons for endorsing it, and that he will respond to any questions by email or phone.
I have made 3 or 4 phone inquiries and 8 or 9 email inquiries, all without response, made from three different email addresses.
Gayle has been, and is currently extremely influential and vocal in the Calvary Chapel Movement, including being a regular speaker at Calvary Chapel Pastors Conferences.
Among the materials from Servant Quarters you'll find listed many of the teachings and books by Gayle Erwin. Among the titles are the Nature of Jesus, some Gayle Erwin videos, Gayle Erwin teachings, links to his Servant Quarters newsletter and website. Among topics he has covered are the Nature of God, Jesus , The Nature of Holy Spirit.
In the past I have believed him to be a sound biblical teacher. I just can't understand his lack of discernment and his disregard of doctrine and teaching that is clearly contrary to the Bible as he sings the praises of "the Shack".
On New Years Eve, 2007, Pastor Chuck Smith, the head overseer of Calvary Chapel gave a strong warning to the churches to beware of the Emergent Church movement. He is aware first hand of it's dangers, as his own son, Chuck Jr. was the founder and head of Calvary Chapel Capistrano Beach, has led his fellowship into the emergent movement. Chuck Jr. was my first pastor, and the man who first taught me how to study the Bible and prepare Bible studies.
It is sad to see how far that church has fallen into the contemplative and emerging church movements. It is apparent that Peter-Jon Courson is planning to continue on the Emergent Church path as Calvary Chapel Capo Beach's teaching pastor.
relevant links
- Bill Giovannetti is Max Grace!
- Comedy is only funny when there's a ring of truth to it.In this satirical look at the emerging church, the leaders of the movement take on a certain Peter Pan like appearance as they try to recapture the hearts of a youth centric society that willfully ignores the truths of the bible.
- The twisted "truths" of The Shack & A Course in Miracles
- By Berit Kjos - February 14, 2008
The Shack calls for a similar denial of reality. Yet countless pastors and church leaders are delighting in its message. By ignoring (or redefining) sin and guilt, they embrace an inclusive but counterfeit "Christianity" that draws crowds but distorts the Bible. By also discounting Satan, they weaken God's warnings about deception. No wonder His armor for today's spiritual war became an early victim of this spreading assault on Truth.
Roger Oakland, author of Faith Undone, hinted at this transformation in his article "My Trip to the Rethink Conference:"
"For nearly two thousand years, most professing Christians have seen the Bible as the foundation for the Christian faith. The overall view at the Rethink Conference, however, is that Christianity, as we have known it, has run its course and must be replaced.... Speakers insisted that Christianity must be re-thought and re-invented if the name of Jesus Christ is going to survive here on planet earth."[3]
No room for the historical Jesus? Must we reimagine God to make Him fit for the rising universal church?
That seems to be the aim of The Shack's female "God." Here she is speaking to the main character, Mackenzie (Mack for short):
"For me to appear to you as a woman and suggest that you call me Papa is simply to mix metaphors, to help you keep from falling so easily back into your religious conditioning."[1,p.93]
"Religious conditioning?" Is that how Mr. Young views Biblical Christianity?
It's easy to be persuaded by his clever arguments. The Shack is written as a personal testimony that draws readers into virtual dialogues with a fun, culturally relevant "God." In contrast to the dry, occult lessons in ACIM, The Shack leads readers into vicarious experiences in a world of revelations and sensations. The only sin-like issue here is independence -- what ACIM calls "separateness" -- a refusal to accept universal oneness with "God" and man. Unhindered by Biblical guidelines, The Shack offers no standard for right or wrong, so there's no real need for Biblical repentance. It fits right into the popular vision of a unifying, non-judgmental church. - More Books and Things
- Examining books in light of The Book...the Bible!
- The Shack Book
- Includes a revealing look at the heart of Wayne Jacobsen, promoter and web designer for "The Shack Book"
- The No Goofy Zone Discernment Ministry: from the Berean Call
- The No Goofy Zone Discernment Ministry The No Goofy Zone is a discernment ministry for saved born again Christians and all who are seeking the truth.We expose non-biblical trends in the church. We are making material available to advance understanding of issue's which endanger Christianity.
- Tim Challies Review of the Shack
- Quickly gaining recognition for his discerning look at Christian Literature, an excellent resource for inquiring about many popular Christian authors.
- Yinkahdinay
- Here's another review of "The Shack".
- Beaty and the Bull
- A Review of the Shack
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