Now, I know many of my pastor friends and theologians have written extensive reviews of The Shack. Let me say I agree with the majority of what is written. The purpose of my article is not to point out the theological flaws of the book or movie. You can go to http://www.albertmohler.com/2010/01/27/the-shack-the-missing-art-of-evangelical-discernment/ for a solid treatment of The Shack by Al Mohler, who is one of the best intellectual minds in the Southern Baptist Convention.
The Shack is indeed a dangerous book and movie for those who are not deeply grounded in the truths of the Christian faith. And that is a issue, considering many who claim to be Christian has little to any biblical discernment. But can I talk to my pastor friends and fellow Christians in a spirit of love for just a moment? The reason we have such little biblical discernment is because we are failing miserably in developing disciples of Christ who can intelligently engage a largely Post-Christian culture. In short, we have lost the art of intelligent Christian apologetics in favor of a fear-based, isolationist approach to our churches.
I have seen this with the outcry of the remake of Disney's Beauty and the Beast (which is one of my all-time favorite Disney movies). I was just as saddened as everyone else when I read Disney had put in an overt homosexual scene. But let me tell you why I won't tell my nine year old daughter Abigail no if she asks to see it-my job as her father is to train her up in the way she should go, so when she is older she will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6).
I want Abigail to confidently engage the dark culture she will find herself in with the timeless truths of the Word of God. I want to help her develop the lost art of intelligent Christian apologetics, to be able to clearly and concisely articulate the foundations of her Christian faith and be able to refute the lies and distortions the enemy has filled the minds of people with. I want her to feel comfortable around those who believe differently than her so she can be "salt and light" in a lost, perishing world. Let me tell why I feel this way.
I have a close, immediate family member who lived an alternative lifestyle for over 16 years. I grew up with this loved one driving me to school (they were older), going to my ballgames, and celebrating life with me. This was during the mid-1980's when homosexuality was beginning to gain national prominence, but long before it was accepted into mainstream society.
After I became a Christian, I was torn about how to interact with this loved one. They were my family. I loved them, but I did not support their lifestyle. So, what did I do? I continued to love them and journey life with them. My wife and I had many meals when we were the only heterosexual couple in the room. My relationship with my close family member did not change during those years. When I got my first call to become a student pastor at a church and had to preach a trial sermon, who was sitting at the front to support me? You guessed it, my close family member who was living an alternative lifestyle.
I don't remember what I preached that night. I do remember giving the invitation, and my family member walking down the isle with tears in their eyes and saying these words, "You loved me to Christ."
Did you get that? "You loved me to Christ." Not, "You told me what a horrible person I was and shut me out of your life." Pastors and Christian friends, we cannot be scared of The Shack and Beauty and the Beast. We need to have discussions on how we can leverage these movies into opportunities to talk about the true character of God, the true nature of God-honoring relationships, and what a life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ looks like. If we don't, our churches will continue to decline, deteriorate, and ultimately die.
This is the lost art of intelligent Christian apologetics that the apostle Paul demonstrated in Acts 17:16-34 when he preached his sermon "To An Unkown God." My friends, we must diligently study and ask the Holy Spirit to help us better engage a culture that won't just show up at your church on Sunday morning.
As long as we react in fear, shutting ourselves up in our church buildings, we will never see change in our communities. This type of apologetics will require intentional relational building. It will take time. It will be messy. And it won't be popular.
Understand, I am not telling you to take your children to see The Shack or Beauty and The Beast. That is something you and God have to deal with individually. What I am saying is that if we react in fear, if we fail to talk to our children about these cultural issues, if we as pastors do not intentionally help people develop apologetic skills, we are failing those who God has called us to love and nurture.
After all, this is my heart this morning: "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst" (1 Timothy 1:15).
May God's grace and blessings be upon you and yours this weekend.
Bryan
1 comment:
I understand what you are saying, Jesus walked among sinners and loved them and we are to do the same. We can't change a person with just words we have to love with action and not shun folks that are different away from Gods word. Love the sinner but not the sin. I will say sometimes you have to leave the ball in their court and walk away.
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