A Stumbling Christian: Notes on The Shack

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Notes on The Shack

So, I should just fess straight up: I'm a big fan of The Shack.

If -- let's just suppose for a moment-- the entirety of human history can be described as our endeavor to know and understand the nature, the essence, the heart of God... then I'd say The Shack was equivalent to some of humanity's best theology. And superior, probably, to at least one of the books of the Bible.

So I'm biased.

But I found great insight in this blog post from www.windrumors.com, William P Young's web site. And great comments from readers.

Check it out if you get the chance.

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The Adventures of a Stumbling Christian

Michael's Creed

Who needs their own creed anyway? Probably no one... but this simple list helps keep me grounded in the One, and in the reasons why we follow him.

Trust God
At the end of the day, in whatever circumstances assail us or buoy us, we need to trust God. We need to trust his compassion, his endless love for us, and we need to trust in his great dream for bringing us all back together.

Follow Jesus
There are other faiths, other prophets, other paths. Who am I to say whether they bring one to God or not? But I've chosen to follow the Jesus way: in community with other believers, carrying his word, and sharing his love.

Serve Humbly
I'm convinced that the Christian life is all about finding and growing one's "servant nature". I'm bad at this, but I try to remind myself to seek out ways to serve, even if they feel unnatural or are out of my normal comfort zone.

Love Boundlessly
I've struggled in the past with how to make this part of the creed fit, and still be obtainable by a mere human like me. I originall thought one should "Love unconditionally" but I know I can't love everyone without condition or exception, as much as might want to. "Love boundlessly" conveys, I think, the idea that there should be no boundaries between who we might or might not offer our love to, or the depth that we might allow ourselves to feel that love... no matter how vulnerable that leaves us.

1 Corinthians 13.1-13

Were I to speak the languages of all men and all angels, without having love, I were as a resonating gong or jangling cymbal. Were I to prophesy and know all secrets and every truth, were I to have faith strong enough to move mountains, without having love, I were as nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy others or brag of itself. It is not swollen with self. It is not wayward or grasping. It does not flare with anger nor harbor a grudge. It takes no joy in evil, but delights in truth. It keeps all confidences, all trust, all hope, all endurance. Love will never go out of existence. Prophecy will fail in time, languages too, and knowledge as well. For we know things only partially, or prophecy partially, and when the totality is known the parts will vanish. It is like what I spoke as a child, knew as a child, thought as a child, argued as a child -- which, now I am grown up, I put aside. In the same way we see all things in a murky reflection now, but shall see them full face when what we have known in part we shall know fully, just as we are known. For the present then, three things matter -- believing, hoping, loving. But supreme is loving.

(Translation by Garry Wills)

A Stumbling Christian

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Notes on The Shack

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Michael's Other Blogs

The Adventures of a Stumbling Christian

Blog Archive

Michael's Creed

Links, Blogs, and Sites

Galations 3.26-28

2 Corinthians 5.18-19

Ephesians 1.8-10

St. Augustine's "Confessions"

1 Corinthians 13.1-13