Parallels between The Shack God and A.A.’s higher power.
“The Shack”, by William P. Young is still a hugely popular and very deceptive book that is likely to become a movie. Those that believe there is a Christian message or theme in this book are totally deceived and must not believe biblical doctrine themselves at all. The book presents another God, another Christ, and another path to salvation. “The Shack” really promotes “New Age” all paths Universalism much like A.A. which itself was founded by a man who got messages from the occult. The book is blasphemous toward God presuming to speak for God while actually promoting a “Queen of Heaven” type God that does not exist.
This pluralistic theme where many paths lead to the same God is now being promoted everywhere thanks to A.A., other 12 step programs, and the postmodern redefining of Christianity by high profile religious and secular media figures. Nevertheless, no true Christian should be sucked into such an unbiblical “New Age” postmodern concept. There is only one way to the Father (not the mother) according to the teaching of the only God/Man that ever walked the earth. That way is only through Jesus Christ as He is defined in the Bible and not as Jesus is redefined in the light of “New Age” demonic darkness.
Any Christian leader promoting “The Shack” should be immediately removed from their position because they are promoting doctrines of demons and the lie of the adversary that leads people to Hell.
Christian Worldview Network - Brannon Howse - The Shack is A.A.’s higher power.
According to the author, the god of The Shack dwells in everybody, and apparently does not condemn any to eternal punishment—or, as The Shack would address this, “She does not punish anyone.” The novel’s “christ” is the “best way” to salvation, but apparently not the only way.
What about Alcoholics Anonymous? The A.A. Big Book states, “We found that God does not make too hard terms with those who seek Him. To us, the Realm of Spirit is broad, roomy, all inclusive; never exclusive or forbidding to those who earnestly seek. It is open, we believe, to all men. When, therefore, we speak to you of God, we mean your own conception of God.”[19] According to the A.A. Big Book, God is “deep down within us.”
Thus are the seeds of the New Age planted in the soil of both The Shack and Alcoholics Anonymous. The tentacles of various heresies are reaching out and linking. The false “christ” of The Shack seems poised to be welcomed into, or serve as a catalyst for, emergent/contemplative/12 Step Spirituality.
Many Christians have superimposed their beliefs upon The Shack, supposing it a novel written by a Biblical Christian. As James De Young and others have pointed out, this is not necessarily the case. Over the decades, many Christians have also jackhammered their God into AA’s anti-Biblical system
Date posted: Tuesday, August 19th, 2008 3:06 pm | Under category: Apostasy, New Age/New Spirituality, Post Modern, Psychology in the church, aberrant/heretical teaching, discernment, false Christs
RSS 2.0 | Comment | Trackback
I wish I was a fly on the wall to hear that discussion.
I wrote a lengthy review on “The Shack” addressing the controversies
If the focus of your faith is a relationship with God The Shack will be wonderful. If your focus is on legalism, then The Shack will disappoint.
I like the over all theme that takes God out o the box–Don’t worry about yesterday or fret over tomorrow. Enjoy God now. He has it all in control. Surrender to Christ and walk in joy.
The link you had in your comment was reported by my software as an attack site so it was taken out. If you don’t know why it would be listed that way I suggest you find out.
If the focus of your faith is the real God of the Bible “The Shack is heresy and blasphemy. If people who believe the Bible are legalistic then all Bible Believers are legalistic and those like you who do not see the Bible as absolute truth have redefined the Bible into saying anything they want it to say. Thus you have created your own God.
When postmodern New Age teachings like “The Shack” talk about Christ they are really talking about one of many people who have reached christhood not the one Son of God who created all things and saves the world by taking away sin to all who come to Him for their salvation. They do not say that Jesus Christ of Nazareth is the only way to salvation they might say He is one of the ways or the best way. Believing that Jesus is the only way is not legalism it is the gospel.
Don,
I want to thank you for featuring several of my articles on your site. I have just set up a blog, don’t really know what I am doing, but hope this is pleasing to the King. I believe it is His will. I heard Jan Markell’s show on The Shack, and one of her guests pointed out that there is a goddess actually named….Papa! Maori in origin, I believe (New Zealand is about 2000 miles from where the author of The Shack lived as a child in New Guinea.)
He is the King,
John Lanagan
Hi John,
It is always my pleasure to post blogs that expose the end time heresies that are confusing Christians not mature in the faith and misleading the world to embrace postmodern “New Age” concepts of God. Post your link when you get your blog rolling and I will put it in my sidebar or email me. You will find my email address under Don Koenig the author on the top of the sidebar.
I thank you for writing these articles to keep us informed.
Blessings in Christ,
Don
So who are you the Osama Bin Laden of the Christian world. Get off the cross we need the wood. The only God you know is the one you know. You cant define god for anyone else and when you do i can call you an extremist cause you are. Shame on you for bashing AA which has helped many recover from alcoholism and other faiths that arent Christian that do many great things for others. I think you are just mad cause you cant do anything about this inclusive belief. I will pray for you that your mind opens.
There is only God and that is the one I know. Actually I can define God for anyone, read the links below. If they do not define God for you it is because you choose to remain hostile toward Him without cause.
http://www.thepropheticyears.com/comments/theonlyway.HTM
http://www.thepropheticyears.com/comments/How%20one%20is%20saved.htm
I did not say that AA cannot help unbelievers get off alcohol dependence. I am saying that AA in not the method that Christians should be using to get off alcohol dependence. You yourself admit that it is a inclusive belief. No Christian should be involved in inclusive beliefs. We are called out to be separate from the world.
I speak about AA among other things in this article below. You can find that info about half way down the article in the Psychology section. You will also find a couple of links within the article that give more information on the occult roots of AA.
http://www.thepropheticyears.com/comments/The%20woman%20on%20the%20beast%20in%20end%20time%20prophecy%20has%20dominion%20theology.htm
Thank God for your article. I attended AA as a born again Christian. At first, it seemed like it was the answer. I had a relapse and was told by AA that it was because I stopped going to meetings and did not have a sponsor. I ended up in Detox for 5 days, came out and returned straight back to AA. That is when I really started to feel something was not right.
I kept thinking that I had prayed to God for healing and I was healed, by faith in Christ. Yet AA still kept telling me I will never be healed and will drink again if I stop attending. Then I joined a Big Book Study and became depressed each week it was time to go. I started feeling uneasy about it all. I soon heard people talking about other members and making fun of their relapses…saying things like so and so has a pocket full of new comer chips. Yet they would rush the person and give them all these hugs. I heard people curse the likes of which just pained me. Taking the Lords name in vain. It was like a social hour. People would talk about all the other drugs they were on while proclaiming AA saved them……And for a while, I was going around telling people that everyone should be in AA just for the love and support……
Then I slowly begin to discern that I was amongst people not right. And, God has since been showing me that I may have a gift for discernment as well. Anyway, I left AA and have not had a drink sense…almost 9 months. No one ever called or checked on me, yet these were the same people telling me what I needed and that it was them and AA.
I think God sent me to AA for a reason no doubt. But I credit God and only God with my recovery. I do not need AA or any 12 step program. If God has healed me and I return to man’s way, then that is a slap in the face to God.
Lastly, I also noted that although every meeting I attended was held in a church, I could not find any members who actually attended the church. Nor, were they ever any pastors or church leaders conducting meetings. That also seemed odd to me. And just last night for some reason I was thinking about this, and today I just happen to read this article. So, you see for me, God provides all the encouragement, support, open doors, etc. that I will ever need.
Oh, one more thing, I am NOT an alcoholic. Maybe I once was, maybe I just had no faith and became a heavy drinker. Whatever people want to label me, that is fine. For I am a child of God. And I did say that at one of the meetings and I hushed up the room.
If you want to stop drinking, ask God, if he sends you to AA, try and discern the teachings, observe the people and then ask God to show you how to stop. He will. He did.
God bless.
Thanks for the testimony it correctly points out the problems with AA.
Children of God are not alcoholics, homosexuals, sex addicts, drug addicts etc. unless they themselves choose to live in bondage to the lusts of their flesh.
AA does not allow pastors of the churches they meet in to facilitate their meeting and that is understandable since it is a worldly organization. Pastors and church board often allow them to meet on their facilities as a community service or because they know some of their members have problems with alcohol but that shows lack of Christian discernment and knowledge of Christian methods to deal with these sin problems.
Don
We have chatted before and I hope you dont really believe that it is an attack to believe different from you. I remember one email where you actually thought it would be a good idea to go into some bookstores and pull some books out and burn them. I hope you get arrested if you try. Have to change your name to Taliban Don, cause you arent any better if you do those things. And for the life of me why would you criticize AA, a program of spirtual principles. Irrelevant if it doesnt stand up to your test of your God. You may think you can define God for others but talk about being decieved, WOW. Want nothing to do with your god and I think the main reason you are upset is you cant do anything about this finding a god of your own understanding. I wish you no harm but I will see you in the streets if you start trying to burn books pal.
Peace
Michael
Quit your damn lying or you will be banned from my Blogs.
I said that early Christians burned heretical and pagan books and obviously those were the books they owned. I did not encourage anyone to go to book stores and burn books. But I do encourage Christians to destroy heretical and demonic books so that others will not pick them up and be deceived by them. Who really gives a damn what those who choose to be blinded read. You cannot be deceived and any more lost than you already are.
I guess you did not read the previous post by Jacky or the links I gave you, or maybe you could not retrain what I said in the other conversation. AA spiritual principles are not Christan. The AA program was started by a person heavily influenced by the occult and the program encourages religious pluralism and that is not at all compatible with true Christianity.
There is only one God and it is not your concept of God versus my concept of God. It is the God that He reveled in the Bible. If you expect anti christian concepts to be accepted by Christians perhaps you will be better received at a heretic’s site.
Don
I feel sorry for you. Sounds like your concept is the right one huh. Maybe for you it is and thats cool. Anything you quote from the bible can be reinterperted to mean something else so get of the cross man we need the wood. Go ahead ban me I dont need to read your BS anyway.
You are man with a temper who could be dangerous but probably not because there isnt anything you can do about folks who call you on your BS. Pretty sad man, pretty sad.
Michael
What is sad is that when people like you are given the truth about Jesus being the only way to God they reject it and attack the messenger.
You choose to be without hope in this world and in eternity and there is nothing sadder than that. Only those who never met the Savior can reinterpret the clear teaching in the Bible to fit their own concepts. I am not on the cross since I am risen with Christ, but you need to put yourself there and die to self and trust in Jesus for salvation or your soul certainly will die.
Another sad thing is you have no excuse. You will not be able to claim that you never heard the truth. If you had any real answers for people you would not be looking for answers in AA. You think you can go from one nasty habit of the flesh to to a religious adviser in one shot (pun intended).
Here is a link from someone out of your background who will help you to understand the issues if you are opened to hear them.
http://www.christianworldviewnetwork.com/bio.php/193/John_Lanagan