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Exploring, “The Shack”-13- Meeting of Hearts

By Dan | October 30, 2008

There are two pieces I want to raise out of this chapter.

First, God corrects Mack on a point that is very important to understand. Listen to this quote, “Mack, just becuase I work incredible good out of unspeakable tragedies doesn’t mean I orchestrate the tragedies.” (185) Many times, and often out of good intentions, people wonder if God caused something bad to happen in their lives to bring about something good. “Maybe God let our daugther die so we would pull closer together as a family”. Or, “If you hadn’t lost your job and struggled so long, you would have never gotten low enough to finally put your faith in God.”

There’s a very important nuance here. Does God work good out of bad or even evil circumstances? He certainly does! But, and this is a big, “but”, does he actually cause the bad things to happen? Does he desire bad for you that he might bring about good? No. We see throughout the story of Scripture that God likes to work in the muck to bring about better things for us and that he tells us suffering and pain can lead to growth, but that does not equal God’s causation. Now God is over all and does control all, so maybe his allowing these things to happen and his using these events seems like a small nuance from causation, but this is still an important nuance and helps us go to the nature of a good and loving God.

Second point that must be discussed. Mack asks another big question- what did Jesus’s death actually do? Papa/God essentially says that Jesus’ death did everything, was the center of what the world is about, and has reconciled all to him. Mack responds by asking if God actually means only those who believe. God replies that Jesus’ death did it for all, but that reconciliation is a two way street and God has done his part. This leaves the implication that the only work left is for us.

Now some of what’s said here is right on. Yes, Jesus’ death is the center of everything and yes Jesus’ death was for all people and has won forgiveness for all. There is no sin left unforgiven on the cross. Even the sins of those who don’t have a relationship with Jesus were paid for by Christ’s death.

But what about the two way street comment. In a sense, he’s correct. God has done the forgiving, but forgiveness involves both parties, not just God. If we reject God’s grace and forgiveness reconciliation is not complete. If you want to read the comment that way, you’re fine. But I don’t think this is quite what the author intends. Given the rest of the context, there seems to be a typical, “God’s done his part, now you have to come to him/decide to accept him” undertone. This is what’s called synergism. God does his part, now you do yours. The problem with this is that we can’t do part of it. We’re God’s enemies and can only come to him through his acts of grace in the Holy Spirit. The book seems to disparage this kind of a view as “forced” faith, but I simply call it incredible grace.

What are your impressions of these statements?