“I have a mental picture—more like a video clip—of what it looks like when God decides which strengths to give someone. Perhaps God gazes down at a child (let’s say the child is you), a big grin on His face. His eyes twinkle at the sight of you. An angel stands behind Him, holding an enormous book filled with every good thing—page after page of strengths, talents, and breathtaking abilities.
These qualities are found in The Creator of this child.
The angel thumbs through the book. “Most Holy One, which gifts will You give this child?”
God’s eyes dance with delight as He ponders the wonders He can bestow upon you. He doesn’t want to rush this moment of joyous
contemplation. He peers down at you, His smile growing. Suddenly, God throws his head back and laughs with pure joy. The sound is like every bird on earth singing all at once. Oh, He knows you so well. He knows what will bring you joy. The angel laughs with God. “Will You give this child courage? A love of nature? A sense of humor? Creativity?”
The Lord of Heaven and Earth touches your cheek. “To this child I’ve already given the greatest gift of all. I have given my Son so we can forever be connected in relationship.”
Then God, overflowing with happiness, throws His arms over His head and exclaims, “But even still, I have every good gift to give. I’m generous beyond all human measure. The joy it brings me is uncontainable.”
The Almighty God, Creator of heaven and earth, bends down and whispers in your ear, “Here my child. These are for you. I give you these gifts. Grow in them. Explore them. Use them to bring glory to My name. Let them be a constant reminder of My great love for you.”

Much of life and our faith is shame-based. We look at the failures and weakness, trying to make them better, never reaching much past the level of our failures. Is that really how God sees us? Is that what John 10:10 is all about? I am becoming convinced that view is backwards. We need to look at our strengths and gifts, and go through life using and working with those things in our life that work well, that brings us joy, that connects us to why we were created. Yes, we put boundaries and strive with sin, but that is worked out as God works in us. How does this relate to this discussion? If you are for the Shack – go ahead and quote it and use it in your ministry in a balanced way. If you are not for it, find what you are for and use that to encourage and edify and reach the lost with the Good News. Our weakness and failures can become idols if they take our eyes of Jesus and the stuff He has given us to do.

There are several instances in the Old Testament where we see either Theophanies, Christophanies and/or angels. Melchezidek was a type of Christ as shown in Hebrews. The Song of Solomon is more than just a love story between a king and his woman, but a picture of God’s love for us.

Jesus used parables that showed God as a business leader, a boss, even a father. The Shack is just a book, poorly written by many authors’ opinions. It has grabbed peoples’ attention, though, and there is value in using it as a starting point in talking about who the Creator of the ends of the earth is, and who we are before Him.

In Acts we find the command to not eat meat offered to idols given by the council in Jerusalem. In a letter Paul says it is fine to do that. The issue is attitude and intent, the part God sees, not just result (the part man sees). This is the difference between Romans and James. Romans looks at faith from God’s perspective, while James looks at it from mans’. That is why James is heavy on the doing, because the doing flows from our being. So many people try to act holy on their own strength, without the inner change of surrender to God. That is why Romans 7 was written. Too often we focus on getting the judging right that we miss the opportunities for ministry.

If the Shack is an issue for you (or anyone), let it go and trust God will deal with it (unless God has specifically called you to be the one to deal with it (which is a whole other topic)). Use your time to focus on what is right (Philippians) and true.

I’m not saying the comparison does not strike at the more extreme end of dealing with The Shack – I am asking though, what is the biblical definition of idolatry, and does the book fit?

What does God revealing Himself in the best way to connect to us actually mean, or entail?

I would agree Jeromy – people aren’t out there praying to God as revealed in the book. That said, the following are all quotes of what people DO think about how God chose to reveal himself in The Shack. The fact that everyone is comfortable with a God, who has intentionally remained without an image, to be given an image (any image) is a problem. We are now all at liberty to do what the Isrealites were commanded not to do – which is commit idolatry, by visualising the Father….

“God wants us to receive him and I think he will do what is necessary to help us come to him with all of us–not holding back.”
“And that in his power and sovereignty he could choose to reveal himself however he wishes.”
“He chose to temporarily reveal Himself through an image that wouldn’t scare or intimidate Mack. God can reveal Himself to any individual the way He cares to in order to draw that person to Himself.”

Do I think we should worship a man-made image of God? Absolutely not. Do I think the Shack is condoning idolatry and such image-worship? Again, absolutely not.