If you recall from the first post (The Shack vs. The Bible 1), I exposed Young’s strong “anti-intelligentsia” stance as a cover for his desire to make Scripture say and mean what he wanted it to say and mean.
After sarcastically stating that God’s voice had been reduced to paper (the Bible) he writes, “and even that paper had to be moderated and deciphered by the proper authorities and intellects. It seemed that direct communication with God was something exclusively for the ancients and uncivilized, while educated Westerners’ access to God was mediated and controlled by the intelligentsia.”
Well, let’s take a look at Young’s version of “intelligentsia.” This next passage demonstrates that he has no problem “moderating and deciphering” what Scripture says for the readers of his book. Put on your seat belt and take a read of this:
“I,” she opened her hands to include Jesus and Papa, “I am a verb. I am that I am. I will be who I will be. I am a verb! I am alive, dynamic, ever active, and moving. I am a being verb.”
Mack still felt like he had a blank stare on his face. He understood the words she was saying, but it just wasn’t connecting yet.
“And as my very essence is a verb,” she continued, “I am more attuned to verbs than nouns. Verbs such as confessing, repenting, living, loving, responding, growing, reaping, changing, sowing, running, dancing, singing, and on and on. Humans, on the other hand, have a knack for taking a verb that is alive and full of grace and turning it into a dead noun or principle that reeks of rules: something growing and alive dies. Nouns exist because there is a created universe and physical reality, but if the universe is only a mass of nouns, it is dead. Unless ‘I am,’ there are no verbs, and verbs are what makes the universe alive.”
“And,” Mack was still struggling, although a glimmer of light seemed to begin to shine into his mind. “And, this means what, exactly?” [p. 204]
Yes, what exactly does this mean? After reading this, you are probably identifying really well with Mack (who felt like he had a blank stare on his face). Stay with Mack on this one but don’t let that glimmer of light begin to shine into your mind!
God Is the Great Subject!
I don’t think I have to write very much on this one. Let me be succinct. God is not merely a verb. He is not a “force.” If you want to describe God in grammatical terms, he is a noun in that he is The Subject. Of what is he the Subject? EVERYTHING! Everything is about God. Everything finds its source in God. Does God take action and do things? Absolutely, but he must be viewed rightly as a noun first. He is the noun above all nouns (Philippians 2:9).
Who is Young’s Subject?
Contrary to this, Young makes provision for man to think of himself as the subject. Consider this short statement:
In the silence that followed, Mack simply lay still, allowing the immensity of space and scattered light to dwarf him, letting his perceptions be captured by starlight and the thought that everything was about him… about the human race…that all this was all for us. (p. 113)
Make no mistake, everything is about God–not man! It seems that Young sees man as the subject of all and God as a verb that serves. This is nothing but age-old human arrogance–man worshiping himself. The ultimate end of sin is man thinking everything is about him. This looks and smells exactly like what Satan would have Eve to think when he tempted her in the Garden by telling her she would “be like God” (Genesis 3:5).
The God of the Bible
There are countless places you can go to in the Bible and see that God is the subject of all things, and not merely a verb. I dare say that every page of the Bible will support this claim. Here is an example:
Psalm 97:1-7
1 The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice;
let the many coastlands be glad!
2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
3 Fire goes before him
and burns up his adversaries all around.
4 His lightnings light up the world;
the earth sees and trembles.
5 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the Lord of all the earth.
6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
and all the peoples see his glory.
7 All worshipers of images are put to shame,
who make their boast in worthless idols;
worship him, all you gods!
We all struggle with the temptation to worship ourselves. This very day I have had a moment that I have turned my eyes away from God and toward myself. It is part of the human struggle in our sinful flesh. We are to fight this temptation and to make no provision for the flesh (Romans 13:14). The last thing we need is a book like The Shack pouring gasoline on this fire.
So make no mistake, God and his creation does not revolve around us. God is not merely a verb who is “more attuned to verbs.” God is The Subject who relates to his people.
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. [Romans 11:36]
