This past weekend I went to see the movie version of “The Shack.” I had read the book when it first came out and I had forgotten lots of what the author wrote. Prior to going to the movie, I took my copy of the book off my bookcase and skimmed through it to refresh my memory. It is a very interesting story and the movie is very well done and is also very close to the book.
The movie, at least to me is about two things: forgiveness and being in a right relationship with God. It also leads us down a path that asks the hardest question anyone ever asks: “How can an all-loving, all-knowing, omnipresent God cause or even allow all the horrific things we humans do to each other—especially what some adults will do to children?” The simple and truthful answer is that we live in a world permeated by and with evil. Could God stop all this evil—certainly but to do so would remove what we call “free will!” The one thing that hit me hard in the movie (and in the book as well) is when Mack is taken into a cave and comes face-to-face with Sophia (wisdom). She points out to him that he is very judgmental and that judging others belongs to God and God alone. She moves out of her seat and has Mack sit there and tells him that he is now in the place of God and that he is now THE judge. Then she says something to the effect of, “You have two children. You have to send one of them to Hell and the other will go to heaven. Which one goes to Hell?” Mack stammered and stuttered and finally told her he could not make that choice. “But you have to, choose one! Come on Mack we don’t have all day!” (Paraphrase mine!) Finally, Mack said to her that rather than choose to send one to Hell he would go in their place, and that was the point she was trying to get across to him. The truth is, God loves everyone and it is not up to us to judge anyone—that is God’s job and God’s alone. Think about that this week as you go along the busyness of life. Someone once said “you can’t judge another person unless you have walked in their shoes.” (Source unknown) I believe that once we understand what it really means to forgive and to live in a right relationship with God, judging others will quickly disappear from our lives! Amen. Comments are closed.
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This blog consists of reflections written by the minister each week for the Sunday bulletin. We hope that you enjoy the musings! Archives
January 2020
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