LOOKING Into The SHACK– A Review of the book, UNSHACKLED by Pastor Larry DeBruyn

~~By James Fire

As we have seen in T.T.U.F.s first article on this novel, The Shack by Paul Young, there are many ideas presented in this fictitious work that are unbiblical. What we often hear from those who love this story is just that: “it’s just a story!”

However, story or not, books contain words, and words convey ideas and ideas, concepts and perspectives are either true or they are not. If concepts in a Christian novel (The Shack is not a Christian novel (By ‘Christian’ we mean a Christian world view based on the truth of the BibleLarry), though it’s packaged to look like one) are not biblical, one must ask why the author (who is presumably a Christian) would promote such ideas.

It begs the question, why can’t a well told story also be biblically accurate? As Christians should we support such work by purchasing the books and related materials, to the financial benefit of its authors and publishers?

True, The Shack touches us emotionally, and speaks to the suffering and pain that is common among us in this world, but then many secular novels do as much as this! How is this novel different from any of its secular counterparts?

It purports to be a ‘Christian’ novel and presumes to teach us things about God, and life on Earth for the believer, and here those who love the Word of God supremely, must challenge its tenets.

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The DARK NIGHT of The SHACK - By Gregory Reid

According to Wikipeida, "The Shack is [considered] a Christian novel, [written] by Canadian author William P. Young, a former office manager and hotel night clerk, published in 2007.The novel was self-published but became a USA Today bestseller, having sold 1 million copies as of June 8, 2008. It was the No. 1 paperback trade fiction seller on The New York Times Best Seller list from June 2008 to early 2010, in a publishing partnership with Hachette Book Group USA's FaithWords imprint (Hodder & Stoughton in the UK). In 2009 it was awarded the "Diamond Award" for sales of over 10 million copies by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association."

When TTUF co-writer Anne Kisly and myself heard about this story, having understood it's basic and flawed premise, we didn't pay it much mind, until we were stunned to learn that it was a national best-seller, particularly in Christian book stores.

We immediately looked into it and found excellent critiques in two books, upon which we based our respective book reports. 
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The PROGRESSIVE DISEASE OF SPIRITUAL DECEPTION IN OUR TIME

By Gregory Reid

There was a time when ideas like yoga or eastern meditation in the church were only associated with Christ Science churches, Universalist Churches, and a few spurious non-biblical fringe places. In a few scant decades, the walls have been so completely torn down that we not only see no harm in these things, we promote them.

This is exactly what Theosophist (Luciferian) leader Alice Bailey predicted would be part of the new age infiltration into the church:
"The three main channels through which the preparation for the new age is going on might be regarded as the Church (emphasis mine) the Masonic Fraternity and the educational field." (The Externalization of the Hierarchy, Page 511.)

So, in fact, this has been underway for some time. It probably began to get a real foothold in our present time with Norman Vincent Peale’s “Power of Positive Thinking” theology, quickly adapted by Rev. Robert Schuller who was really the first modern “megachurch” and “Seeker Friendly” church pastor. Their ideas were once considered a bit of an aberration from mainstream Christian doctrine. But here we are decades later, and seeker friendly and power of positive thinking is normal and unchallenged. The crack into Bible-based evangelical churches had begun to open just a little…

Fast forward: In the last three decades we have opened our doors to things like the laughter movement, barking like dogs and oinking like pigs and calling it the “anoinking of the Spirit,” and worse. A number of leaders challenged these things, but its promoters did not repent of it.
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SPIRITUAL WARFARE: The Armor of God, Conduct in the Campaign & Implementing the Victory of Christ in our Lives – PART 5

~ By James Fire

The ARMOR and Its ACCOMPANYING PARTS – Section Two: The Feet Shod with the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace and The Shield of Faith:

FEET SHOD with the PREPARATION of the GOSPEL of PEACE –

EPHESIANS 6:15
And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Whether one discusses the Gospel of the Kingdom to Israel or the Gospel of salvation to the Church, or the Gospel of GOD to those saints who will come out of great tribulation, it’s ultimately the same Gospel (to different entities) with the same central figure: our LORD Jesus Christ (also known as Y’shua ha Meschiach Nagid) and His supreme, sinless, sanctified sacrifice for the souls He created and will redeem - as many as receive Him (JOHN 1:12-13).

Here this Gospel is associated with Peace, and as Jesus Christ is our Peace, indeed, the veritable PRINCE of PEACE (ISAIAH 9:6) , we are to don these shoes prepared with the Gospel of peace, for whoever is born of God ought to walk even as He walked (1 JOHN 2:6).
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A PLOT OF THE NEFARIOUS KIND – Examining Satan’s Strategic Psychological Warfare Program – Part One

There is a video series on YouTube at The Fuel Project Channel called KNOW YOUR ENEMY. An excellent series of short videos (over 70) that examines two kingdoms through the course of human history: GOD’s own and also Satan’s.

As Christians our primary objective is to know, love and serve GOD. Only on a secondary basis are we to “know our enemy”; in the sense that we are not to be “ignorant of his devices” (2 COR 2:11) and his "wiles (methodologies; EPH 6:11). We are to be sober (of a serious mind) and vigilant (ever watchful, on guard, wary) of this one who goes about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1 PET 5:8). He is the most subtle, most cunning creature GOD ever created (GEN 3:1).

It's absolutely true that Satan was defeated at the Cross:

COLOSSIANS 2:14-15
14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it [the Cross].

This does NOT mean however that he is no longer dangerous, not a threat, someone we can afford to ignore or dismiss. Were that the case, we would have no need of the Armor of GOD (EPH 6:10-18) that the LORD in His wisdom has provided for us!

This article examines the film NEFARIOUS, based on Steve Deace’s book, A Nefarious Plot. If you haven’t seen this film yet, be advised there are numbers of spoilers in this piece.

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Old Testament Examples of SPIRITUAL WARFARE: Conduct in the Campaign & Implementing the Victory of Christ in our Lives – Part 4

~~ By James J. Fire

The Battle of Life Continues – From Vanquishment to Victory

Once the study of this chapter from the book of Joshua is completed, we will move onward in our Old Testament Tour of Triumph and examine other passages that speak of the spiritual warfare that is our present (but not eternal) reality. One day, we will lay down our ‘sword’ for the grand conflict of the ages of this world will have ended. Satan and the entirety of his kingdom will be expunged from the world which God created, forever bound in Gehenna and the parenthetical evil that was let loose by Luciferian design will finally be over with!

Until then however, we have much to contend against our chief adversary, and we must learn our battle tactics well, and execute them in militant fashion, standing firmly in the strength “of the LORD and in the power of HIS Might”.

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A Study in Paul’s Epistle to the ROMANS – “On the Road of Righteousness” Chapter Twelve: Part 2: GOD’s GIFTS of LOVE

Chapter Twelve– GOD’s GIFTS of LOVE

~ By James Fire

Having completed chapter 12 up to verse 5, we have examined the spiritual truths that involve our transformation via the sanctifying power and process of God’s Spirit and this incredible transformation is manifest among the members of the body of Christ.

From verses 6 through 13 we see the manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit in the body of Christ, and as such how they are to be used for the mutual edification of the body. Such gifts are as indispensable as they are priceless as we shall soon see; they are only properly used in the lives of those who are so sanctified and in process of transforming in their minds to become Christ-like in character and operate in the will of God. Such gifts and the concept of the gifts of the Spirit are to enhance, not disrupt (as is often the case unfortunately) the unity expressed in the body of Christ as God intended:

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A TTUF Interview w/ Dr. Gregory Reid on WAR of the AGES – PART 2 Of 4

INTRODUCTION: This is an interview with Dr. Greg Reid, a youth pastor, speaker, author of many books, who has his own website, and is a former victim of Satanic Ritual Abuse (SRA) and a man of GOD who understands spiritual warfare because it’s a reality for him.
He has written a book about it: WAR of the AGES: A Complete Scriptural Guide to Confronting and Defeating Satan’s kingdom.

The purpose of this interview is to excite interest and hunger in the readers to get this book into their hands and devour its contents, become familiar with and eventually adept at spiritual warfare – something that’s been forgotten in today’s modern American church and is terribly needed in this day and age, and the darkness that’s not only growing, but seeking to overwhelm and defeat those unprepared to face it.

TTUF has provided a summary of the book which you can read here; this was also produced to encourage Christians to get the book, and with an open Bible search these things out and determine where GOD has them positioned in His army.

Let’s continue then with part 2 of 4 of this interview:

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Another Word from the Wall - HOW's YOUR DECEPTION DETECTOR?

~ By Greg Reid,

Where do I even begin? One of the advantages of the internet is I can keep up with everything that’s going on out there. One of the disadvantages of it is I have to keep up with everything that’s going on out there! 

It would be easier in some ways not to look at everything that comes across my desk. But God reminds me that a watchman’s job is not to hang out in Starbuck’s Jerusalem but to stay on the wall and make sure everyone knows what is happening, to warn of danger. I get to do the Starbuck’s thing on occasion but most of my time is by necessity and calling doing THIS. And there is just so much to report all the time, and my prayer is that I can always provide godly perspective in these times that are surely nearing Jesus’ return.

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