With the release date of March 2017, Lies We Believe About God hit the shelves the same time The Shack movie hit the theatres. Cleverly crafted I’d say. I’ve witnessed many people blindly thinking they could read The Shack because it was marketed as a fiction. I read of a local pastor who brought Young in to speak to their congregation. Such a burden is placed on my heart every time I hear someone say, “It’s no big deal. It’s fiction. It makes me feel so good. You should read it.” Then, as our adversary would have it, Young comes out with another book and many are reading it too.

Paul Young Echos The Serpent “Has God Said”

Lies We Believe About God, is NOT marketed as fiction yet in the very first chapter of the book, God is referred to as Papa! This clearly ties Young’s latest book back to The Shack. Friends, this is not a mistake. Simon and Schuster have this to say about Young. ” Paul encourages readers to think anew about important issues…” When we look at Genesis 3, we see the serpent asking a subtle question. Could Young possibly be asking us, as the serpent did Eve, to “think anew” so we may doubt what God has already said in His word?-Lies We Believe About God

I Want To Be More Like Oprah

While looking at Paul Young’s own website, another clue jumped out at me.  He wrote a blog posting titled, I Want To Be More Like Oprah. What? Why doesn’t he want to be more like Jesus, or Paul, or Daniel, or Elijah, or anyone else in the Bible?  Oprah has clearly stated that she doesn’t believe there could possibly be only one way to heaven.  She doesn’t seem like a biblical role-model to emulate.  Oprah may do good works, but Jesus did the best work of all.  God gave Himself a sacrifice.  Jesus shed His blood for us.

To all Bible believers, Oprah is wrong.  And more importantly, according to Jesus, somebody is lying!

In John 14:6, Jesus is answering Thomas when he asked how he can know the way.  Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Here is Oprah’s statement, “Millions of ways to God…”

 

Back to the Paul Young’s Books

Now that you have a good understanding of the man, W.P. Young, let’s turn our attention to analyze the books he’s written. You may want to check out some of the comments at goodreads.com. Sadly, his latest Lies We Believe About God has been rated 4/5 stars overall. Below are some of the chapter titles.

Remember these are all LIES we foolishly believe, according to W. Paul Young.  According to God’s word, they are all true. Let’s search the scriptures, testing all things letting God be true (Romans 3:4).

Chapter 2: God is good.  I am not.

Psalm 118:1 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth forever.

Psalm 22:6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

Isaiah 6:5 Woe is me! For I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

Chapter 3: God is in control.

Proverbs 16:9 A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.

Isaiah 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil.  I the LORD do all these.

Isaiah 14:24 The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, [so] shall it stand.

Chapter 7: God is more he than she.

Deuteronomy 9:3 Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he…

Deuteronomy 20:4 For the LORD your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.

Joshua 23:3 …for the LORD your God is he that hath fought for you.

John 6:33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. 

Chapter 13: You need to get saved.

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

1 Timothy 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

John 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye (this means all of you) must be born again.

A god After Your Own Heart

A couple of other chapter titles are: chapter 15, Hell is separation from God; and chapter 27, Sin separates us from God.  I think you get the point.  These titles tell us exactly where W. Paul Young is coming from and where he wishes to take his readers.  Deception is at hand.  Do not fall for this poison.  Young is misleading people away from the simplicity of God. 

At this point, I hope your disdain for W. Paul Young and his teachings is growing. Let’s finish by going back to The Shack.  I’d like to leave you with a few examples comparing the god of The Shack versus our God of the Scriptures, our Creator, and our Savior.

The False god of The Shack

The god of The Shack, “[Your heart] is wild and beautiful and perfectly in process” (p. 138). What does the Bible say? For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man” (Mark 7:21-23). The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9)

The god of The Shack, “Our final destiny is not the picture of Heaven that you have stuck in your head–you know, the image of pearly gates and streets of gold” (p. 177). What does the Bible say?  And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. (Revelation 21:21) The god of The Shack, “I don’t do humiliation or guilt, or condemnation” (p. 223). What does the Bible say?  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil (John 3:19). … to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God (Romans 3:19).  My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation (James 3:1)

Conclusions on Lies We Believe About God

Whether we want to admit it or not, the doctrine that was taught to individuals in The Shack is now presented and repackaged in Young’s latest, Lies We Believe About God.  The Bible warns us about turning to fables (2 Timothy 4:4). I hope this will ignite you to be aware of the deception all around.  I plead with you to share these truths with your loved ones, but remember it starts with you.  It stars in your heart and in your home.  It starts with His word over our preferences.  It begins by each of us humbly submitting ourselves to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  I ask one question for you to ponder.  If you have these books, will you get rid of them?

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

Ultimately, I never want to decide for you, but encourage you to get alone with the LORD and ask of Him what He’d have you do. 

Peace and blessings to you all,

Angela

Want to know more about The Shack, Paul Young, and Universalism.

The Shack is Christian fiction, a fast-growing genre in the contemporary Christian culture. It communicates a message in a casual, easy-to-read, non-abrasive manner. From his personal experience, Young attempts to answer some of life’s biggest questions: Who is God? Who is Jesus? What is the Trinity? What is salvation? Is Jesus the only way to Heaven? If God, then why evil? What happens after I die? –Review of The Shack