E-Letters

The Shack

By Jeff Andrechyn
Jan 26, 2010

When the book, The Shack, came out it was an instant hit with our tribe here in Charlottesville, VA. I think the greatest and most lasting affect it has had on us here is the possibility, that just maybe, God is "way better" than we ever imagined.

God the Father (Papa) is talking to Mackenzie in the book when He says, "The real underlying flaw in your life, Mackenzie, is that you don't think that I am good."

I have gathered intentionally with a small fellowship of the heart these last few years to recover the good news of God and His Kingdom. We have searched the scriptures together and asked God to reveal Himself to us so that we might claim all He has for us. We have looked at where we are relating to God out of obligation or fear rather than out of acceptance and love.

Here is one example of how we have been encouraged to look at scripture differently. This verse used to scare me and everyone I know. Jesus says in Matthew 7:22:

"Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons, and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!"

Looking at these words through the filter of an outrageously good and loving God, what is Jesus trying to communicate here?

What we miss in His statement is what Jesus values; namely relationship.

In fact, the Bible is not about prophecy, or miracles, or signs and wonders, although it contains all of that. Rather, the book is about fellowship with Father.

What's so amazing about this particular verse is that the God of the universe places relationship with you and me above everything; Him knowing you and you knowing him. That is truly breathtaking when you really think about it.

Without placing blame anywhere, we have things pretty well twisted up when we put ministry, or our performance, or what we accomplish for God above all, as if that were the goal. Let me ask you this, is anyone out there really doing enough for God?

Jesus didn't put off the Jewish religion to give us a new religion called Christianity. Rather, he nailed all those requirements and ordinances against us to the cross once and forever and now says, "I no longer call you servants (you must get it right, or else) but I call you friends." John 15:15.

Our journey of discovery is now one of friendship with God and with each other. This has been the great adventure, valuing friendship above all else.

What would life look like for you if you put off all the failures and the oppression of "trying to get it right", and you simply woke up in the morning and said, "Lord, what do you want to do today, because whatever it is, I want in."

This is very challenging. Most mornings when I wake up, I am in a fight to get back to God. The enemy of my heart whispers assaults that God is distant, unforgiving, and not friendly.

Learning to live loved and in friendship with God is a journey. It's a process and like good Bordeaux, it gets better with age.

I think the two greatest assaults we can face in this world are these;

· A disorienting event that comes along the knocks us over and we doubt whether God's heart is good toward us and,
· A betrayal from a friend.

We can endure a ton of opposition in this life but those two assaults crush us. The nature of His life in us is relational and when that is disrupted we feel as if we've been exiled. We then wander looking for connectedness, something deep and intimate.

My New Year's resolution is not to add something more in my life "to do," but rather to turn off that internal editor that says "you are not doing enough," or "you must always get it right". While this new life in me does serve, I myself am not just a servant.

The other thing I want to remain open to this new year, is the possibility of new friendships and while hopeful of that, I want to honor and strengthen old friendships, for friendship is the nature of God.

Your friend,

Jeff