The Shack

Ive been reading the Shack and although everyones told me it was excelent, i've found it unimpressive so far. The last chapter though has had an impact, for those who've read it, im at the bit where Mack meets with God's wisdom. It infuriated me. I couldnt stand the arrogance of God (yes i know :o). It made me angry, or what could better be described as sulky. haha. I continued to read and pray and i came to a bit where Jesus starts talking to Mack.It really struck home. Jesus tells Mack "It's not your duty to try and change them, or even convince them. You are free to love without an agenda". It struck home because since i've been at Oasis I've heard alot about loving and serving our neighbour and at home, alot more about personal walk with jesus (of course both places have encouraged both, i just mean the emphasis' have been slighltly different). This just joined the two in an instant. Lately, ive found ive been getting heady about stuff likie Christian politics, brands of theology etc and the "right one". A conversation i had recently about oasis where someone stated "there just feels like so much time and i can't get it all in" and i thought about how busy Steve Chalke is etc. It's like Oasis have had this brilliant effect on me about what Christianity should look like, but i wondered where it stops. Anyway, im rambling abit, getting my thoughts together, what im getting at is this...what JEsus says to Mack in the shack says what oasis says about just loving people without going out to "convert" them. Which is right, but do we burn ourselves out trying to do all the possible good we can? how do we live like Christ? Later, Jesus goes on to say that those whoknow him are those who love with no agenda. Saying that living that life can be and IS sometimes just having time for people, just enjoying relationship. thats life as it should be. It's free, but sacrifce, being subject to his will (the bit that made me angry at God, my own pride that wants indepndence).BUT being dependent on him means we love in all things at all times and we dont go out and do our best for Jesus, we let Jesus love. It means as I go deeper in to him i love others more. Obvious i guess but has come as a bit of a revelation. Extra note was where Jesus says "I have no desire to make them Christian, but i do want to join them in their transformation into Sons and Daughters of God, into my brothers and sisters, into my beloved". Not universalism but just throws our labels out the window. Joy said to me "you only fear labels when you don't who you are" and that's true. When you are rest assured in his love (which this book talks alot about and God has been highlighting in my life, to jump in and believe it) and KNOW it, you can float into different associations and labels and be in it and not of it.Thats very rambly but just different things Gods highlighting in me.