I like Ted Dekker's books, especially the Circle "trilogy" (it's really a quartet). But I have noticed some flaws in his... what would you call it, theology?
1. In the book White, Thomas is urged, commanded, even, by "Elyon" (the fiction world's allegory for God) to woo a Horde princess. In this world, evil is seen, and manifests itself as a skin condition that fogs the mind. There are two parties, the Horde (those who don't follow Elyon) and the Circle (those who do). So Thomas, a leader of the Circle, is commanded by Elyon to show love and woo the Horde princess, Chelsie. Here's what I have wrong with it.
"Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?" - 2 Cor. 6:14
Christians marrying unbelievers never works. Christians think "I can change him/her"... but usually it does just the opposite, pulling the Christian away from God. This, of course, does not mean that we shouldn't love unbelievers, in fact Christians (and the Circle in Dekker's book) are commanded to love their enemies, and pray for those who persecute them. But we're not supposed to love with Eros (romantic love), but Agape (unconditional love; as we love ourselves).
SPOILERS IF YOU HAVEN'T READ GREEN YET!!!
2. In Dekker's book Green (just out), there's a scene at the end where about half of the believing Circle turn away from Elyon and follow a false prophetess, so to say (not quite right, but I'm trying to explain if you've never read it before) and end up doing things against Elyon and his word. At the very end, Elyon rescues the other half of his people and they follow him to paradise. In order to do so they dive into a lake, and it mentions one person who had turned away diving into the waters. But there's nothing about all the other warriors, and Samuel (Thomas' son) can't go to paradise because he led the people astray and followed the prophetess.
Now, perhaps it's just the denomination Dekker's in, I don't know, but I personally believe that once you have your salvation and have accepted Christ's sacrifice (as Samuel did) you cannot lose your salvation. My pastor actually just taught a message on it. He pointed out (and this is mostly all I remember, I'm certain there were better reasons) that if we could loose our salvation, we would have lost it a long time ago. He also pointed out it was against God's character, and, um, other reasons too. (Comment if you need scriptures on this or anything... I'm not going to bother go finding my notes unless you do.)
3. Dekker got his information on bats from Calvin... ;) http://mimosasonthefrontlawn.blogspot.com/2009/02/bats-arent-bugs.html
Also, I have a problem with Dekker's book "Boneman's Daughter". It was awful. It could hardly be labeled "Christian"; it was violent, morbid and made me feel physically sick. Honestly. I mean, some of his books have been a bit bad, but this was just awful. Don't bother reading it. Dekker's writing has gotten steadily worse as his books become more violent and morbid, and this is probably the worst. Even Green has some moments in it that are a bit like Boneman's Daughter... I hope his writing will improve, but it seems to be going in the opposite direction.
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I haven't read the circle trilogy, and I don't really plan to, but against your first point I would call to your attention Hosea. God told him to marry Gomer. Elyon tells Thomas to woo Chelsie. I see a distinct parallel. Through Hosea's pursuit of Gomer, God showed the Israelites that He loved them and would pursue them even though they turned away from Him to darkness. It seems like Dekker is making the same parallel here.
ReplyDeleteAgainst your second point I'd say what most pastors say when asked about people who've fallen away from the Lord -- was their faith genuine to begin with. I have Calvinist leanings, so I'm very inclined to believe that once you've had true salvation it is impossible for you to turn away from God. To do so would be to demonstrate not that you've "lost" your salvation, but that your salvation was never true in the first place.
And for three, I'll take your word for it. ;)
The morbidity and dark flair of his writing (at least what I've heard second-hand) is the reason I have no intention of reading anything Dekker. His writing may be allegorical, and his points may be true, but there's enough violence outside my window and in my own heart that I don't need to be ingesting more in the pages of a book.
Hahah, the debater in me got carried away, of course. It's good that you're thinking critically about the books you read, I just couldn't resist adding my argumentative two cents. ;)
ReplyDelete1. Yes, but in Hosea's story it doesn't work out. He doesn't change Gomer, but in the Circle Trilogy Thomas manages to convert her with his love and everything was happy and right. Everything I've ever been taught teaches that it just doesn't work that way. Young Christians probably won't make the parallel between Hosea and Thomas, and might think that it works in real life. I didn't make the same connection and I doubt that others will either, especially if they haven't read the Bible a lot.
ReplyDelete2. Yes, I agree. But in this fiction world, Good and Evil are clearly displayed in the form of a skin ailment (or lack thereof). Those who haven't accepted Elyon haven't "Drowned". In this world following Elyon isn't accepting in your heart, it's physical drowning in one of the red pools (symbolic of his blood; the Christ figure in this book was drowned, not crucified). Those who have accepted Elyon and those who haven't are clearly marked by the condition of their skin... After Samuel turns away he begins to get a rash again. I'm sorry if I haven't made this point clear, it's hard to explain to someone who hasn't read the book yet.
I'm personally not affected by violence in movies and books, but Boneman's Daughter was over the top. If you feel that way yes, you probably shouldn't read his books, although I think the first three books of the Circle trilogy weren't that bad.