You may find this surprising--and a bit disturbing--but I subscribe to a variety online "Christian" e-newsletters. I like to see/read/know what's "coming down the pike" (aka: waves and wind of doctrine) through the Church in our post-modern culture.
I'm sometimes pleasantly surprised and glean some valuable insights, but more often than not I'm saddened and disgusted. The most recent source of concern came from the review of a book written for women which states,
"Even though you don't wear a tiara while doing laundry or ermine robes when grocery shopping, you're a princess nonetheless! Shepherd's collection of adoring letters from the King will help you "polish" your self-image..."Excuse me, "adoring letters from the King", "polish your self-image"???? Are they honestly claiming that this has been drawn out from the Bible?
On the back cover it says this, "...and we are chosen by Him...", yet in one of the "letters" it says this, "...Remember, it's your choices that will pave your path to life. I will not force you to do anything. I have given you a free will to walk with Me or to walk away from Me. I want you to know that you can put on your crown at any time..." Okay, which is it? Did God choose me, or did I choose Him?
Am I to "glory" in some fanciful/fabricated notion that in God's eyes I am "Daddy's Girl" or His "Princess" (both used freely in the book)? Or am I to glory in the Biblical truth and knowledge that because of Christ's blood sacrifice I have been bought and subsequently brought into communion with the triune God--the very creator of the universe?
Please ladies, if I've misunderstood or misrepresented this book, please tell me! But I'm concerned that this sort of unbiblical writing (and thinking) which appeals to our flesh and our desire to "feel good" simply perpetuates a view of God that does not exist in Scripture and encourages a man-centered theology. Can I "harp" on that enough?
You can find the bookHERE. Oh yes, did I mention the related "Princess" jewelry and doo-dads marketed/available for purchase? Sigh...
