The Misunderstood God

BY ROMAN KOZAK

“The lies religion tells us about God” is the statement boldly written on the cover of the new book due to be out in October by the publishers of the New York Times Bestseller, The Shack. The Misunderstood God is an intriguing title, but does it truly reveal something our culture is in dire need of? Is there something major that Christians are missing?

Yes and no. Yes, Americanity has taken rise and encapsulated our culture as the new God. It is Christianity’s duty to rebuke the claims that Caesar (the state) is Lord. I believe there is one Lord, and his name is Jesus. He is the King from which any authority in heaven and on earth derives its power. The Misunderstood God asks some relevant questions, but the answers given are deplorable to the Christian paradigm.

Throughout the book, it is obvious that Mr. Hufford comes from a cliché fire and brimstone “mega-churchy” and “individualist-baptistic” upbringing. He is right that this type of “You can do nothing because you are scum; just have faith with no substance” preaching is crippling to humans, but his answers are wrong. The Misunderstood God focuses solely on the famous New Testament verse from 1 Corinthians 13: “Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.”

He uses this verse as his lens for viewing the rest of the Bible, including all of God’s character. Completely ripping the verse from its context, this verse becomes the sole authority for who God is. His presuppositions determine what each characteristic really means. Darin goes above and beyond individualism, and even takes blasphemous steps to say that God’s will is not meant for Him but for us, and that we were not created to worship God. Somehow, that would be “prideful” of Him!

Hufford is obsessed with the end of life, the so called “getting to a heaven” platitude of Western Christianity. His basic presuppositions are flat-out bunk. The Bible is not a “how to” book, nor is it an explanation of God getting people to heaven. It is so much more. His reaction towards the Old Testament as if it is something that is not necessary for understanding God’s character is preposterous. Apparently, if it is not love the way Hufford describes it, he uses discontinuity to defend himself, claiming the ideal as too “Old Testamenty.” Mr. Hufford even takes the step of saying that only through creating us, could God truly express His love. This leads to the conclusion that God needs us. God does not need us. This is what is so beautiful about who He is. Rescuing a people from sin that He does not need is greater than love. It is a sacrifice beyond understanding.

Hufford also states that nothing we do can provoke God. Boy, isn’t that convenient! Though I use sardonic language, this composition scares the hell out of me, especially in the context that this could possibly be a best seller following The Shack. It truly makes me wonder if this man has ever read the Bible, or attempted to look at context. He seems so highly unqualified to be speaking on this pivotal subject. According to Hufford, quoting the Bible is an escape route. Sure, sometimes it can be when preachers take things out of context in order to support their view, but his statements regarding scripture are apparent when he fails to cite any other scripture besides his decontextualized love verse (sounds like the pot calling the kettle black here). His inerrant standard and framework is built on the back of the individual, not Christ.

My goal in reviewing is never to come off as an arrogant know-it-all. There is a fine line between arrogance and a righteous rebuke in Christianity. This notion that piety is always being quiet and gentle with a large smile in the back pew of the church is flawed. Sometimes, given that circumstances are situational, rebuke is necessary. This book is misleading. It has very little sense of the true character of God. The reactions are understandable considering the background from which Hufford came, but the answers never hit the point. Along with Hufford, my heart breaks for those whose preachers tell them every week that they can do absolutely nothing to please God. It not only has an affect on their view of God’s character, but also personally over time.

In The Misunderstood God, there is no mention of the story that God has revealed to us through a covenant with His people on the way to restoring all of creation. Not even a snippet of us being a people of God whom are required to be faithful and obedient to His commands. Hufford twists the definition of jealousy to give it sensitive syntax. God’s name is jealous (Exodus 34:14). He is also Love (1 John 4:16). The Love that is defined in the word of God. Love is much greater than “mushy” emotions. It disciplines, discerns, leads, listens and shows compassion for all who are lost. Jesus, both God and man, declares how we are to love Him. “He who hears my commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves me; and he who loves me will be loved by my father; and I will manifest myself to him” (John 14:21). If Jesus truly is Lord, we must do what he commands. That is a pivotal part of identifying real faith.

The Misunderstood God should not be followed with “by Darin Hufford.” His name should be put in front of the title with Misunderstood being replaced with Misunderstands.