There is so much hoop-lah about the book, The Shack. It seems everyone I know was reading it and several kept asking me if I had read it and what I thought. I was reluctant to read it at first, passing it off as a fleeting "Christian fad." But eventually I jumped on the bandwagon and decided to give it a read.
I picked it up, and oh my. I couldn't put it down. I read this book cover to cover in one evening. Wow. I am grateful to the author, William P. Young for writing this unique, inspiring and heart penetrating book.
I know there is controversy swirling around The Shack. Many respected Christian leaders have written reviews citing that The Shack is 'new-agey' and is not scripturally or theologically correct. I don't disagree. I also had theological issues with this book. I think we do need to be careful. We need to remember that this is a NOVEL. We need to treat it as such. This is not meant to be a substitute for God's Word. This book is fiction. It is not the gospel truth.
But that being said, I do think this book has value beyond just entertainment. Once I pushed through the “Great Sadness” and the unusual portrayal of God and The Trinity, this book began to open my mind and my thinking and I feel like it has helped me with a higher understanding and relationship with God in many new ways.
But I think the main thing this book gave me was a renewed understanding of God’s immense love for me, as well as help understanding as to why unexpected and bad things have happened.
So I say go ahead! Take off your cynic cap and take a chance with The Shack. It might frighten you, warm your heart, make you feel uncomfortable, but that's ok. Let yourself be enveloped by the true purpose of this work of fiction. Maybe this book might teach you a thing or two about the power of forgiveness and that maybe forgiving is the greatest human emotion of all. 
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12 comments:
I'm glad you read it! I loved it and recommend it to anyone. It is a work of fiction - which is hard for some to fathom...although some think that the O.T. is fiction too!! :)
Hmmm...interesting that you liked this book. I just started it and I'm having a hard time. God the Father as Aunt Jemimah? C'Mon.
Well, Anonymous, I think you're SUPPOSED to feel a little uncomfortable with the way the Trinity is represented in this book. I think the author is trying to break down all preconceived ideas of who we THINK God is. Keep reading! I'd be interested to hear what you think when you're all done. :)
I love people who are anonymously racist.
Hi Di! I'm not in a great thinking place right now, but just wanted to say that I enjoyed what I've read so far of the book. I had a hard time thinking of God the Father in this form too, but my not having the book in front of me, I'm remembering that this is just a version that God gave Mack knowing that he was terribly hurt by his biological father and clearly angry with God the Father. The loving and laughing black woman is hard for us, but it worked for Mack. That was a way of opening a door so to speak. No, it wouldn't work for me. But it worked for Mack.
Well, we're going to hit the camping trail soon. Right now we're rearranging our plans for a lower elevation since Dan and I don't do too well over 7500 feet. What a great son, Michael is taking this in his stride.
Love you, and miss you,
Mary
I have to agree with Tania (don't fall over!). What I like about her is that she does own how she feels - and what her theological viewpoint (or the context) from which she comes from.
This is how a loving Christian debate should proceed! I'm not trying to convince her to be emergent and she's not trying to convince me to become literal..we are expressing our differences.
Thanks Tania for your voice.
I'm not the same anonymous as above LOL!
Just wanted to say I read your review, your comments here, and your comments over at Tanias. I agree with most of what you're saying. I think we ARE too quick to judge. Too quick to jump on the bandwagon of others and condemn something before we investigate fully. (Did you notice? Most if not all of Tania's commenters did not even read the book. How can they intelligently comment?)
I'm in the middle of this book now. I feel 'uncomfortable' as many say they are when they read this. But I say GOOD! We NEED to be uncomfortable once in a while.
And why am I anonymous? Because I just want to put an opinion out there. I don't have the energy to be challenged or questioned. Maybe I'm a coward? I don't know lol. Just wanted to offer an amen to you.
Hello all!
Just wanted to say a few things before leaving this topic behind, since some have followed the discussion over at Tania's blog and continued it over here.
First, I have simply stated my opinion (at Tania's blog)about a book which has been brought up for discussion (and not in judgement, BUT with discernment which scripture commands we examine all things with.)
I realize the book is fiction. I have no trouble fathoming that. But I also realize that works of fiction which 'explain' theological issues can carry some weight with some people. And if that "fictional theology" is flawed or even downright erroneous, it has the potential to gravely mislead those who are searching for truth and may accept the fiction as truth. (Some are searching for truth in all the wrong places instead of searching God's word which IS THE TRUTH.) For those insisting this is just fictional entertainment, as believers, I wonder why we would want to read fiction for entertainment, which presents so many errors about the character of our God, and of the scriptures, and of the trinity, and of the question of evil.. and contradicts scriptural teaching on these subjects. Yes, I have read some of the book (standing in the bookstore! ha ha!) and realize there is a smattering of truth mixed in with much error.
Go to the author's website and you will read “The Shack — God As You’ve Never Seen Him Before!” The author himself has stated that the theological elements are intended to affect the readers' ideas about many theological issues including God, the Trinity, the scriptures, evil in the world and other issues. In writing the book, he was actually conveying to his children his own understanding of certain theological issues. The conclusions the author has drawn (and shared with his children and thousands of other readers) are unscriptural though. Therein lies the danger. There's enough 'bible sounding stuff' in the book to sound authoritative on the subjects discussed in the book.. yet it is filled with errors when measured by scripture. Does this remind any of you of several bible passages - one which Jesus warns how a little yeast leavens/ruins the whole loaf? Or Jesus' words concerning the wheat and the chaff (or tares) - how the tares (evil) insidiously get into and then grow in the midst of the pure wheat? Or Jesus' warnings to us in scripture about how even satan quotes scripture and knows it well (though he distorts and twists it to mislead) and mixes in good teaching with bad in order to lead even God's people astray?
The book IS fiction yet by the author's own admission, it is more than fiction. It is intended to explain theological truths and guide you into a new understanding of God. (But what if that understanding is flawed?)
I like how one commentator summed it up - "In the end, The Shack is spiritual comfort food loaded with theological trans fat. Though not without some nutritional value, its effect on the body of Christ is more harmful than healthy. Even if you love it, and even if it makes you cry. Junk food and bad movies can do the same.
Good fiction has the potential to illuminate biblical truth, but not when it effectively supplants it. We need the Bible, not The Shack. The true Word takes more work to understand, and it won’t always tell us what we want to hear, but we can trust it to reveal a greater, wiser, more loving, and more gloriously Triune God than any novelist could conceive."
"Pilgrim's Progress" was a wonderful fiction that illuminated biblical truths.. by contrast "The Shack" undoes biblical truths and distorts them.
One final thing.. In defense of my commenting on the book without having read it completely, I do feel qualified to talk about it since I have thoroughly researched many different commentaries on the book (from BOTH angles) but most of all, I draw upon the author's own commentary of his book. I have read his synopsis of the book, his explanation of the book, his view of theological topics covered in the book, and find his presentation to be flawed, incorrect, and misleading.
He has his opinion, I have mine, we each have our own opinions. But like the Bereans in scripture did as Paul daily taught them in the temple - the bible says they went home every evening and examined (tested) every word Paul said, to see if it measured up with the truths of scripture. Seeing it did, the bible says they gladly received Paul's words. I have taken the words of the author (his explanation of 'truths' presented in his book, and measured them by scripture and found them to fall short of truth, and to contradict scripture.
Be careful what you allow to affect your heart and mind and influence your thinking. "Some truth" mixed in with some heresy and error.. is not truth.
Again, I am not juding anyone here, nor your decisions or thoughts concerning the book. I am simply stating some of my own thoughts and concerns about the book. Please realize also, I do not want to (and will not) debate anyone! I don't even know several of you! I only state my opinions about the book because Diane recently invited friends to do so, and I feel comfortable about expressing my concerns here because Diane is a friend and it's ok if we come away with different points of view. At least we have had the opportunity to read differing views and we can now privately consider whether this book is helpful or harmful to our "growing in grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ."
Sorry this was so long - believe me, this is the condensed version of my thoughts! :D
Good night everybody!
Lynn
THIS is why I love you, Lynn! You do have a way with words. :)
I think we're both saying a lot of the same things. Before I even read this bood, I read positive reviews as well as the reviews and comments from others that you've so eloquently regurgitated here. And as I said in my post, and in comments, I DON'T DISAGREE! Yes, this book is theologically unsound. There are untruths. (Of course - It's fiction!) And yes, as many reviewers have said, this book is 'new agey' which I do not buy into.
But I wanted to find out for myself! I read the book, and I'm glad I did. For me, it's important to form my own opinions, thoughts and ideas about something before I jump on the bandwagon of judgment.
My point is and continues to be - I feel that FOR ME there is value and enjoyment to reading this book, just like other FICTION books. I won't repeat what I've said in my post and comments as to why I feel this way, because I think you get it. :)
Overall though, I found this book to be a very creative exploration of God’s love and care in the midst of one of life's unspeakable tragedies.
Yes, the reader needs to wade through some muddled theology. But for me, reading this book has been excellent tool that has helped me seek who God really is, rather than who I think He is or who He must be. (By seek, by the way, I mean reading His word...)
So for many of your points, Lynn, we agree! But I think we're going to have to agree to disagree on whether this book is worth a read. And that's ok! I'm not trying to convice you or others of anything. :)
Thanks Lynn, and others! This was fun. (But at the risk of beating this horse to death, I think it's time to move on!)
Sadly, Lynn...you can't leave a comment like that and then say "I will not debate anyone."
Your interpretation is YOUR interpretation...in reality none of us corners the market on knowledge, even theological knowledge.
It is also always interesting to me that people use Paul's teachings above and beyond the very words of Jesus that give us all freedom when he says "It is NOT what goes into a man that makes him unclean..." The words of Paul pale in comparison to the freedom Jesus offers here.
Also, commenting on commentaries of a book doesn't count. What you have posted is regurgitation of stuff that is already out there...NOT your own opinion as having read the book. I don't know your educational background...nor is this a comment on it, but in my undergrad, Masters and PhD programs we read different things by different authors, some that we didn't agree with in the spirit of learning...gaining knowledge...all with the understanding that HEALTHY SKEPTICISM is a part of the journey called life. This is how I read the Shack - and why I loved it!
Heaven will be filled with people who think differently from you, who are different colors, religions, political stances, and even sexual orientations - for some that will be exciting...for others...maybe not so much. Heaven will even be filled with people who see God as a large black woman!
Red Letter Girl (this means the red letters of Jesus by the way) has spoken!
I have found all of the "debate" around the Shack quite humerous actually and sad at some times. I am a fourth generation evangelical, pastor's granddaughter, pastor's daughter and now pastor's wife who found this book to be a beautiful expression of the love and grace of our Father who meets us in our darkest hour or "great sadness" with compassion and mercy. He wraps His arms around us and expresses His love to us in a way that we need to hear it. Yes it is an allegory, fiction - but to me, it tells of some great theological truths also...
Why are we, as evangelicals, so determined to put God in a neat little box and say "this is who God is, this is how he acts"...what of the "mystery" of God that is unexplainable and wonderful and surprising...I fear that we do not know that part of God and this book reminded me of that aspect of God.
To me, one of the most beautiful, not scandelous, parts of the book is that God chose to appear to Mac as a woman - knowing the relationship he had with his own father - what a loving understanding God...and that is the God that I know...
I have been through a "great sadness" myself - not as extreme as Mac's..but through it, I found God to be the same loving and surprising and incredible God that is described in this book...I know what the Bible says and I believe it but I also balance it with reason, experience and history (yes, I am one of "those" evangelicals)..and I have found that my relationship with God is unique and surprising and doesn't fit into a neat little package...sorry for the long comment Diane - guess I feel strongly about this! :)
I finally finished The Shack this morning. I agree whole heartedly with Diane's review. I would only add that it was a statement on the importance and the process of forgiveness. Speaking from the heart of a Christian grief counselor I would recommend it on that basis alone.
I do not dispute the things the critics have said about the theology of the story. Still I found the book to be a picture of God's love shown in human terms by an imperfect man. Just as I am an inperfect woman.
I feed on God's word daily. I test every thing in my life against His word. This fictional work has done nothing to taint or change my core where God's word lives. It was an enjoyable book to read, nothing more. It is not, in my opinion, life changing.
Well, I could go on and maybe will in my own blog.
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