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The Shack
Posted by Mart De Haan
August 20th, 2008
Filed in God and His Ways, Ideas to think about, Life in Christ, Love of God, Wisdom
Because of the problem of pain and evil that raises disturbing questions about the God of the Bible, I thought it might be a good time to talk about “The Shack”.
Finally read the 248 page paperback that so many are talking about. In the meantime I’ve been seeing reviews that go from likening it to a “Pilgrim’s Progress for our generation” to claims that “you can’t accept the ideas in this book without rejecting the Bible.”
Without a doubt the hot selling fiction takes a lot of risks in telling the story of a numbed and embittered Mackenzie Phillips as he tries to survive The Great Sadness of the terrible murder of his little girl.
But I’ll tell you up front. Even though this book is being called everything from “liberating” to “blasphemous,” I found The Shack to be a surprising shelter–not only from the controversy swirling around it–but also as a place to confront some of our most inexpressible doubts and fears.
Can’t imagine how many of us are living with memories of loss, and secret doubts about God–thoughts and questions that are quietly driving us mad inside– even as we try to maintain an exterior of normalcy.
Yes, any number of passages in this book can be cited as theologically speculative, provocative, or suspect– especially if they are taken out of context. But, in retrospect, I found so many fresh perspectives that I believe are radically biblical, and Christ-centered.
Without question, I came away with a renewed appetite for the Bible and with a deepened thirst for a healthier and warmer relationship with Father, Son, and Spirit. Although some have concluded that this book reveals a God who is too small to be taken seriously, I found here a Father who is big enough to show us that he can be as tender as the most gentle, endearing, and heart-warming mother. At the same time this same Father lets us know that there is infinitely and eternally more of him than we are now able to bear or absorb. Most importantly, he is a Father who is, in heart and personality, just like the Son through whom he has revealed himself to us.
Some have called the book inherently subversive. I tend to agree. But I’m inclined to think that it was written to subvert shallow views of the Fatherhood of God, the Bible, the Church, authority-based relationships, and the problem of evil.
Here are a few excerpts from the many sections that caught my attention as I read the book…
On the weight of Mack’s personal loss, “Little distractions… were a welcome though brief respite from the haunting presence of his constant companion: The Great Sadness.”
On the freedom of the will, when Mack finds himself wondering how free he is in the presence of a God who frightens him, “Papa” says, “Just because I know you are too curious to go, does that reduce your freedom to leave?”
On why “Papa” was revealing himself to Mack as an African American Woman, “Hasn’t it always been a problem for you to embrace me as a father? After what you’ve been through (abused as a child and now struggling with the senseless murder of his daughter), you couldn’t very well handle a father right now could you?”
On why God reveals himself in the Bible as a Father, Papa says, “”There are many reasons for that, and some of them go very deep. Let me say for now that we knew once the Creation was broken, true fathering would be much more lacking than mothering. Don’t misunderstand me, both are needed– but an emphasis on fathering is necessary because of the enormity of its absence.”
On Mack’s cynicism, Papa says, “When all you can see is your pain, then maybe you lose sight of me.”
On Mack’s struggle to understand the hard ways of God, Papa says, “I am not like you Mack”
In response to Mack’s struggle, “If you let me Mack, I’ll be the Papa you never had.”
On why God was pushing Mack to get beyond superficial understandings of the Bible, church, and authority based relationships, Sarayu (The Holy Spirit) says, “We carefully respect your choices, so we work within your systems even while we seek to free you from them.”
On the lies people tell themselves, “You see, Sarayu says, “broken humans center their lives around things that seem good to them, but that will never fill them or free them. They are addicted to power or the illusion of security that power offers.”
On the truth, “Mackenzie, the Truth shall set you free and the Truth has a name; he’s over in the woodshop right now covered in sawdust. Everything is about him. And freedom is a process that happens inside a relationship with him.”
On human response to tragedy, “In their disappointment, they either become softer toward me or bolder in their independence.”
On the problem of evil, “Mack, just because I work incredible good out of unspeakable tragedies doesn’t mean I orchestrate the tragedies.”
And on the indefensible nature of evil, Mack says, “I just can’t imagine any final outcome that would justify all of this (the murder of his daughter).” “Mackenzie,” Papa rose out of her chair and walked around the table to give him a big squeeze. “We’re not justifying it. We are redeeming it.”
(The picture of the shack at the beginning of this post is one I took on a hog-hunting trip to Oklahoma with a friend a few years ago. It was just down the road from this pathetic site of what was left of a deer that had gotten hung up trying to jump over a barbed wire fence. Both came to mind again as I read this book.)
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August 20th, 2008 at 7:43 am
Liked the section on the understanding of evil. Many folks tend to blame God after seeing so much evil in the world or wonder why God doesn’t “do” something about it. He does make good out of it in His time and in His way; but the cause is our sin as humanity falls into the traps the evil one placed before it.
I may get the book sometime; it sounds curious.
August 20th, 2008 at 7:44 am
Mart:
Thanks for the thoughtful article on the controversial bestseller, The Shack. Not along ago, I read this book as well. I found myself emotionally moved (a few times I got tears in my eyes) and really felt connected to many things the author had to say about the mystery of the problem of evil. Whereas the novel’s relational insights are very significant, I do have concerns about its theology. I have heard it said that The Shack should be a springboard for discussion. But I have a slightly different approach. The novel should be a launch point to examine the text of the Bible when it speaks on the Persons, nature, relationships of the Triune God. Classic Bible passages to start with would be the Gospel of John Chapters 13-17. By comparing insights from The Shack with biblical material, it will help us to filter and cross check truth in the novel. The danger is that someone with little biblical background could end up building their own understanding of the Trinity on a novel instead of God’s inspired revelation on the subject. Someone has said of certain books they are a little like watermelon. You need to take a bite and spit out the seeds. In the case of The Shack we want to filter out nonbiblical ideas and affirm those that are biblical. Thanks for taking the risk of addressing this influential novel.
August 20th, 2008 at 8:55 am
My friend was excited as he gave me this book a few months ago. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately depending on one’s perspective, I have not had the time to read it and really do not have the desire to. It is my belief that we have become sidetracked by movies and books that are supposed to deepen our thoughts (while making the authors piles of money) on faith while actually watering down the message with human interpretations and “salt that has lost it’s flavor.” Read the author’s note on the back of the paperback edition where he talks about living in a state of “wasteful grace” in the Pacific Northwest, whatever that means. Just take a look around in our media driven society and see how Christianity has been affected. I believe God wants to see excitement and gratitude accompanied by “loving another as ourselves” as a testament to the sacrifice of His Son for our redemption. It is as the speculation of the events that follow after we “pass away from this life” that has been addressed in books like the Left Behind series. I have met many who have read and acclaimed these these types of writings but show no more Christ likeness for the effort. It is my hope that more people will get back to the roots ouf our faith so we can give comfort to the suffering as the hurting women’s post addressed yesterday. Our love and compassion through Jesus and His teachings is the only answer to the world in the “fictional state” it is in today.
August 20th, 2008 at 9:37 am
It saddens me that Christians feel a need to look beyond the Scriptures to find a god who comforts them, to ascribe to him qualities and personality traits that the Scriptures do not reveal in order to feel good about God. The God revealed to us in Scripture (and Young questions the value of the written Word when he talks about its gilt, or is it guilt, edges [my paraphrase])is a comforting, loving, and merciful God; we know this first because He tells us in His Word (Isaiah 51:12). But from personal experience, having lost both a sister at age 20 and a husband at age 35, I can personally testify that I did not need God to appear to me in a form that appealed to me to work through my grief. I needed to come to understand who He was, as He reveals Himself in His Word. It was only then that I could come to a place of peace and healing. There can be no authentic relationship with God if we don’t truly understand who He is, and we can only understand who He is from His Word to us. “I have suffered much; preserve my life, O Lord, according to your word” (Psalm 119:107). I would encourage Young and those who find “truth” in his theologizing (cloaked in fiction) to take seriously the words of warning in Revelation 22:18.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:41 am
I have to chuckle here because the term “wasted Grace” seems to be the norm in church of America. Many it seems who even read the scriptures from cover to cover miss the depth of love that is revealed in them because they confuse what our God’s revelation of Himself and His desire is for us and what is our own thoughts and desires.
Bear with me here because I may get long winded because of the ignorance I see in our culture and knowledge of God. Although I do not know nor will I ever know the full extent of who our God is until that day I am with Him in His kingdom.
God used every medium that was available to me to get my attention. He used cartoons, because I had little children. He used music because I listened all the time and it was secular. Everything I read even though it was not the bible to get me to focus on my captivity to the things of this world. One day someone bought me a Bible and I have never put it down, I read everyday before everything else this has been my daily desire for over 18 years. Last year I threw hundreds of dollars with of books in the trash and shaved my mid back length of hair in mourning over the fact that so many never even open the pages of the bible but leave it to teachers, authors and everything else to teach them what God has revealed through the bible. I believe with all my heart that each of us would be very well educated by what is written in those pages.
With that being said I know now that God uses whomever and whatever He chooses to get someone to the place where He can reach them so who am I to condemn an author of a written fiction book if it even attempts to direct someone to the word of God because He uses us and we are so very imperfect. I do believe that the Bible and only the Bible has to be the basis of our beliefs but watch how you use it because you may be displaying “wasted Grace” in legalism. After reading the word of God your eyes will be open to the fact that God does reveal himself through some very strange means and you know that if you know the Bible.
Hey if I am way off base here I am open to response before I lay naked in the street and eat my food cooked over my own dung.
August 20th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
“…what was left of a deer that had gotten hung up trying to jump over a barbed wire fence.” Could be a (albeit graphic) picture of us when we were dead in trespasses and sins. I am glad God chose to lift “what was left” and breathe life into us through Jesus. Gives renewed meaning to Ps. 42:1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
The book sounds interesting.
August 20th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
poohpity, I appreciate so much your perspective on this. I agree completely that the Bible is the basis and measure of the faith that pleases God. Nothing will feed our soul like the Word and words of God.
If “The Shack” has any value it is because it falls in line with and illustrates the truths of the Scriptures.
August 20th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Mart, Thank You for sharing such valuable precepts from “The Shack”! Because of the problem of pain and evil that raises disturbing questions about the God of the Bible, don’t you feel it might be a good time to talk about “The Bible”? I do not intend to preach a sermon here let alone hurt any of your feelings…but this is all so sad…
Illiterate people living in deprived parts of the world, with no clean water to drink, no proper houses to live, whose children go without food for days, who succumb to death for simple reasons like diarrhea and fever due to no health care, who don’t even have a written dialect of their own, but are ardently reading and learning “The Truth” from the KJV to show us what it means: to follow Christ joyfully…to deny ourselves (Physically, mentally, emotionally)…to suffer and silently endure sorrow and pain to live (Spiritually) like Jesus lived!
And here, in spite of all the abundance and affluence, people are sad, depressed and do not want pain (Tylenol is sufficient testimony to that). There is a whole generation sitting in utter darkness that cannot tell their right hand from their left… its time God’s people did something to teach “The Word”…at least it will raise a succeeding Godly generation who will learn to walk in the ways of the Lord. Much burdened and praying for you all with a heavy heart…
August 20th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
daisymarygoldr,
You make a very important point and certainly give us another way of thinking about the importance of the Bible. But is it possible that you have done what the author of The Shack does?
You eloquently provided another perspective (from outside of the Bible– to help us appreciate the life-changing truths and perspectives of the Bible).
In post after post and conversation after conversation we are trying to encourage one another to see the life-changing wisdom of the living and written Word of God.
But sometimes I’m convinced we need to do what Nathan did with David (2Samuel 12).
Nathan told David a story– probably fiction– about a mean landowner who killed a poor man’s pet sheep– to feed a guest– to help David see how David had sinned against his God– and against the house of Uriah and Bath Sheba.
August 20th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Mart, Nathan did use an illustration to convict David, who was himself not ignorant about God or the scriptures which he meditated upon day and night. IMHO, no amount of examples (fictional or factual) will help see the truth if one does not even know the Truth in the first place. Anyway, you are the expert… and if you are convinced that everything is alright then maybe it is!
August 20th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
daisymarygoldr, I’m not claiming to be an expert on this :-). And I think you make a good point about someone who has no biblical background by which to evaluate the imagery.
August 20th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Great timing Mart! Just grabbed this book last week and am reading it now. I agree that the book has given me (to quote you) ‘renewed appetite’ for the Bible. Lots of good insights in the book that made me want to read and study the Bible even more. It also gave a fresh perspective on God and the concept of the Trinity that has boggled my mind for sometime now.
August 20th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
I guess this illustrates the difference between being feed milk and meat. If there was never the written word which would have been the case in the days before Moses received the Law, THERE WAS GOD and He made His self known to the patriarchs of faith in a more one on one kinda way but still today He makes His self known through creation and many others ways. I hope to always remember His ways are not our ways and we can never put God in a box because there is not one to contain Him or even a book.
August 21st, 2008 at 5:25 am
I’m in the middle of reading The Shack right now and I agree with everything you said, Mart.
The Word of God is powerful and transforms lives and there is no subsitute. But I find that God speaks to me in many ways and through many things if I am open to Him - always measuring everything against the Bible, of course. In fact, sometimes other things (nature, things other people write, etc.) illluminate a point of Scripture for me and allow me to see a facet of God or His workings that I might not have seen otherwise.
Jesus told truths through parables - it is sometimes easier to grasp a new concept (or an old one not completely understood) if there is an element in it that can be compared to something we already know.
I agree with poohpity, too, that we can’t limit God - He is so far beyond our limited comprehension of Him.
Storytelling to convey a message is a wonderful gift of God, in my humble opinion.
August 21st, 2008 at 6:31 am
I just stumbled upon your blog although I have been a long time reader of the Oswald Chambers devotional. I recently read The Shack and agree with your observations. It was another way to look at the relationship man has with God and I believe that our Lord would appreciate any effort that helped to bring people to relationship with Him. My favorite part of the the book was the author’s exploration of living in relationship and how we have veered away from this through our desire to be independent. Balancing life in the world of man and keeping a relationship with God and one another as God would have us can be a tall order. Any help I can get is appreciated and I found this book to be helpful.
Thank you for your ministry and this web site.
August 21st, 2008 at 7:20 am
Mart, Nathan indeed told a story, and really, the Bible is full of stories, and think of the greatest stories told by the greatest storyteller: the parables told by the Lord Jesus!
I haven’t read “The Shack” but would like to. You mentioned “Pilgrims Progress” and what a story that is. I read it years ago, read “Little Pilgrims Progress” to my children when they were young and would love to read it to my grand-children too. Noone would consider Pilgrims Progress on a level with the Scriptures, but who could deny the truth it contains?
Could we not consider commentaries, devotionals, and a lot of other writings stories to help us grasp real truth? Have you read Petersons’ “The Message”? What a fresh “story” (a paraphrase of the Bible) that is.
August 21st, 2008 at 11:57 am
Mart, Thank You, for understanding what I was trying to express! However, we know very well that this is not about proving your point or mine…the underlying issue is much deeper and graver than what appears to the eye. “…even as we try to maintain an exterior of normalcy” we cannot ignore or afford to not address it.
The way I always seem to be disagreeing is not something that I am proud about …in fact I have started to loathe myself and wished I was just as normal like the others who have commented with a positive affirmation of “The Shack”. I haven’t read that book but going by what you have highlighted above, all I can say is- Well, it is all good and there is nothing new…this is what “The Bible” has been saying all along, actually it explains God’s “Fatherly love” more clearly by claiming that “the most gentle, endearing, and heart-warming (nursing) mother may forget her child and fail to show compassion to the fruit of her womb but never will He leave nor forsake us.
When one knows the genuine diamond every other glitter will pale in comparison, when one has tasted real food we’ll not hunger and thirst for the junk, if one has been satiated with real love, peace and joy that comes from above we will not yearn for a secondary “substitute”, when the real light shines into our lives there is no more darkness that needs to be illuminated and we readily recognize and shun the angel of light, when we have experienced the healing of His Word we’ll rest comforted in pain for the rest of our lives…
That’s the way David responded when confronted with a parable…he readily acknowledged his sin and repented…yes, he did cry out for mercy and fasted for seven days but humbly accepted the mercy shown in the death of his son. Grief turned into joy when he understood that the Lord gives and He also takes away what belongs to Him… death was replaced by the hope of resurrection when he said surely one day he will go and be with his child forever.
Please, do not get mad at me…I have been reading the ODB devotional since the day I was born…as my family sits down to read the Bible every evening before going to bed we also use the devotional as a supplement. I wouldn’t be hanging around here if the posts and conversations were not being beneficial to my Christian walk…so I have nothing against rather appreciation and gratitude for all of this…
Jesus did teach in parables to maintain His anonymity, and nobody understood it, not even his own disciples who wondered why He was referring to ‘meat’ as doing His Father’s will when it was past lunch time and their stomachs were rumbling or why He was saying hard things that were difficult to digest. Even today, none of us will be able to grasp Spiritual concepts unless the Spirit reveals it to us, though we may try to apply all kinds of logical reasoning or use our best intellectual abilities.
My humble question (no offence meant, just a dying curiosity) to people who have claimed to have understood everything with the help of parables, stories, commentaries, devotionals and other writings is- Where were you when one of us was rending his heart out here in pain and anguish? If you have experienced the “limitless” God why didn’t you lend your limiting shoulder to the broken-hearted? As I clearly recall, one of you even hesitated to get into this and simply wondered “Where is the body of Christ in this?”…are you not the Body of Christ? Why then did you not comfort your sorrowing brother…at least you could have shared something from “Pilgrims Progress”. If we are all about “me and my house” then I have nothing more to say….Sorry!
August 21st, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Hey daisymarygoldr,
I for one sometimes feel confused by some of your posts but all in all they make me think. I am thankful for your words and thoughts because they express who you are and it has been very nice to get to know you. I see your concern for those the Lord would have us minister to and the love you have for the word of God. So keep up with the posts because the name of this blog is “beenthinking” and that is exactly what you prompt me to do.
August 21st, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Feeling like a hypocrite, I have to admit a secret sin. (not so secret to those who know me) Riding home from a meeting, I had Black Flag playing on the radio and flashed back to this blog and my response as well as the other responses. Black Flag is old school punk rock which can be kind of anti social as well as socially conscious in it’s message. Sometimes during certain songs regaurding the worship of money, I think about Jesus turning over tables in the temple! Have to admit that I can find a Christian message in things that are even of this world,,, but I still won’t read the book! Kind of “damaged goods” I guess… : )
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:35 pm
poohpity, Thank You, for seeing and sharing the concern about the lack of knowledge due to which God’s people are perishing!
August 25th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
I have not read The Shack. If it is that popular, perhaps, I should read it…just so I know what all the hubbub is about. I am all for things that point people to the Bible and, most importantly, to Yahweh God Himself!
However, I just get concerned when all the other books get read more than THE book. Yes, I am guilty of that, too. Many years ago I was convicted that I needed to stop reading books ABOUT the book…and read the book itself more! Not saying that all the other books are wrong, but they must not supplant.
I am also concerned about anything that might give an impression of a theology that is not quite true. Sadly, there are many who will stick with that and never really seek out the truth. Then again, if they are not seeking…could it be they are not truly responding to God’s call? Perhaps they are playing games rather then truly seeking Him and His truth?
Hmmm…gotta be careful. I might fit into that category. Paul issues a very strong warning here:
2Co 13:5 Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you–unless indeed you fail the test?
August 25th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
Abigail, I agree so much of what you have said, and also had a lot of questions before reading “the fiction” in question. I heard the rumors and “general” outright claims about bad theology. But the reason I stuck out my neck in the post is that I was amazed at how much of what I read lined up with what I believe is good Bible and biblically-based theology. Yet because of the risky and easily mis-quotable technique used by the author, I found that I had to read it to understand its affirmation by so many.
August 25th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
I really appreciate the discussion here. I have a friend who wrote that she read it and said it really changed her understanding of her relationship with God for the better…that it helped her. She, like me, is a survivor of severe abuse.
I had never heard of it, so I looked it up online and found some cautions expressed by someone about it.
I did not share that with her, though, because I know she really struggles and well…if it helped her…I was all for that.
Ultimately, we are all responsible for completely seeking the truth (and God) or not. I don’t believe that true seekers will settle for less than the best. I believe it will always leave them wanting for something more…the something that only the bible can offer.
August 25th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
I’m about half way through The Shack and it’s impressing me much like Andrew Hodges’ “Jesus: An Interview Across Time” in which a psychiatrist examines the humanity of Jesus in a question/answer format. Like the earlier work, The Shack looks deep within facets of the diamond and allows us to see things we never expected. This is not a new theology but a different way of looking at the theology we have. It in no way conflicts with that theology and allows us to see things we might not have otherwise considered.
August 26th, 2008 at 2:01 am
Thanks so much for this website and to everyone who has expressed their opinions here. I hadn’t heard of The Shack until I saw the author interviewed on Life Today, but I only caught the last couple minutes of the show. Later I saw the book at Costco and decided to read it. I’ve always loved reading study Bibles, Christian interpretations of the Bible, monthly ministry magazines, books written by popular pastors and leaders. I’m interested in the way other Christians interpret the Bible and I’m always fascinated to learn how God works in our lives. I found The Shack to be very encouraging, and I have a hard time seeing a down side. It addresses the hard questions that both believers and nonbelievers struggle with. One of the roadblocks to witnessing is the “evil” question, which is difficult for the most seasoned Christian to answer. I am still trying to answer my 80-year-old father and 74-year-old mother’s doubts about a God who allows terrible evil in the world. I believe The Shack will create a genuine hunger to know God in a vast number of unbelievers hearts, and they will then turn to the Bible as authority. I’m 54 and have only been saved 15 years. Growing up I had a very distorted view of God and I thought he was disapproving and hard to please. I found great comfort in this book in the way God was presented, with great tenderness and love, and it was so beautiful I was moved to tears. (Sorry, but I’m being transparent.) I think this book will cause people to think about God in radically different ways that would please Him very much. I wish I could have read this book when I was younger. I know it’s not for everybody, but for unbelievers out there who simply don’t understand God’s nature and how much he loves us it will have an impact. Thank you for letting me share….
August 26th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Hi Mart,
Thank you for all the faithful ministry of RBC. My husband and I love all you do. I am on chapter 11 of The Shack and am reading it because my daughter urged me to, for discussion with her. I must admit that I have struggled with much of the book because it feels to me like the author is trying to explain God which is impossible. The Lord I know is so rich and loving and really seems above even the best attempt by this book to show what He is like. I do appreicate that many may find this book helpful and it may move them to dig into the Scriptures more to really see the character of God. Just when I think I have figured the Lord out, He surprises me. I guess my final comment would be that all I know of Christ from walking with Him for 61 years, I learned from reading His Word and it is always new. Nothing else can really show us what God is like.
August 26th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
bluebird70, I think it is so neat that you are reading the book as a basis for discussion with your daughter. Sounds like you already have a wonderful sense of the ability of God to stretch and surprise us with his goodness.
Over the years I haven’t had much interest in fiction, and agree the Bible itself is inexhaustible in its wisdom. But I do remember, as a young person, reading some of CS Lewis’ science fiction and being impressed by his ability to give me new ways of appreciating the wonder and goodness of God.
August 26th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
I have read the Shack and I have read the comments. I hear the concerns of some that readers may be mislead. But when I compare the volume of reading and speaking which people are exposed to today, will the Shack be the piece of literature which will be the critical item. Those who know scripture best will remember it is the Holy Spirit who is given the work of conviction of sin. No where have I seen that He is limited to using only the Scripture in an acceptable version.
August 27th, 2008 at 5:00 am
How can I have secret doubts about God when He is the only hope I have? We doubt the real God when we have all the little gods around us that we replace Him with.
August 27th, 2008 at 10:35 am
Thank you Mart. This post was a blessed relief from all the “witch burning” going on. Once again you have been a voice of calm reason and thoughtful consideration in the midst of all the ragings. These are all the things i saw in it also. Thank you for never being swayed by “peer pressure”, and for seeking Gods heart about everything that comes up.
August 27th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Well Mart, I should have waited until finishing the book to leave a comment as I really saw more of the Lord in the last chapters and was so blessed. Probably the one thing I am still struggling with is putting the Father in a human body since Christ said if we have seen him we have seen the Father. I know the Lord is big enough for all this and Praise Him, may this book turn many to seek what He is really like and humbly turn to Him as you are always urging in your programs. We have loved Day of Discovery for too many years to mention and love the fact that technology is allowing such an expansion of the great commission. Blessings to all of you and “Hi” Beth if you are reading this.
August 28th, 2008 at 6:49 am
I have not read “The Shack” yet, but I do intend to read it. I appreciate all the comments regarding the initial article (which I really enjoyed). It is interesting to me that Jesus so often used parables in His teaching ministry–in secular educational processes, word illustrations are used to enhance understanding of complex concepts–in teaching children, we often use stories to bring them to a grasp of moral concepts beyond their reach.
How many times did Jesus say: “the kingdom of God is like . . .” and then proceed to tell a story related to the “real” life of the hearers to illustrate His point? How many times in my own life have I heard someone share a story and had it stimulate an understanding of some principle that had previously eluded me? I believe that we often don’t use one of the greatest teaching tools that Jesus practiced–sharing parables (stories that illustrate). If we pick apart the elements of a parable, we can miss the message; for example, what if when Jesus said “the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls…” in Matthew 13, we get stuck on the pieces of the parable and conclude that this is teaching that we should have a materialistic mindset or that we should be looking for fine pearls or that being irresponsible enough to sell everything and not take care of our families to gain a piece of expensive jewelry is an obvious lesson here?
I pray the prayer in Ephesians 1: “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him . . .” Thanks for this forum and all who contribute and for Mart–sharing in Love calls all the sheep to the Shepherd’s arms as we examine our flawed human thinking in the light of other’s perspectives–a great growth stimulator
August 28th, 2008 at 7:01 am
Wow, I think you’ve said that so well.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
Both my wife and I have read THE SHACK. Come on, people, it is a NOVEL. I can imagine that if there were blogs at the time Pilgrims Progress was written, there would have been even more opinions expressed about it than are being stated about this book. Some would probably have put Bunyan in jail for his entire life! I am a fundamental Baptist Preacher of 55+ years and I thoroughly enjoyed the NOVEL…It makes one think…thinking will bring you to the source of all truth, the Word of God. So, why not just read it and enjoy it for what it is? old preacher
August 29th, 2008 at 7:56 am
As some have said I think too many people read books about the Bible and don’t spend enough time reading the Bible. Therefore, I probably would not have read The Shack except I was given the book by a friend. The beginning was so well written I forgot it was fiction until Papa took the gun “with two fingers as if it was contaminated.” That word picture destroyed the idea that it was a true story. The God who told the Israelites to wipe out the Canaanites and used the Babylonians to punish His people would not be afraid of a gun.
I wonder if the author had God portray Himself as a Black woman for shock value, but I also have seen the loving control of black women wield on their families and communities as similar to God’s way of working with people. If the Son of God can use a unjust judge to explain how the Father answers prayers, I can accept the admirable aspects of a Black woman as an illustration of God’s love. I highly doubt that God would ever put on the weekend portrayed. On the rare occasions men have seen God He either appears in a form that makes men fall on their faces, but usually works subtly to bring His children into a right relationship.
As I continued to read through the book, the discussions about God’s desire to have a relationship with His people resonated powerfully with what the Bible says. The discussion with Sophia challenged me to make sure I was not being judging others unfairly. The book emotionally moved me deeply, but it concerned me that a book with obvious discrepancies with what the Bible says drew me emotionally. So, on my vacation after the first reading I went through the book again making five pages of notes about what I liked and the things I thought were wrong, with Scripture references to back my approval or rejection.
My biggest concern is that Young says God redeems bad things but never brings evil things into a life. God is not the author of evil, but I believe God plays Satan like a fiddle to accomplish His purposes. When you read the first chapter of Job, you see the LORD setting up Job for Satan to attack him. From the ensuing arguments, Job had a wrong view of the LORD. What happened to Job and his family was “evil,” but it brought Job to a better understanding of who God is and what Job’s relationship to God should be. Comparing II Samuel 24:1 to I Chronicles 21:1 you will see the LORD using Satan to bring about a judgement on Israel that God knew His people needed. The plague would be called an “evil” by anyone who lost a family member. If God is sovereign, He must be in full control of the evil as well as the good things that happen in this world.
I would only give the book to mature Christians, who I would be sure would be knowledgeable of God’s Word and/or would search the Scriptures to sort out the truth from the errors. I gave the two copies of the book I own to a couple who are growing but struggling with an “evil” that entered their lives. I made the husband promise to read it with his wife so they could discuss the book as they go through it. I would be afraid that an immature believer would get the idea that God does not or cannot control evil and they would get discouraged when “evil” things come into their lives.
August 30th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
I loved this book. I listened to the audio book over several days as I did my daily walk. I found myself laughing out loud, crying and sensing the presence of the Holy Spirit as I listened. It was a story of a vulnerable honest man’s musings, questions and dialogue with His personal God, Savior and Holy Spirit.
Come on people lighten up, God speaks to us not only through His word but through His people and circumstances.
I marveled when God appeared to Mack as an Afro American woman “Hasn’t it always been a problem for you to embrace me as a father? After what you’ve been through (abused as a child and now struggling with the senseless murder of his daughter), you couldn’t very well handle a father right now could you?” How much God loves us and pursues us.
I loved this audiobook so much I have bought 3 more paper book( 1to keep and the others to give away)
August 30th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
I loved this book. I listened to the audio book over several days as I walked and I found myself laughing out loud and crying along the way. What a refreshing and encouraging way to look at the love our Heavenly Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit towards us. I was astounded how God showed up to Mack in the form of an Afro American woman,” “Hasn’t it always been a problem for you to embrace me as a father? After what you’ve been through (abused as a child and now struggling with the senseless murder of his daughter), you couldn’t very well handle a father right now could you?”
The author, as he explained at the end of the book, used a fictional plot to place his own personal musings, questions,fears and anger as he struggled with issues in his own life and his personal relationship’s with the Father Son and Holy Spirit.
September 7th, 2008 at 7:29 am
On August 20, 2008 at 7:43pm EST, my sister’s life changed forever. Her 16 year daughter was killed in a car accident. Suddenly, the light of her family’s life was extinguished. The minister presiding over her funeral service recommended this book, so I brought and read the book just recently. Even though it is fictional, it lined up a few things for me accurately. I will have to re-read it as my mind finds it difficult to wrap itself around some of it’s multi-dimensional abstract thoughts in relation to the Trinity. Bascially I will just have to slow down, because I was so thirsty for the messages within it. The author, William P. Young did a great job writing this book. Only someone with an intimate relationship with God can write a book like this and Young demonstrates his uncanny ability to present to us a picture of a heavenly parental relationship that we all can have in the person of God who loves us and understands loss - after all He gave His only begotten Son so that we may have eternal life.
October 29th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
I felt the book touched those who read it right where they are with their walk in Christ or with the trials they have going on in their life. For us the forgiveness touched our crushed hearts, it is difficult to forgive a family member who hurts you deeply. It gave understanding of forgiveness. My niece grew up in a very legalistic church and feels ill when even thinking about going to church, this has helped her to see a relationship with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit showing God’s love, forgiveness, compassion and so much more. Knowing God is not going to church but having a real relationship with our Lord and Savior. It is very important to have fellowship, accountabilty, praising God, being in prayer, knowing God’s word to us so we know Him in a personal way and want to live and serve Him. This book brought it to a personal level and to the heart so we are able to love God freely.
October 30th, 2008 at 12:17 am
I am now re-reading The Shack and I think it is important for readers to realize that the author wrote this book to his own children to help them through a difficult season in their family life. He never intended it to be written to sell.It was his friends that thought it should be written down for others. The LORD has used this book to speak to my heart about how I have had a difficult time myself trusting that the Father loves all of His children well. I believe the LORD is using this book to touch many hearts and help those of us who didn’t even know we had believed so many lies
about Him all of our lives. I believe God is big enough to use this work of fiction to accomplish everything He ordained beforehand to do…. It blows my mind that He made sure this book was written and to make sure that I for one have been able to read it. If it was only written for one, it would have been worth it to the LORD!