The Shack: Where Tragedy Confronts Eternity
by William P. Young
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Book Summary Information
Author: William P. YoungEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2007-07-01
ISBN: 0964729237
Number of pages: 256
Publisher: Windblown Media
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- ISBN13: 9780964729230
- Condition: New
- Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!
Book Reviews of The Shack: Where Tragedy Confronts Eternity
Book Review: Sunshine on the Parade
Summary: 5 Stars
· Can anyone with intellectual integrity say that the book teaches that God is a woman?
· Can anyone with intellectual integrity say that the book teaches universalism?
· Can anyone with intellectual integrity say that the book teaches that God is not a trinity?
· Can anyone with intellectual integrity say that the book teaches God is not concern about sin?
· Can anyone with intellectual integrity say that the book teaches that Christ isn't the necessary Sacrifice for sin?
· Can anyone with intellectual integrity say that the book teaches any other way to salvation except by grace through faith by Jesus Christ?
· Can anyone with intellectual integrity say that the book distorts the Trinity?
Critics have said The Shack, readers meet a permissive "God" that "submits" to their human ways. They charge that the characters look through the veil between life and death, see the joy beyond, and communicate with loved ones -- subtle examples of "calling up the dead," which the Bible bans (Deuteronomy 18:11). Mack "sees" the colorful "auras" that show spiritual maturity among the dead-but-alive. He even practices astral travel -- what The Shack calls "flying" -- a word popularized by Maharishi Yogi long ago.
What one must remember is this is all a work of fiction a dream. The Shack is not a theological textbook. One of the problems I have with critics are they use guilt by association. Many conservative pastors, like Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel, have quoted William Barclay. Does this mean that they don't believe that Jesus walked on the water or multiplied the fishes and loaves? Or that at least that they are sympathetic with those positions because that is what Barclay teaches. Of course not! This methodology of guilt by association is flawed. If one of our Sunday School classes has a rainbow on the wall does this mean we approve of homosexuality? When we speak of angels are we promoting New Age understandings of spiritual reality? The method of guilt by association is a poor substitute for true scholarship.
Secondly, they make judgments about meaning out of context. Also some clearly use a new age grid for interpreting the book even using new age language to describe it or compare it to "The Course on Miracles". Many critics have little to no understanding of the interpretation of allegory and would have a difficult time reading CS Lewis using the same interpretative rules/grid. Some use loose labels and prejudicial wording that associates The Shack with error and accuses it of things for which they can't offer any support.
Does the Shack teach a Feminist God?
"...the door flew open, and he was looking directly into the face of a large beaming African-American woman. Instinctively he jumped back, but he was too slow. With speed that belied her size, she crossed the distance between them and engulfed him in her arms...." [p.82]
We also recognize Scripture uses traditional female imagery to help us understand other aspects of God's person, as when Jesus compares himself to a hen gathering chicks. (Matthew 23:37)
Just because in The Shack God appears as a woman does not change God into a woman anymore than God is a burning bush because God appeared to Moses in the form of a burning bush. (Exodus 3), or God is a bird because He is described with feathers and wings in Psalm 91:4: He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
Remember The Shack is a novel, Not Scripture. However one pictures God in their imagination does not make God what they imagined. Mack later sees God as man with "silver-white hair pulled back into a ponytail, matched by a gray-splashed mustache and goatee." [p.218] Neither description would be what we might think of about God. That is ok it is a novel, not scripture.
Does the book promote universalism?
On page 182 of The Shack Mack asks Jesus; "Does that mean that all roads lead to you?" Jesus answers "Not at all". The Shack flatly states that all roads do not lead to Jesus, while it affirms that Jesus can find his followers wherever they may be. Just because Jesus can find followers in the most unlikely places, does mean those places are the way to God.
Jesus tells Mack; "Those who love me come from every system that exists." And then puts those systems in the past tense when he says; "They were Buddhists or Mormon", etc.
The Apostle Paul makes this point in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
Maybe it could have been clearer, but people quote portions of the book out of context and then draw false conclusions. The Bible teaches us that Jesus is the Light of the world. John 8:12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." John 1:9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. God gives revelation to every person. Remember Peter's confession; "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 16:16-17) Revelation comes from God and is given to everyone. II Peter 3:9 God is not willing that any should perish.
Does The Shack promote Ultimate Reconciliation?
It does not. Wayne Jacobsen friend of the author and editor of the book says:
"While some of that was in earlier versions because of the author's partiality at the time to some aspects of what people call Ultimate Reconciliation, I made it clear at the outset that I didn't embrace Ultimate Reconciliation as sound teaching and didn't want to be involved in a project that promoted it. In my view Ultimate Reconciliation is an extrapolation of Scripture to humanistic conclusions about our Father's love that has to be forced on the biblical text."
Most simply put, the Ultimate Reconciliationist believes there will come a time when the wicked even if they have died, along with the devil and his evil angels, will be released from the torment of hell and be "reconciled" back to God.
While the idea may sound good to some it just doesn't fit with the Scripture. In Hebrews 9:27 it says: "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment." We also have Jesus' teaching about judgment and death when he used a parable found in Luke 16 27-31 "The Rich Man and Lazarus" Lazarus says "I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment." Abraham said to him, `They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.' And he said, `No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' But he said to him, `If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.' There is a time of salvation.
Does the Shack reveal God as unconcerned about sin?
Does God let Mack off on anything? No. God deals with every lie in his mind and every broken place in his heart. God confronts and heals Mack inside a relationship of love and compassion not often seen or taught by the organized church. It becomes threatening to those who see God as the God of judgment and accountability.
On page 120 papa says to Mack; "I don't need to punish people for sin, Sin is its own punishment, devouring you from the inside. It's not my purpose to punish it; it's my joy to cure it." And on page 186 Mack says to God; "But I always liked Jesus better than you. He seemed so gracious and you seemed so . ." God finishes the sentence; "Mean? Sad, isn't it? He came to show people who I am and most folks only believe it about him. They still play us off like good cop/bad cop most of the time, especially religious folk."
The reality is that Jesus said if you have seen Him you have seen the Father and the work that Jesus did are not His but the Father's. John 14:9-10 " . . . He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, `Show us the Father'? . . .The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works."
An example used from The Shack of God's lack of care about sin is: "I'm not a bully, not some self-centered demanding little deity insisting on my own way. I am good, and I desire only what is best for you. You cannot find that through guilt or condemnation...."
John 3:16-17 says exactly the same thing. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."
An example of God's love and grace is seen in the Apostle Paul. In First Timothy 1:12-15 "And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief."
In the Shack Mack is allowed to be insolent because of his unbelief and God deals with Mack's unbelief with love because it is all about reconciliation not condemnation. It's all about God reconciling us to Him because He loves us. I John 4:8 God is love. Titus 3:3-5 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit. Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Ephesians 2:4-5 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 "Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
God hates sin but loves His the crown of His creation and is not willing that any should perish. God is longsuffering toward us and patiently works to reveal Himself to us that He might redeem us and reconcile us to Himself.
Does the Shack distort the Trinity?
On page 124, papa says to Mack; "We want to share with you the love and joy and freedom and light that we already know within ourselves. We created you, the human, to be in face-to-face relationship with us, to join our circle of love." And on page 145, papa tells Mac; "Submission is not about authority and it is not obedience; it is all about relationships of love and respect."
In John 17:20-23 Jesus prays: "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me." The Trinity is clear in Scripture. 1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. So what is this circle of relationship that papa invites us to join?
Let's look back to the beginning when man was created. We were created in the image of God. Genesis 1:27 "So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him." John 4:24 God is a Spirit So we are created with a spirit. Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. God breathed His Spirit into man and man became a living being. Then God made woman out of man. Genesis 2:23 And Adam said: "This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man."
Then man sinned against God and broke the Spiritual relationship, died in his spirit. Romans 5:12 "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned." But God who is rich in mercy and grace sent a redeemer to restore spiritual life. This redeemer would come out of woman. Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman."
Now through the woman came Jesus Christ the savior who was able to buy us back to a Spiritual life and fellowship with God.
For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. Therefore it is through Jesus and Jesus only that we are reunited with God. (Romans 5:17-18) This makes Jesus the only one who is able to unite us with God. John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." So we have a circle of relationship established. Out of God came man, Out of man came woman; out of woman came Christ, out of Christ we become one with God. As it was in the beginning the restoration is accomplished.
In John 17:20-23 Jesus prays: "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
What we have in the Trinity is not a hierarchy but a circle of relationship. Headship does not mean a forced dominance and rule. You might ask; what about passages like 1 Corinthians 11:3? "But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God." It would appear to be a top down authority. But look at it from God's perspective of love. God gave His son to die for us. Jesus gave his live for us and the man is to give his life for his wife. Ephesians 5:25 "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her." This is giving relationship not a demanding one, serving not being served and loving not based on performance. Matthew 23:11 "But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant." God is a God of order and there is authority but the strongest can be the most gentle because of their strength. Responsibility for others is the highest call for a leader not a forced dominance but a caring, nurturing and the doing what is best for others. The relationship is not built on a military structure of authority, giving orders, managing by expected obedience, and impersonal relationship. But responsibility is seen in the light of a family. A kind, gentle father caring for his children with an older brother who knows what it is to be a kid.
When Jesus became a man and dwelt among us he freely limited himself to a human. We find this in Philippians 2:5-8 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. On the other hand man has usurped the authority of God.
Adam tried to rob God of His position and be equal with God judging good and evil. We find the story in Genesis 2:17 "but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." Genesis 3:5 "For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." It is this very thing that has caused mankind it' greatest problems. Mankind has chosen to make judgments about God, people and circumstances based on our ideas of what is good and evil.
In the book The Shack on Page 165 Sophia says: "Give up being his judge and know papa for who he is. Then you will be able to embrace his love in the midst of your pain, instead of pushing him away with your self-centered perception of how you think the universe should be."
In the circle of relationship we surrender our judgments of good and evil to God. God chooses what is good and evil and we are released from that burden. We need only to take Solomon's advice to "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5) For "It is better to trust in the LORD Than to put confidence in man." (Psalm 118:8)
Listen to what Wayne Jacobsen friend of the author and one of the editors of the book says:
"Let me assure any of you reading this that all three of us who worked on this book are deeply committed followers of Jesus Christ who have a passion for the Truth of the Scriptures and who have studied and taught the life of Jesus over the vast majority of our lifetimes. But none of us would begin to pretend that we have a complete picture of all that God is or that our theology is flawless. We are all still growing in our appreciation for him and our desire to be like him, and we hope this book encourages you to that process as well. In the end, this says the best stuff we know about God at this point in our journeys. Is it a complete picture of him? Of course not! Who could put all that he is into a little story like this one? But if it is a catalyst to get thousands of people to talk about theology--who God is and how he makes himself known in the world--we would be blessed."
Wayne says about the author:
"This is a story of one believer's brokenness and how God reached into that pain and pulled him out and as such is a compelling story of God's redemption. The pain and healing come straight from a life that was broken by guilt and shame at an incredibly deep level and he compresses into a weekend the lessons that helped him walk out of that pain and find life in Jesus again."
Summary of The Shack: Where Tragedy Confronts Eternity
Mackenzie Allen Philips' youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later in the midst of his Great Sadness, Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend. Against his better judgment he arrives at the shack on a wintry afternoon and walks back into his darkest nightmare. What he finds there will change Mack's world forever.In a world where religion seems to grow increasingly irrelevant The Shack wrestles with the timeless question, "Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?" The answers Mack gets will astound you and perhaps transform you as much as it did him. You'll want everyone you know to read this book!
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