The Shack: Where Tragedy Confronts Eternity by William P. Young
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Book Reviews of The Shack: Where Tragedy Confronts Eternity
Book Review: Review of "The Shack" by Boyd C. Purcell, Ph.D.
Summary: 5 Stars
Review of "The Shack: Where Tragedy Confronts Eternity" by Wm. Paul Young
"The Shack" is an incredibly insightful and emotionally moving book on the nature and character of God. It is one of the most spiritually inspiring books I have ever read! It is a Christian, perhaps more accurately a spiritual, novel without any scripture references. The plot centers around the main character, Mackenzie, "Mack," dealing with intense emotions of anger, hatred, and revenge while at the same time struggling with God's command to forgive the perpetrator even though his beloved daughter, Missy," was murdered.
Since this book is a novel, the author does not cite any Biblical verses to support his depiction of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, and yet Young's all-loving conceptualization of God is perfectly compatible with The Holy Bible for those who believe that God's love is unconditional, His grace is amazing, His mercy is infinite, and His justice is perfect! Young uses characters to represent God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in unconventional but in powerful and effective ways. This author is a master in the use of metaphors.
In fact "The Shack" itself is a metaphor for bent, twisted, and broken lives that are badly in need of spiritual and emotional healing. One week in "The Shack" represents eleven years of Young's life as his adult self--"Mack"--deals with the "murder" of his childhood innocence--represented by "Missy"--due to having been spiritually and sexually abused in a Christian school for children of the missionaries in his parents' denomination. This author masterfully weaves these characters, plots, and subplots, as a skilled weaver crafts a beautiful tapestry. If readers are ready and receptive, this book will shatter immature, unhealthy, negative images, concepts, and beliefs and replace them with mature, healthy, positive ones. The metaphorical use of fire is an excellent case in point.
For example, Biblical literalists believe that fire of hell must be interpreted literally. In "The Shack," Mack addressed God in regard to the punishment of sinners, "But if you are God, aren't you the one spilling out great bowls of wrath and throwing people into a burning lake of fire?" Mack could see a great sadness in God's eyes in response to his question, "I am not who you think I am, Mackenzie, 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." About the importance and difficulty of Mack completely forgiving the one who had murdered Missy, God lovingly explained, "And then one day you will pray for his wholeness and give him over to me so that my love will burn from his life every vestige of corruption." This is clearly an illusion to the Bible which uses this metaphorical expression, "God is a consuming fire" (Heb. 12:29). Thus, God does not torture sinners at all, much less forever, but, as "fire," God consumes sin purifying sinners!
The most frequent compliant I have heard about "The Shack" and have read about it on the Internet is, "It's not Biblical." The two examples above and the concluding one reveal with crystal clarity that "The Shack" is 100 percent Biblical as readers will discover and thoroughly enjoy who have an open mind and are spiritually mature. Biblical literalists, with whom I have talked, who have heard about "The Shack," have refused to even read it since they have heard and believe that it is Christian heresy. Those literalists who are open minded enough to at least read "The Shack," will find much food for thought and the opportunity to fulfill the admonition of the Apostle Paul to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (II Peter 3:18).
To liberate people from their "religious conditioning," God, in "The Shack," will even mix metaphors in order to teach spiritual truth. Mixing metaphors is exactly what Jesus, God in the flesh, did in stating the purpose of hell--"For everyone will be salted with fire" (Mark 9:49). In the Bible, both salt and fire symbolize purification. Jesus' mixed metaphor, without the slightest doubt, symbolizes purification of those in hell and is thusly translated by "The Good News Bible," "Everyone will be purified by fire." This is God's way of curing sinners of their sins, healing spiritually terrorized people of spiritual abuse, and perfecting all people of the world in His perfect love (I John 4:18)!
Boyd C. Purcell, Ph.D., Author of
"Spiritual Terrorism: Spiritual Abuse from the Womb to the Tomb"
Website: HealingSpiritualTerrorism.com
Spiritual Terrorism: Spiritual Abuse from the Womb to the Tomb
Book Review: Heart-warming
Summary: 5 Stars
What an astonishing range of reactions Wm. Paul Young's little novel The Shack has provoked. The enormous number and variety of reviews suggest it is either a great work of literature comparable with Pilgrim's Progress if not the Bible itself; or worthless garbage on the grounds of its being: (1) anti-Christian and deceptive; (2) anti-intellectual and theologically bankrupt; (3) very weak literature that is: (a) arcane, ill-constructed, mush-mouthed tripe; (b) too simplistic; or (c) ponderous, impenetrable, and jargon-heavy. I don't agree with any of the above assessments, so let me propose a different one.
The story of Mackenzie "Mack" Allen Phillips is presented as if ghost-written by his friend Willie; I think those who criticize the book on literary grounds are failing to allow for this nuance. The story has been accurately described many times in other reviews so I'll avoid repetition. For a father to lose a beloved child is hard enough; for this to happen in the way described in the book - her abduction by a mass murderer while the father was only feet away - would be as difficult an event to bear as almost any I could conceive. However strong someone's faith in God, these circumstances would surely test that faith to the full as is portrayed in Mack's "Great Sadness" and tension within his family. As a suicide counselor I heard countless people ask "Where was God?" in response to changes in their lives less profound than the fictional Mack's so I can relate to the issue on a personal level.
For those who slam the book as anti-Christian I have this to say. It is a work of fiction; I thought of the events described at the shack as an elaborate dream that Mack experienced not as "real" even in the context of the story. But what is special about this dream (or real events if that is how others read the story) is that the experiencing of it brings about real and necessary changes in his life and those of his family. His faith in God is restored along with his engagement in the world and his ability to forgive; in fact his life is transformed by the experience for the better. I cannot see anything about this that could be described as anti-Christian; it is exactly what Christ asked of us.
This is a short novel; I read it in under three hours. In no sense could it be expected to serve as an apologetic in the style of a CS Lewis, a Keller or a Copan. But it would be a mistake to dismiss the theology in the book, which at times is quite profound. Here's an example from p.127: "broken humans center their lives around things that seem good to them but will neither fill them nor free them. They are addicted to power, or to the illusion of security that power offers. When a disaster happens, those same people will turn against the false powers they trusted." Another is found on p.137: "Then is it's you who determines good and evil. You become the judge. And to make things more confusing, that which you determine to be good will change over time and circumstance. And then, beyond that and even worse, there are billions of you, each determining what is good and what is evil. So when your good and evil clash with your neighbor's, fights and arguments ensue and even wars break out ... And if there is no reality of good that is absolute, then you have lost any basis for judging. It is just language, and one might as well exchange the word good for evil." These extracts capture very well the reasons why we must not act as judges - which is one of Christ's strongest messages to us.
Those who claim the book brings God down to our level or puts him in a box are missing the point of the narrative: I suggest they re-read it bearing in mind the points I have made above. All we know of God is that we know almost nothing - except that he is all good, all loving and merciful. So the fact that Young's allegory (actually that of the character in his story) for God may differ from someone else's is not valid ground for criticism; rather it should cause one reflection upon exactly why we feel that we have God figured out better than another person. The God described by Mack with Willie's help is clearly capable of appearing in whatever form suits his purpose; those who insist that God appear as portrayed in the Old Testament are actually more guilty of the "God in a box" error than Young. If it had achieved no more than warming the heart of a veteran (thank you Timekeeper Dave for opening your heart to us) this would be a worthwhile contribution to literature. That it has brought the faith debate down from the ether and into everyday conversation makes it especially valuable and I recommend it to anyone with an open mind.
Book Review: Open-minded? Open book.
Summary: 5 Stars
I've realized that if you are at least a little bit open-minded while beginning to read this book, you will find it wonderful. If you are close-minded and want to stick to your own ideas and notions about God, then this is not the book for you. Also, please note that I will go into detail about theories from the book but I don't mention anything in the plot specifically. And I do not do the themes and theories any justice, so if you like what I've said, the book does and even better job explaining it.
I've always had a different idea about God than what is dictated by religions. Technically, I'm Catholic and have gone through all the rituals for it. But I hate going to church and I think reincarnation can happen voluntarily (Why would God make a ton of new souls when he can recycle? Haha), and plenty of other things that don't quite fit in.
But through all this, I've never felt all that close to God. He seems great to have around if I really need to pray for a test, or sometimes I look at the ocean or the night sky and really feel like God is present, but when things go wrong and when I feel lonely and depressed, I feel alone and I felt like he was at fault. Which always made me more sad. I always felt at a real low when I blamed and hated God for the problems in my life. I felt it was just one step above not believing he existed at all, which is a really lonely existence. But I've seen how some people always have him in their life and I scoffed, thinking they were full of it and then wondering why he wasn't always with me. This book explained every problem I have had in terms that make me feel like I have a much better and closer relationship with God than I ever thought I had.
This book goes into how our want for independence is really why God can't intervene when bad (or good) things happen to us. And it explains that like a parent, no matter how bad we get, he'll still love us. He might be a bit mad at our behavior, but he will still love us. Our actions have consequences, but God doesn't punish us for those actions. He wants us to be happy; he just loves us enough that he can't always go in and change everything cause we asked for that independence.
It further explains how having a close relationship with God is a journey, not an event, so you can always try to be closer but you don't have to worry about ever reaching that ultimate goal. And even better, God doesn't have expectations. God loves you and hopes you'll do your best, but doesn't place that burden on you because he knows that as a human, you cannot be perfect and that "doing your best" is what he can hope for.
Best of all, God is always there because he loves you. And when you realize he's always there no matter what, that lightens the burden.
The book covers a broad spectrum of questions and topics, such as forgiveness (How can you forgive someone who has hurt you so badly?), love, relationship, the Church as opposed to a church (the way Jesus explains that is fairly hilarious), and many other things.
And with the way God (Papa), Jesus, and the Holy Spirit (Sarayu) were portrayed, you get a sense that while they are divine, they love you so much to allow themselves to be brought to a common level with you so that you are all equals in a sense. That equality makes relating with them so much easier than relating to a being with ultimate power over you. And realizing they have that much love for you that they'd do that just for you makes you realize how much they really do love you and how much you want to love them and follow them in turn. Seeing God as a constant friend that will never let you down is the best feeling in the world.
If you're having thoughts about your relationship with God or even want to start one, read this book. But if you are really strictly tied to the Bible and think that is the first and last word, I don't think you'll like this book, as it challenges those conceptions. But just remember: the Bible, and every other religious book, was written by people. The Shack was also written by a person. And until a book descends from Heaven, they are all open to interpretation. I just believe this has been the closest to the truth that any book has ever come and I feel closer to God for it.
Book Review: This Book Restored My Faith-Crystal Clear
Summary: 5 Stars
This is probably the most profound and best book I have ever read in my entire life. It has brought me totally back to God. I have never felt better. I totally identified with Mack and the Great Sadness which has been in my life also.
I am a Viet Nam combat vet. In Viet Nam I had forsaken God. I could not believe that God would permit such things to happen on Earth. But as I learned more about WWII and Korea and other World events my lack of disbelieve just strengthened. Until about six and one half years ago I felt a need to come back and test the waters. My oldest son was in 9-11 as a paramedic (he went in on his day off) and I was so proud of him, but I felt a need to find my faith, because he had found it. He was a block away from the second tower when it collapsed. He went on to fulfill his lifelong ambition to become a New York Fire Fighter and actually entered into the prestigious Squad One. But oh, what a price for him and his family to pay. So much death to witness, and all of those funerals to attend. I wished I could have protected him from that, but I could not. I failed. I hold myself accountable for this lack of ability to successfully fulfill my mission in life as a father, just like I do the men I sent to their deaths in Viet Nam and the hundreds of people I have killed. I have lived with Viet Nam inside me for over 35 years until recently. These are only some of the crosses I bear. This book has brought me full circle. It has helped me to restore my faith. I have helped several people to purchase this book and I will continue. But I now know what is important and what is not so important.
My Step-daughter Lisa recommended I read this book after she read a Christmas message I sent to all of my children, step-children and special friends over and over again. I had sent a picture of Arlington at Christmas that had touched me very close to my heart. So I wanted each of them to see this and understand this was the price of liberty and that there were men and women who were willing to give their lives on foreign soil to guarantee their rights under the constitution of the United States. I penned a personal message to each of the couples or person along with the general message.
To John and Lisa, who are House Pastors for a local church, I was sorry I was not stronger for them when Kelsey their newborn went to heaven. Kelsey was born with a small aorta and Dr. Starr in Portland, OR was going to fix that. He was the best. I felt we were fine, but I had no faith, just my gut instincts that had gotten me out of every other jam before except a couple that resulted in loss of life. I went to the hospital every noon to see Lisa and Kelsey and got to hold Kelsey and she was so innocent.. So the day came, Dr. Starr entered the waiting room with the bad news. Kelsey had not survived. John went to pieces and Lisa was helping him because she seemed stronger at the time. My wife was asking me if I was going to go to John and help him. She said this several times. I was standing up, but I was not there. I was near a river west of Danang trying to get two of my men out of a jam that I had ordered to stay back and lay down fire so we could extract some wounded. The smells, the visual, the noises were all real. My men were dead and so was Kelsey. I never told anyone about that until I wrote that letter. So Lisa read that over and over and recommended I read "The Shack". I am so glad she did too!!
I never loan books, so I gave it to a close friend. I purchased the hardbound edition for keeping and rereading.
Since reading "The Shack" I have never felt so whole in my entire life. I have redevoted my life to Jesus and I have laughed with him in his presence. Thank you for the Great Book. Thank you Paul for introducing me to Mack. He made me realize I was not alone. Be careful when they make this into a movie. I am not sure how they can do it justice.
One more thing. Take your time reading this book. Take time to smell the roses. If you cannot, then read it again.
Remember who is writing this review!! As Paul Young told me, live one day at a time and live in the moment. It is the only thing that is real. Enjoy your life!!
Book Review: A Book Everyone Should Read
Summary: 5 Stars
Many pertinent questions about God are addressed throughout this life-changing book.
The Shack offers many insightful and scriptural thoughts about God, yet opponents of the book see it as an "abomination" because it seems less than main stream, conventional, or traditional in THEIR (not-so-humble) opinion.
Most of the criticism over the book comes from those that have God in some "box" that they have created for Him with their finite minds and western mindset. God cannot be comprehended by our human intellect, and as much as some would have you believe they have Him all figured out, this is not possible. Even our interpretation of His Word is fallible therefore we'd do well to tread lightly on the topic of God.
Much of the controversy comes from those that haven't even read the book, but primarily from those that feel that they are to be "watch dogs" for the Christian faith. I am always very concerned about anyone that I feel is being critical or judgmental of another, especially when the criticism is of another brother or sister in Christ, just because it doesn't fit someone's narrow view of all things God.
Using phrases like the book is an "abomination from beginning to end." Such as the statement made by The Bereans. This is incredible to me! For someone to criticize so strongly is bad enough one Christian of another, but the man wielding these harsh words admitted that he had NOT read the book! He called it "blasphemy of the worst sort." That attitude not only SHOCKS me, but DISTURBS me, since it reminds me of the Pharisees and "religious people" of Jesus' day! Jesus was neither conventional nor traditional and didn't fit in their boxes for a Savior either, and they rejected His message too; straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel.
The interview I heard, the Berean leader being interviewed, stating that the "writer should tremble because he is going to stand before God." Yikes, mister, we will all stand before God . . . and The Bible says, "We will give an account for every unwholesome word we have ever spoken." My Berean friends from this interview are dangerously casting stones. I do not feel comfortable judging another man's work. I am more interested in bringing people together than I am in dividing people. I am working hard to DRAW people to Christ, not polarize Christians and divide those that already call Him Lord.
I know that they seem to think we can't see the truth from a lie without their help, but their God is my God too. He is more than able to "lead me into all truth" therefore I do not need them to tell me what is WRONG everything, and some people do seem to find something wrong with everything. I believe this is a huge disappointment to God for the use of their time here on earth.
The old gentleman in this interview (in my opinion) is way off base, especially if he thinks that what is written in The Shack "corrupts the mind", or "corrupts the heart" because that couldn't be farther from the truth. I am shocked that he feels so confident in his opinion of this book that he has never read, and the others whose names that he mentioned with contempt calling what they are doing for Christ "Apostasy and Blasphemy!" Wow, I wish I was that close to God or that sure of everything that I believe, but I am of the opinion that none of us are as perfect as we seem to think we are, or as worthy to sit in judgment of another.
THE SHACK is the best book that I have read in my entire Christian life and I am proud to tell everyone that I know to read it. In fact, I now have it on my must-read list for my 12-month course, Mentoring Women.
I believe that God can come in any form that He needs to in order reach the hearts of those He loves, even if the so called, "watchdogs of our faith" don't like the form He chooses. He's never been too afraid of what people might think. He chose to reveal himself in burning bush, but we don't worship bushes. He chose to speak through a donkey, but we don't worship them either. His voice is like thunder some times and still small voice at others! He is God, and we are not.