I was intrigued with William P. Young’s The Shack — I had finished reading the book and was partway into writing a review (published yesterday) when I thought I’d just drop him a note, say “hey,” and see about setting up a virtual interview. It was conducted via email, but just imagine we’re all sitting around a table in your favorite independent local coffee shop. We converse for a bit, but you’ll get your comments in edgewise a little further on. For now, grab that latte you ordered, pull up an extra chair and pass the biscotti.
Bro.M.: Willie, Pardon the intrusion… I was just preparing to write a review of The Shack, which I quite enjoyed. I wondered if you had time for a few questions…
WPY: Hi Brother, would love the questions…fire away. I actually go by my middle name ‘Paul’.
Bro.M.: Okay, Paul. You had me a bit confused there… but I’m the last person who should quibble about aliases! ;^) To start right in, I found I was able to relate quickly to Mack as the father of two girls myself. Knowing before I started reading that one of Mack’s daughters is abducted and killed, I was a bit hesitant… it’s not an idea on which many of us like to dwell. My wife is hesitant to read it for the same reason — what would you say to her about the reason you chose that event as part of Mack’s background experiences? Where did the idea come from?
WPY: We went through a six month period where my 18 year old brother was killed, my mother-in-law suddenly died of a massive coronary at age 59, and my 5 year old niece was killed the day after her 5th birthday. Having 4 boys and 2 girls myself, this is a situation that moves to the heart of theodicy as an issue. It is not about politics and cannot be easily put aside – it is about pain and suffering and injustice. I didn’t choose it for graphic reasons (as it is not very graphic at all), but because it captures our focus.
Bro.M.: I was curious about people thinking the book was a true story… not that I don’t have room theologically for the notion of God appearing as he did to Mack, but it seemed clear to me that the story was more literary device than factual account. What do you think accounts for this misunderstanding?
WPY: Remember, I wrote this story for my children (not to be published), so I took some liberties I might not have otherwise. In the first draft, I even had Mackenzie Allen Phillips as the author and me as the ghost writer, but after the book got away from me and a couple people almost flew to Oregon to meet Mack, we changed it, while keeping the idea of Willie ghost-writing for Mack. Beyond that the pain, the conversations, the process and the character of God are all real, so the line gets fairly blurred at times.
Bro.M.: So it was an earlier version that people had the confusion with, then. I think the whole motif captures your focus well, as you put it… in addressing the dilemma of evil (I was going to say “evil pickle,” but it sounded like a Veggie Tales villain!) through the story of an average guy to whom people can relate, the whole subject becomes a lot less “clinical,” as some of the treatments of the subject can be. That’s a lot of pain to pack into a year and a half, and I think the fact that you’ve been too close to the subject is partly what keeps it from being so clinical in the offer of a textbook answer. Thanks for writing through the pain, and sharing it. I appreciated the way this difficult touch of realism is woven into the narrative — and lots of Bruce Cockburn references….
WPY: What can I say… huge fan of Bruce Cockburn. As far as I am concerned one of the greatest lyricists alive (and an incredible guitarist to boot).
Bro.M.: I’m with you there… I actually enjoyed the allusions to or quotes from Bruce Cockburn, Bob Dylan, Larry Norman — and then Blaise Pascal, Paul Tournier, and Jacques Ellul. It seems the book is making a bit of a splash… I’ve seen one or two mediocre responses, but for the most part it’s gotten a lot of rave reviews. Have you had anything from the other extreme, or did you expect criticism? I’m thinking of accusations of advocating lawlessness (pp.122-3 & 203) or universalism (p.225)… I think critics may be missing the point, so I’m not going to offer any criticism there, but have you had those sorts of mixed reactions? Uneasiness or criticism over language from God in the first person?
WPY: I have had a couple (2) very negative responses, and neither person would read past the first half of the book. It seems that their issue largely stemmed from some pretty unique personal abuse issues within the new-age movement, and they thought I was advocating the same. Other than that, some small gripes but overall it has been overwhelmingly positive. There have been a handful of folks who have tried to read the book like a theological textbook and found it wanting. No one has balked at God in the first person… at least that I am aware, which is rather remarkable now that you mention it.
Bro.M.: Well, I don’t want to start anything! I got criticized for it here once, but I’m probably more abrasive than you are. ;^) People need to keep the intent in mind, I guess, and understand the story for what it is. So what can you tell us about the prospect of seeing The Shack on the big screen?
WPY: Big Screen — very possible, but only if it done right. The CGI alone would be quite expensive but necessary, so this would have to be a major motion picture budget. There has been talk of that since day 1, and a couple studios initially tried to buy up the rights, but we were not ready for that conversation at the time. I would love it to happen, but only if done right. Otherwise, I am not a whit interested.
Bro.M.: Reading the book has changed a lot of people’s thinking on certain issues away from their traditional views. What did you learn from writing The Shack? How has your interaction with telling the story affected your life? Greatest lesson?
WPY: Wow…big question. Writing the book was an amazing and emotionally wrenching experience. At times it felt like stepping into a river that simply swept me away and deposited me downstream. Many of the concepts that are in the book were present in my own experience, but some of it was tentative. It was like standing at the edge of the high dive for the first time. The Shack simply came up from behind and pushed me in. The two biggest transitions from me were learning to live in the present(ce) of God, within only the single day’s grace allotted to me, and second, to have Papa’s affection for me a settled reality.
Bro.M.: I saw someone refer to the book as part of the literature coming from the emerging church, and there are a few themes in the book which would seem to fit that context. Do you think of this an “emerging church” book?
WPY: There was no intent that this be part of the emergent movement – the intent was a gift for my 6 kids. I am not a part of anything myself, so have no agenda at all about any of this.
Bro.M.: I want to quip that that’s very “emerging” of you, but I think such a description limits the book and its message unfairly… it will be appreciated by those in the emerging movement, but it really isn’t full of emerging-specific themes and ideas. Tell me, how did you approach the story… did you come up with the story arc as a means of stitching together a number of other subjects you wanted to address, or did the subjects that God and Mack touch on in the dialogue come along after the story arc was conceived?
WPY: I initially thought about doing an ‘A is for ________’ (hey kids, this is what your dad thinks about…..). But I thought that would end up being rather boring. So I started with the conversations, filling legal yellow pads with conversations as i rode the Max train to and from work (40 minutes each way). The day that I sat in front of the computer to start typing the notes into it (so I wouldn’t lose them), I still had no story. But I began asking the questions: Who is asking this question and why? And the story simply began to emerge using our own family experiences (camping at Wallowa Lake, for example). Later, I sat with three friends (Wayne Jacobsen, Brad Cummings and Bobby Downes) and we spent a couple days blocking out the story as if we were writing a screen play. That helped us see the weaknesses and strengths and helped us focus on the next 16 months of re-writing. Chapter 15 initially set the tone, and that chapter is exactly the way I penned it one Saturday afternoon in 2005. The re-writing was to raise the rest of the story to the level of Festival of Friends.
Bro.M.: Ah yes, another Bruce Cockburn reference! So what led to your decision to self-publish?
WPY: The decision was made for us…nobody would give us the time of day. Religious publishers said they liked it, but it was too edgy. Secular publishers told us they like it personally, but there was too much ‘Jesus’ in it. So Wayne and Brad created a publishing company and did it ourselves. It is all about our relationships with each other. There are no contracts, no letters of intent, no signed anything.
Bro.M.: There’s something fundamentally refreshing about that… very relational. So, will there be a followup book? What are you thinking or writing about these days?
WPY: Other book(s)…probably. I tend to gestate a while before actually writing…so I am working on a something right now…we will see. I don’t feel any pressure to produce, and I am grateful for that. I have a few projects sitting on the shelf that need some re-visiting also. Vague enough? As of today, I still have my 8-5, M-F job, some part time consulting work and a home full of family and friends, and our first two grandbabies. Papa will have to free some time up if there is more writing to come.
Bro.M.: Glad to hear it, and vague enough, yes! Keep us guessing… but don’t stop writing. Some of the comments I’ve seen suggest people might be looking for your next book(s) already, and I do see people online saying they want to read the book every year or have read it several times already. Some people are buying multiple copies or even by the case lot to give away… you may have more publishing options open to you the next time around. In the meantime, thanks for taking some time with us, Paul.
WPY: It was fun to do… thanks for the opportunity.
Read my review for more on the book itself, which I can recommend. More about Paul’s personal journey can be found at theshackbook.com, and his short bio is on his blog.
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September 28th, 2007 at 6:48 pm
Well, Bro. M and Paul, thanks for the interview! I read yet another blog today about this book…and buying lots of copies to give away.
I went to order the book at Amazon yesterday, but the wait was 4 to 6 weeks! I will go to your website and take a look around.
Blessngs,
October 6th, 2007 at 4:11 pm
[...] influence interviews William P. Young, author of the ‘The Shack’. Eugene Peterson had this to say about Youngs’ novel, “When the imagination of a writer [...]
November 29th, 2007 at 11:42 am
[...] Subversive Influence (interview with the author) [...]
March 26th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
I LOVED THIS BOOK ALSO!!! I think everyone (xians&nonxians alike) should read it. We are discussing it in a few days in our Book club:) yay! thnx
March 31st, 2008 at 9:50 am
THE SHACK
Review by Dale Brown
When I was given a copy of The Shack by William P. Young I must admit I was a bit skeptical for a number of reason. I have never been much of a reader of fiction. Someone once said if you get your theology from a novel, you will likely end up with novel theology. So often the people that give me religious/Christian fiction are those who are short on critical thinking and most often come from Christian circles where they have never been exposed to any form of biblical apologetics, and at times are looking to create a god in their own image. The cover jacket has glowing statements by many popular names, and leading the pack is Eugene Peterson who claims the book to possibly be the greatest thing written since Pilgrim’s Progress. Wow! Over the years of dealing with cultists I have come to put some degree of trust in this inner alarm that goes off in my spirit when something appears out of whack, much like when I pick up a Book of Mormon and begin reading it. It usually means buyer beware.
The book tells the story of a guy named Mackenzie Philips, or “Mack”, whose daughter Missy is abducted and murdered. When evidence is found of the grisly ordeal in a wilderness cabin “shack” in Oregon, Mack is understandably devastated. What happens next opens the door for the rest of The Shack story to unfold. A few years later Mack receives a mysterious note from what appears to be God (or the killer) which leads him to go back to the shack to investigate. Here is where it gets weird. At the cabin he meets a black woman who comes to be known both as Elousia and Papa “God”, then an Asian woman named Sarayu “the Holy Spirit”, and a Middle Eastern guy, you guessed it, whose name is “Jesus”. So here we have the Trinity appearing in the form of three earthlings. Anyone who has read the Biblical accounts of manifestations of Deity immediately recall God speaking to Moses out of a burning bush, and out of a cloud, and John the apostle falling as a dead man before the glorified Christ in the book of Revelation. So this bit of fiction starts out with a different Deity from the beginning. The names are suggestive of hidden meanings. Elousia, is Greek for tenderness as used in regards to Mary and her Son. Sarayu, comes from the Sanskrit which means wind, and is a mythological river in Hindu mysticism.
Next, we see the words that the author puts in the mouth of this Deity enough to get anyone under early Jewish standards stoned to death for false prophecy. This female Papa God fits well with those who have degendered God in some of the modern liberal Bible translations. We see a hint of the modalism heresy with Papa having nail scared wrists (pg.107) It is even more clear on page 99 where “we [the three persons of the Godhead] became fully human”. In the Biblical Trinity however the Father never became human. Jesus became human yet continued to pray to His Father who remained Spirit. The author’s understanding of the Trinity hierarchy and the relationship of each member is misrepresented in numerous places. “We have no concept of final authority among us, only unity. We are in a circle of relationship, not a chain of command. . .”(pg. 122) The Bible however clearly teaches authority in heaven and on earth. The Father never submits to the Son. Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing” (Jn. 5:19). It is the Holy Spirit’s job to glorify Jesus, not the other way around (Jn. 16:14). Apostle Paul taught to obey rulers and all who are in authority, “Therefore he who resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God” (Rom. 13:2). The Bible even says the saints will judge angels. In heaven, authority is also seen by warring Archangels. They clearly exercise authority. The very word for church speaks of authority and structure with rulers who are to govern the flock. Paul wrote pastoral epistles in order to give guidelines to Timothy a young pastor who was to teach, reprove, rebuke,exhort,etc., “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths.”(2 Tim. 4:2&3)
The Shack Jesus claims that “I don’t create institutions – never have and never will”pg.178. So apparently Paul was misguided to give us so much instruction about how to set up church government.
Mack’s understanding of righteous music is understood to included even the Mormon tabernacle choir (pg. 90).
God’s role as judge and the nature of sin is misrepresented by claiming,(pg. 120) “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.” The Bible clearly teaches that God created hell for the devil and his angels (Matt. 25:41)and God will send upon those who continue in sin a deluding influence that they might believe a lie and thus be judged (2 Thess. 2:11&12), in that place where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth(Matt. 25:30). Though this is a book about a murder yet there is no reference to Satan who the biblical Jesus says was a murderer from the beginning. On page 145 God supposedly claims “Submission is not about authority and it is not about obedience; it is all about relationships of love and respect. In fact, we are submitted to you in the same way.” Isn’t that something? We have created a God in our likeness and He even bows down to us. The Bible however clearly teaches that Jesus “humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross”(Philip 2:8).
On page 182 is the most glaring error. “Those who love me come from every system that exists. They were Buddhists or Mormons Baptists or Muslims. . . I have no desire to make them Christian, but I do want to join them in their transformation into sons and daughters of my Papa, into my brothers and sisters, into my Beloved.” The Bible clearly tells us that no one can go to the Father unless they are followers of Christ, for He is the way and the door. All others are thieves and liars(Jn.10:1).
Page 202 continues with the rebellion theme. The Shack Jesus claims we “are not under any law. . . All things are lawful” Laws and rules only give us control, the author claims. “It grants you the power to judge others and feel superior to them.” Paul wrote an epistle to the Corinthians addressing this very issue. The Corinthians had sin in the camp and they were not addressing it. He was furious. He even turned one man over to the devil for the destruction of his flesh (1 Cor. 5:5). In his second letter he wrote, “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete(2 Cor. 10:5&6).
The author continues with New Age aura and Hindu chakra type illustrations in the chapter “A Festival of Friends” where beams of colorful spears of light shine out of a variety of living beings.
In summary: The Shack, published by Windblown Media, is full of theological problems and a danger to all of those sheep who have no shepherd and are blown here and there by every wind of doctrine because their theology is as shallow as a wading pool. Yes I understand this is supposed to be fiction. The Book of Mormon, Dianetics, Science and Health, and a host of other fictional books with heretical teachings have become major religious cults. Thus the danger of using God as a form of entertainment. The devil can take this kind of material and cause all kinds of division and confusion.
April 4th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
I agree with Dale’s review. I would not recommend this book at all. It appears that this is an extremely deceptive work of fiction under the ‘christian’ banner. A story of ‘our worst nightmares’ taking place allowing our fragile and raw emotions to permit the author to introduce New Age and Hindu beliefs. In my opinion it’s an abomination to align to line up the trinity of hindu gods to the Holy Trinity. The enemy knows his time is short (Rev. 12:12) and he has come as an angel of light to deceive many. It is my guess he will become ‘trickier’ as end times continue … the sheep are in desperate need of discerning, wise shepherds who will uphold the Word of GOD and sound the alarm on false doctrine EVEN if it comes in the form of fiction.
April 4th, 2008 at 11:50 pm
Dale…the “fictional” books you mentioned are claimed to be truth by those who adhere to those religions. Paul’s book is a novel. He knows it’s fiction. He’s trying to get us to think outside the box a bit and let God be bigger than we tend to allow for. You’re reading things into his words that a plain reading just can’t find.
You said: On page 182 is the most glaring error. “Those who love me come from every system that exists. They were Buddhists or Mormons Baptists or Muslims. . . I have no desire to make them Christian, but I do want to join them in their transformation into sons and daughters of my Papa, into my brothers and sisters, into my Beloved.”
The key is in the third sentence: “They WERE Buddhist or Mormons, Baptists or Muslims…meaning that this is what they were BEFORE they came to really love Jesus.
And “Christian” began as a kind of perjorative word used to describe followers of Jesus Christ by gentiles…Jesus said to make disciples.
Anyway…I just wanted to give a bit of perspective. If you don’t want any other perspective, that’s your choice. But “entertainment” is a bit too light of a word for this novel, friend. It is more along the line of inspirational and contemplative.
April 5th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Relationship with God? Definately. Can’t argue with that…but what god?
Please look up: powersthatbe (find out who “Papa” really is) and also: she of a thousand names. The similarities are too frightening to ignore. For anyone who shrugs it off, beware of the strong delusion that the Bible speaks about in 2 Thessalonians 2:11, Matt. 24:24
There is a movement quickly rising, one of goddess worship, one that started at the Tower of Babel, with Nimrod and Semiramis and has moved throughout history and people groups, a counterfeit trinity with ever changing aliases, including Sophia, Papa, Sarayu (also Saranyu). This is the same pagan goddess as Diana, Isis, Aphrodite, the Virgin Mary (of Catholicism), Ishtar, Mother Earth, (transgendered: Baphomet, Kali/Shiva) etc… This movement represents a transgendered god/goddess that is all about Oneness, Love, Peace…Though, not the same Oneness, Love and Peace that can only be had through a relationship with the Jesus of the Bible. No, this has to do with god of the New World Order- a god who compassionately embraces all religions, beliefs and creeds- cuz after all, isn’t it all about DIVERSITY, LOVE, TOLERANCE, ACCEPTANCE and PEACE? Those who disagree must be hatemongers! Granted this book does not dismiss Jesus as being God, but I do see it as a “gateway” book, one that subtly introduces alternative views of God, to open and condition the readers’ minds for later, more emboldened ideas of the nature and character of God. Oprah is a big proponant of this new religion, I wouldn’t be surprised if she picks this book as part of her book club one day. Keep an eye on the ecumenical movement, the Catholic church calling back all her protestant “daughters”, there is also a video that can be viewed online called “Messages from Heaven”. Arm yourself with knowledge so you can see what is coming.
Keeps your eyes open people- especially those of you who claim to be christians! Where there is the real thing, there is always a counterfeit, designed to try and deceive the very elect.
April 8th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
I just read The Shack and found myself crying through most of the last few chapters.
Having said that let me qualify it by saying there is much erroneous in Young’s writings which shows an obvious foray into Universalism. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to base context and characters of a story on figures we all know only and exclusively through the Bible and then totally disavow much of what else is written in that book. There are inaccuracies that contradict both Old and New Testament teachings and I would warn readers not to swallow everything Young purports whole. If you are not familiar with God the Father and Jesus Christ of the Bible and their teachings, this book could lead you down New Age paths that take you away from truth.
Either the figures in the Bible are real and factual and therefore the premise in the book is also real and factual, or it is all false together. For Mr. Young to give us the Jesus of the Bible and then undermine much of what he said is disingenuous. There is a danger here for those not fully grounded in the truths of the Word.
But, those grounded and sure of their understandings of the gospel will be able to find the pearls in this lovely story as there is much good to be found. I came away much more devoted to the desire to serve and love and devote my whole self to the relationships in my life which all too often take backseat to the front seat prestige given the cares of the world. It was emotional for me to be reminded of how completely and unreservedly I am loved by my Father and Jesus Christ, and how the Spirit binds me to them. That and more was worth the cost of the book and made mucking through Young’s fallacious and esoteric theology worth it.
April 15th, 2008 at 12:21 am
I am a pastor and I am recommending The Shack to my congregation. I find the depiction of God to be comforting, loving, and caring. It is a picture of God that has a sense of humor, and also knows when to shed a tear. I am a universalist. There, that elephant is acknowledged. As a Christian I believe that when faced with the living Christ, no one will be able to turn away. I believe that love of God in Jesus is more powerful than all of our attempts to limit God and God’s love. I appreciate Young’s experience with God. I gave this book to a friend who is healing from childhood abuse, who experienced the murder of her daughter’s friend, and who has struggled in her faith. Her response was to send me 27 books so I can help others.
The book is a novel. Just like The DaVinci Code or the Left Behind Series. But it is a novel that I feel comes from the depth of one’s experience. Perhaps that seems childish, but then I remember Jesus told us to become like children to enter the kingdom of God. I am grateful to Young for the healing that I know is taking place because of this simple (though not too simple) novel. To God be the glory and thank you Paul!
April 15th, 2008 at 12:22 am
One more comment… who gave the “by-line” ‘Denise snickered’… that was offensive.
April 15th, 2008 at 7:35 am
Denise, the comments all have a random word or phrase to replace “said” — I got tired of seeing that over and over so I decided to make it more interesting. Obviously sometimes they fit some comments better than others… if you refresh your browser, you’ll see they all changed. No offence intended.
To your other comment and some of the others, I agree that it can be a very healing, helpful, and comforting. Stories can teach us many things by gradually bringing us along to realizations as we consider the story, rather than by simply making a statement that we must simply accept or reject without a lot of reflection. I think this is one of the reasons Jesus used parables in his teaching.
My review of The Shack is linked above in the first paragraph, but to say it again, I really enjoyed my exchange with Paul Young for this interview.
May 24th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
I found the book to be encouraging. I don’t believe Christ came to start a religion or an institutional Church. As a matter of fact, I think the image of Christ has been harmed by them. We look to our traditions and church leaders to translate scripture for us and then we drink it in like they know, and have all the answers. What makes their translation of God’s intent behind the words, righter than anyone elses. Institutional church chased me away years ago but after an intense experience with the Spirit I returned. The longer I remained “in Church”, the further away God seemed. I found myself surrounded by self-righteous, back-stabbing gossips. And I’m sad to say it was not the odd person. I wasn’t just sitting in the pews either. I worked as a minister/pastor but found people didn’t want to be lead closer to God, they wanted to have someone justify and join in on their self-righteous behaviour. I walked away from “Church” and for the second time in my life, I’m healing, getting over the nastiness I found there. I am still a member of the body of Christ and I now devote myself to seeking the one true God and not the God that is waiting to smash heads. God is much bigger than we give Him credit for. I kind of liked that He was portrayed as a black woman. Maybe it can help some of us overcome our stereotype of God being a white male – which is just as ridiculous. Some folks can’t relate to a white male God because of intense pain caused by white males. So where is the harm in portraying God as a black woman. God is love, not rules and laws. I agree with this author when he said the Ten Commandments have become, to those who welcome God’s Spirit, ten promises.
And what about disobedience? This too is only for those under law. We all disobey God, and justify why it’s okay. I believe though, at our core, our nature is to seek to please. And as we grow in love and trust, we will seek to please our Lord – just as our children seek to please us, even though they get it wrong sometimes.
Basically, if we are following all the rules, and offended by this book, perhaps a little soul searching is necessary to see if we are really walking in God’s righteousness or our own.
Love to all.
June 23rd, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Wow!! I am a pastor and I am grieved at the judgement and “yapping” within the Body of Christ. I have not read the book, but I have ordered it. Is it not a shame that Christians spend so much time judging each other instead of looking at the fruit of things? I believe that God desires to release His Spirit on our nation. The enemy keeps our focus on what other Christians are doing wrong so we do not take the Word of God to the world dying because they need Jesus. My prayer is that we will unify and that revival will sweep our country like a wildfire. LET’S GO FOR IT!!!
July 8th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
Golf clap’s for Pastor Jonas, well said, and please buy better coffee..
That said, why is everyone so upset about page 182. ?
Have they all missed the word “WERE” ? Of course Jesus doesn’t want “to make” them Christian’s. God isn’t going to force himself on anyone, He want’s people to make the choice to come to Him on their own. And before they come to Him they “were” something, be it Muslim, Baptist, criminal’s or whatever. Believe it or not God does forgive murder’s and being a Baptist doesn’t mean you are going to heaven. There’s a saying I am very fond of… Sitting in church every Sunday doesn’t make you a Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car..
Everyone seem’s to have missed the whole point of this book, well that and the fact that it’s a work of fiction. I find there are two group’s of reader’s of The Shack. Those that “get it” and those who don’t.
This is not the latest, greatest “how to be the perfect Christian” book that is full of twisted scripture that will lead you astray and straight to hell through an emergent church. It’s a fictional book about a man who has suffered great loss, guilt and sadness, a man who doesn’t understand God and now doubt’s He even exist’s, his journey to discovering God and the healing that take’s place within him when he find’s Him.
July 10th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
Is there a study guide for small group study? I loved the Shack. Read it three times. Gave 20 copies away to be passed on to other people.
July 13th, 2008 at 8:57 am
Gene, I’m not aware of a group study guide, but if you had a group willing to read chapter-by-chapter and simply discuss, I’m sure you’d hit all the high points. You could look to the many reviews and see what issues people are hitting, but with this book I’d be inclined to just say to the group, “Okay, this week it’s chapter four. Comments? What struck you?”
August 12th, 2008 at 2:20 am
My question to the author would be: Why did he use the names Elousia and Sarayu? To me Christian fiction is quite a legitimate genre, but when certain names within a story like ‘The Shack’ trigger in the mind of the informed reader some references to other world religions red flags are going up! I experienced some tragedies in my life as well – but I got all my comfort in the Word of God, i.e. the Bible and God’s people (those who truly met Jesus – cf. 2 Cor. 5:17) have been used of God to be the Hands and Feet and Mouth of God in my life. I really took my time to read ‘The Shack’, and was touched by the story, but the biblical discrepancies were not good. But why these names (Elousia and Sarayu) and not names that would be much more neutral when it comes to other religions? In a novel where the dilemma of suffering and the goodness of God comes into focus why is Satan who is called by Jesus the Liar and Murderer of people (John 8:44) conspicuously absent?
August 20th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
I just finished reading the “The Shack”. I was given a copy by my pastor, who described it as a story written by a man who wanted to explain to his children what he had been going through. He wrote it as a fictional story to help them understand him. A few days after being given the book, my pastor (being the very kind and caring man of God that he is) informed me that there was much controversy regarding the book’s statements of God and scripture, not only on-line but also among some of the members of our church. While I still consider myself very young in my understanding of God, the scriptures and my walk with God, I have a very hard time understanding the problem people have. The fact that so many seem to have an opinion about a fictional character’s journey to understand how and why things happen in a world in which God is to be seen as all-powerful, all-knowing and always present says to me that we probably are all always seeking the same answers; even those who know the scriptures very well and are able to quote them on a moments notice.
Having gone through painful events (some similar to Mack’s) has taught me that understanding that above all else God’s love is everpresent. That’s what I came away with from the book. The fact that God was presented in the form of persons Mack did not expect or conceive of as God was explained as a way of not allowing him to let his preconceived notions of God get in the way of having the relationship with God he needed and actually desired. How is that a problem?
In reading, I wondered about the presence of the devil as it related to evil in the world also. As I think about it, this was about knowing, understanding and becoming closer to the goodness of God; not about distinguishing between the God and the devil.
August 31st, 2008 at 9:36 pm
I have not read the book yet, as I have read several reviews that have told me enough about it that I know I am not interested in reading it. However, I did hear a pastor on U-tube saying that in it Mack “cusses” at God. If that is true, I would like to know, because I have friends who say they were refreshed by the “open, honest” relationship Mack had with God in which he could pour out his feelings to God. If it is true that Mack “cusses” at God, I cannot imagine that is how any of us will be addressing our Holy Creator God, when we finally stand in His glorious presence. Maybe we wouldn’t have any trouble “cussing” a large, African American woman, but not holy, omnipotent, righteous, merciful God. If Mack does cuss God, could you give me page, please? My friends tend to be a little defensive about this book. Thank you.
Sandy
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:44 pm
“Submission is not about authority and it is not about obedience; it is all about relationships of love and respect. In fact, we are submitted to you in the same way.”
I think the point was that it is relationships of love and respect that produce submission and obedience. That without love and respect to produce them, they are worthless.
I can agree with this:
On page 182 is the most glaring error. “Those who love me come from every system that exists. They were Buddhists or Mormons Baptists or Muslims. . . I have no desire to make them Christian, but I do want to join them in their transformation into sons and daughters of my Papa, into my brothers and sisters, into my Beloved. The Bible clearly tells us that no one comes to the Father except through the Son. (John 14:6
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.)
Have to agree with Peggy here too though:
The key is in the third sentence: “They WERE Buddhist or Mormons, Baptists or Muslims…meaning that this is what they were BEFORE they came to really love Jesus.
In reading the book I picked up on the word WERE as well. So it is in the careful reading of the book and not taking it to mean things, or dismissing those things, that are not consistent with what we as Christians know to be true.
as Peggy says:
But “entertainment” is a bit too light of a word for this novel, friend. It is more along the line of inspirational and contemplative.
Contemplative being the operative word for me.
I would expect everyone to read this book with an open heart and a discerning mind.
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:51 pm
Pieter,
I wasn’t familiar with the meanings of these names, but a Google search produced a blog post that tackles the same question. Most of the search results seem to be criticism of The Shack rather than any original material about the name, so perhaps it’s been made a bigger deal than it deserves. “Sarayu” turns out to be a Sanskrit word that describes a certain kind of wind… the same metaphor that the Bible uses in both Greek and Hebrew. The blog post correctly points out that John’s use of the term “The Word” to refer to the Messiah draws associations from Pagan philosophy. This is not an unusual image in Scripture — each of the plagues in Egypt strikes at one of the Egyptian deities. The message is that YHWH is the true _____ (whatever); the one you worshipped is false. Two thoughts: (1) if you translate the Bible into Sanskrit, you would probably use “Sarayu” to refer to the Holy Spirit simply as a convention of translation, and (2) any association with another deity should be understood as a message that YHWH is the true deity with the power ascribed, while the one previously known is false.
Sandy,
I don’t know the passage offhand, but perhaps someone else will respond with the page number. For the “cussing” itself, I think it could be natural to use unrestrained words in addressing God while his glory is masked. This happens in the New Testament when some people say all sorts of things to Jesus because they don’t recognize him — he appears to them but not in his glory. I agree, if he were to show his glory to any of us, we wouldn’t say the things we commonly do now… whether that be cussing or prayers for a brand new Lexus. In the Psalms, David pours out his heart to God and sometimes gets angry. I recall one of my Bible College professors saying that if we’re angry with God, go ahead and tell him — it isn’t like you could hide it from him, and he can take it anyway. From a practical standpoint, this makes sense: once you’ve got it out in the open, you can be honest about it on the road to receiving healing and forgiveness.
September 18th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
Hi, I loved the book and it lead me onto reading more christian fiction and God has been using these to change me from the inside out. Then accidentally I came across criticism for the shack and was blown away. Were these people right? Is it new age? I had given my book to non christian friends, one of which has been drawn closer to God also. I lent to my parents and talked with my Dad about the criticism and he had ordered copies to give to family members to read but doesn’t feel ok to do so now. and I wonder now too, I see that Paul had intended his book for his children but I want to ask the question too, why the names that are related to other religions, and why the “universalism” feel of the book? I also read about the ambiguity and mystery on his blog, is he saying that’s why? I am just very confused now. I loved it but have some knowledge of the truth in the Bible so maybe that’s why the “new agey” stuff went over my head. Because of the effect on me I wanted to pass it on to others but don’t want to pass on wrong truths…would love to be enlightened!!!
September 19th, 2008 at 9:01 am
Mac,
This book is not “new age” as some say, sadly these are the very people that are missing the whole point of the book. First let’s not forget the book is a work of fiction. I have heard Pastor’s distort and twist the Word of God a lot worse. Second let’s look at the first plot of the story. It’s a story about a Father who has suffered terrible hurt and pain at the loss of his child to a murderer, his inability to move on and to forgive, his struggle in wondering where God was, and is in all of it. A story about the Father’s trip back to the scene of the crime, his pain and anger, facing it, voicing it, dealing with it. Most important it’s a story about Jesus meeting Mack where he was in that point in time in his life — angry at God, full of bitterness, hate and depression. Mack’s journey of discovery, the healing of his mind, body and spirit. Everyone get’s upset about page 182….
“Those who love me come from every system that exists. They were Buddhists or Mormons Baptists or Muslims. . . I have no desire to make them Christian, but I do want to join them in their transformation into sons and daughters of my Papa, into my brothers and sisters, into my Beloved. The Bible clearly tells us that no one comes to the Father except through the Son.
(John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.)
Here’s a thought…. Where do Christian’s come from? We/they are not born a Christian, so doesn’t it make sense to you that we/they have to come from somewhere? So then where do we/they come from? There are a lot of Buddist, Mormans, Muslims and Baptist (and I will add Catholic’s, etc., etc. to the list) that have “accepted” Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and became a Christian. The key word on page 182 is “were.” Jesus Christ, (as is the Holy Spirit) is a gentleman, He isn’t going to force Himself on anyone (hence.. I have no desire to “make” .. but I want to join), so at some point in a person’s life they will have to make or do make, a conscious decision to dedicate their life to Christ. It doesn’t matter what religion you are raised in, you still have to accept Jesus to become a Christian (hence.. those who love Me were…). Sadly a lot of people miss that point, it’s a life choice. Most people that come to Christ come to Him at a very low point in their life and you see a huge transformation in them and their life. As with Mack in the story, Jesus will meet you where ever you are. So let’s look at the second plot of the book… it’s about God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit being what Mack needed in that moment in time in order for his eye’s to be opened, so that his heart would open and heal. Jesus was, and is a real person. He walked this earth just as you and I do. Personally I loved the way He was taken out of the box that so many people tend to put Him in and presented as human. Having a personal relationship with Christ is a very precious and awesome thing, but you have to know Him to have it. Tell your Dad to give the book’s to the people he ordered them for. The Holy Spirit led him to do so for a reason, and the Holy Spirit will lead him to give them to the right person. The person that need’s this book the most. Start a book discussion with other’s that have read it. You will be amazed at how it changes the way a person see’s God, and how they think about relating to Him. One last thought.. if the book lead’s a person to have a deeper, and more real relationship with Jesus, and allow’s them to be able to let go of hurt, pain, bitterness and unforgiveness in their life… then what’s the harm.. Jesus did it on the cross when, speaking about the Pharisees and those that crucified Him. He asked God “forgive them, for they know not what they do.” OK.. maybe more… God is love (read 1,2 & 3 John), so why is it wrong for Him to be presented as such a loving, comforting person. In the book of Act’s when it speak’s of the Pentecost, it say’s “the sound of a rushing wind” so why not use the name Sarayu for the Holy Spirit. The Bible is the true word of God, this book is a fiction. Two different book’s with two different purposes… Whether you realize it or not the Holy Spirit led you to give this book to the friend whom drew closer to God after reading it. Let the Holy Spirit continue to led you. Stay in the true word, enjoy the book for what it is and for what it did for you, and ignore the comment’s from people claiming this is new age, and hersey that will lead you away from God straight to hell.
September 19th, 2008 at 11:38 am
Mac,
I was spurred on by your comment to make a blog post of my own linking what I feel are the significant reviews of this book — ones that should point out the challenges that many are having with the book … but. more importantly, pointing out the strengths. Hope it is helpful to you.
The link is: http://abisomeone.blogspot.com/2008/09/abis-links-to-articles-about-shack.html
Be blessed….
September 24th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Just finished reading The Shack and loved it!! Had heard both positive and negative comments. I have been a Christian for many years and recently have been led by the Spirit to examine the amazing grace of God. This wonderful story was a major contribution to what I believe my Lord wants me to know and experience.
Is there an audio CD of the book?
October 20th, 2008 at 3:15 am
Mac,
I also felt like ordering numerous books and giving them out to my family and friends after I read the book. That is, until I read the criticisms. As a follower of Christ, it is very important that the ideas offered in this book are in line with the teachings of the Bible.
As I read the book, there were some issues that made me stop and reflect whether they were Biblical. There are suggestions that sound great, like God not punishing sinners, but it is not Biblical. The very nature of God demands justice. If God did not punish sinners, Jesus died for no reason. Jesus died to pay the penalty of our sins. We owe a debt to God for our sins, and the Bible clearly states “for the wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23) Most of the other criticisms I have seen on this blog do appear to be legitimate in regards to the Bible, although, there are a few I feel are maybe being twisted a little.
There is a lot that I feel is Biblical in the book about the nature of God: His omnipresence – always being with us even when we don’t realize He is. I think the book did a wonderful job at showing God’s heart to His people and His creation. I was very touched and very impacted emotionally by the loving, patient, and enduring nature representing God in this book.
I have certainly seen God in a new light through reading this. Most of the time, I was very emotional while reading. I would love to share this with my family and friends. I am concerned for those who do not know God, though, they may come to believe in a god that is not from the Bible.
I realize this is fiction. The way it was written, though, I thought they had to call it fiction because it seemed far fetched to call it fact. I had to research to find out that this was made up. I believed it to be a real account of someone’s life as told to their friend.
This book certainly needs to be read with discernment through the Holy Spirit. The enemy will use anything to misguide people. With that in mind, I would not recommend this book to others unless I knew they were strong in God’s Word and warned them to use discernment while reading it.
October 24th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Boa noite meu querido !vou direto ao assunto,obrigado por escrever “A CABANA” foi um livro, em que li, de um momento…e foi bastante significativo para o meu coração…. tenho certeza que nunca mais serei o mesmo…. foi uma expêriencia, de um valor inestimavel….grato a Deus estou por tua vida….
November 13th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
I really enjoyed this book, however I do believe that you need to know who you are in Christ, before you read a work like the Shack. I would rather read a book that whispers the name of Jesus, than read the newspaper that speaks of ..all kinds of evil
November 16th, 2008 at 1:54 am
When is the movie going to be done? I am half way through and I am excited that that God is using you to be the forerunner of what Jesus is tuly like and cool, people still need to know the Bible is enfallable, and God ’s love for all who are seeking and especially going through difficult times, God is very ,ever present.
Thank you
richard
edmonton, ab
November 16th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
The Shack is a book every religious person should read maybe it would knock it out of them we need more books like this. People get hung up on religion and that what seperates us whose right an whose wrong.Jesus was always rebucking the religious leaders.Its all about a realitionship.Religion is based on what you know a realtionship is based on who you know. So sorry about missed spelled words fall short in that area but iam not ashamed iam still learing. Thanks Paul you have a very special gift thanks for sharing it with us.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
I just finished The Shack, it had been recommended to me by several Christian friends. I found it the most extraordinary story and could not put it down. I bought it at a bookstore in the airport and read it at the gate before boarding the plane and all the way home on the plane. I laughed and cried thru the entire story and I was not timid about it in public! It is the most worthwhile read I have found in years.
I have lent it to a friend and I plan to lend it out many times but will always ask for it back because I believe it will be a book I will want to read over and over. I was truly touched by some of the fresh approaches the author takes in explaining the Holy Trinity and the nature of God. I have learned alot and I am very grateful to have read it. I teach Sunday School and I am sure there are observations and lessons I will be using in my class.
Thank you and God Bless!
Rebecca Vaughn
November 23rd, 2008 at 11:00 pm
While reading The Shack, I kept thinking it would be great if there was a study/discussion guide to go with it. I finally decided that God was urging me to write one. I would be glad to send you a copy that you are welcome to copy and share with others. Email me at prayerdigm.bookstudy@yahoo.com
Trish Pickard
December 15th, 2008 at 8:56 am
This book was highly recommended to me by a few friends and one offered me a copy. The 3 or 4 people who recommended it all spoke of this amazing story that would leave you crying and laughing. Sounded like a good Seinfeld episode so what the heck.
I am well-versed in scripture. I am not a big fan of fiction in general and “Christian fiction” generally leaves me wondering why Christians can only write at a 4th grade level. That said, I took a deep breath and dove in, while trying to listen for what all the oohs and aahs were about.
With all due respect to Mr Young, I literally found myself cringing at the sophomoric attempts at metaphor and allegory found at least every 3-4 pages (page 18, ‘As he had feared, a significant lump had already formed, emerging like a humpbacked whale breaching the wild waves of his thinning hair’). Huh?
Will someone please let him know that adjectives and adverbs will not expire if left untyped! I really tried to allow the “transcendent” message of “true relationship” speak through this, but the stilted, stock characters and primer-level writing just left me distracted. I understand now from your intvw that he wrote this to his children which explains some of the above, I suppose. I do not intend to be cruel just to provide perspective to potential readers that I was very disappointed at the writing quality.
I take no issue with his intentions to tell a story that allows people to understand God in a different way. But the cliched large black woman as God or God messenger is just that, a cliche(Della Reese let alone Morgan Freeman/Danny Glover etc as the designated black man that plays God) . And without having any idea what was coming, I started groaning about 5 words into the description of the ‘not so handsome guy in work clothes with Middle eastern features with wood shavings on his shirt’. To quote a comparable literary character, Mr Charles Brown…’Aaaaargh!’
So that said, if you have a somewhat cynical literary elitist in your personal network you might want to pick up a different book.
As far as the expected hysterical warnings from the self proclaimed watchmen and gatekeepers is concerned. It is ascribed to Peter in Acts 10:34-35 to have clearly stated, ‘Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that fears him, and works righteousness is accepted with him’. That’s straight from scripture describing how a brand new teaching was coming forth to edify an entire group of unchurched peoples. That those who wanted to limit the understanding of God to THEIR understanding of God (the Judeocentric followers of Christ)were being dragged into reality by a revelation from the Living God. He even caused something to happen that they could not explain by their known theology (speaking in other tongues) to emphasize his point.
Point being that there really is no clearly delineated line between known revelation and heresy throughout scripture. The operative question is this…is God and his transcendant, unconditional love revealed to us? because that was the sole purpose of Christ. Not to feed our base impulses of religiosity and self-regard.
So enjoy the general relational concepts if you’re not twisted up by the writing and start thinking of God as something other than angry. And be loved. That’s the good news.
January 11th, 2009 at 11:23 pm
Think out side the box people!
When I was young I oftened wondered how people had a “Christian life” before the word was put into print. Were they more of a sinner because they didn’t have a bible to read. Or what about when people couldn’t read and write. You don’t have to have a bible to have a relationship with God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. And God can speak to you in other ways besides his written word.
I’m not saying don’t read the bible ok. But God is not limited to a book. God is everywhere, but you have to look for him to see him. Many read the bible but do they absorb it and live it?
The Shack explored a REAL relationship and removed the ideas humans make up in order to make them “feel good”. There is a lot of truth in the book.
January 13th, 2009 at 9:39 pm
There seems to be a bit of fear in some of the reviews, I might say irrational fear. I have just finished reading the book, and it has been a huge blessing. I would guess that those who think it is some kind of heresy are probably OK with the Narnia books by C S Lewis, which are full of mythology. I almost avoided reading any reviews of the book, as it has so much that speaks of God in such a great & helpful way, that I didn’t really want to enter in to any bickering on it. I’m not going to start attacking various reviewers, as people are free to say what they want and I genuinly don’t feel myself to be superior in any way. But, looking at some of the negative reviews, quite a few have in common the tendancy to start off with a human doctrine of God, and then pick out bible verses to support this, and also to rubbish various views in the book.
To me the thing with the bible is that it IS about God, the Trinity’s relationship with us as people.
It was full and complete before Adam & Eve decided to go their own way. Interestingly, I’d never quite worked out why there was a problem with them knowing the difference between good & evil, only that they disobeyed, which is the obvious problem. He describes in the book that they decided they wanted to determine for themselves what was good or bad. This was something I’d not really seen, and it accounts for all the sin ever since. People, in ALL walks of life find ways of determining for themselves what they think the standards should be. When I say all walks of life, I include religion. I’ve seen churches excuse what God says is evil, and find every excuse for avoiding doing good if it suits them. When this happens, it is always because people want to set their own rules. They limit God to their ‘brand’ of theology. Also, although some of the stuff in the bible is hard to understand, much is simple & straightforward, IF we’re prepared to surrender to God & trust Him enough to put our lives in His hands. I have observed that certain brands of theology that seem to always be at the centre of fights & arguments, have to ignore some basic truths about God’s character and focus on more ‘grey’ areas to support their position. They make God’s love something theoretical & not real. When the NT says that ‘God is love’, it can almost be translated as ‘love is God’. I realise that this may worry some people, but it is very true in this sense; as humans any real love we show is only possible because of God. We need to be careful to know what we mean by love. As I heard someone say recently, if you say ‘I love chocolate cake’, the cake wouldn’t think so! And if you really did mean it in the biblical sense of love, your friends would think you’d lost it – when they saw you looking after the cake & taking care of it…
The NT was written in the common language of the time, marketplace Greek, not classical Greek, so it was meant to be available & accsessible to all. So when people try to limit God’s love by complicated arguments after reading even the most well known verse Jn 3:16, they’re really saying, “you might think God means what He says, but if you were clever enough to understand this complex argument, you’d realise that He didn’t really mean it”. And they’re quite happy to do this as long as nobody messes with the black & white bits they like!
I agree completely with the force of this book, in that God’s character is, 100% good, 100% faithfull, 100% loving. And so 100% to be trusted with all that we have. He is big (infinite!) enough to cope with everything that goes on, and He IS capable & willing to bring good out of bad. We MUST understand that God doesn’t cause people to do wrong. The reason this feels like a dodgy idea is that is IS. It is an insult to God to say that He causes people to do bad stuff. The bible even warns against saying that God has ‘tempted’ anyone to do wrong. But wonderfully He is a God who can restore, and who can bring good out of situations where all we can see is despair.
As for the problems people have with the representation of the Trinity in the book, the bible is quite clear that the mystery of God is 1 person and 3 persons at the same time. With one voice, God said “Let Us make man”. 3 men appeared to Abraham, but the voice was one voice. It says a few times that Abraham spoke to them (the 3), and then the LORD answered.
People who want to defend the idea of hierarchies, must see that the church as Jesus describes it(God’s people, not the institutions) has different roles, but is not governed by ‘rulers’. Elders are servants – Jesus demonstrated this Himself, and the NT confirms it elsewhere. They are not supposed to give orders, but serve. Nobody is told their own rights, only their own role. People are told what to do FOR others, not what to demand OF others.
For people who imagine the trinity to be a bit too separate, think about this. When it says in Philipians:
Php 2:5-8 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!
- the “being in very nature God…” part means that Jesus did all that He did BECAUSE He is God, not despite being God. This is important, and also shows that there is more intimacy between the 3 than we sometimes think. Jesus said “If you have seen me you have seen the Father”, elsewhere “He is the image (or exact representation) of the invisible God”. And the Holy Spirit is also called the Spirit of Jesus. We’re taught that through Him, Jesus lives in us. A rough picture is H2O – it is H2O whether it is in the form of ice, water or steam, and all three can exist at the same time at a certain temperature somewhere near 0 deg C.
I don’t intend to keep going as I have the feeling that I probably use 5 words where 1 will do and don’t want to go on forever, but a final word about the term “Christian”. It’s IN the bible, but it’s not Jesus’ word. It’s only there 3 times, and it’s in the context of what others thought of the followers of Jesus. These days a ‘Christian’ can mean almost anything you want, so the word’s not a lot of use. In the NT, first of all it’s always ‘disciples’, then there’s a section where ’saints’ is also used, then the term ’saints’ seems to take over. There are other words as well. Point being is they all mean something real & specific. I want people to see that I’m a disciple of Jesus, that I am prepared for whatever God wants to change to make Jesus life show through more, by His Spirit. And I trust God that He sees me as holy because of Jesus, and that He is making me holy through the Spirit. (what it means to be a saint as the NT describes it).
Descriptions of God always feel incomplete, even the ones in the Bible, because we can’t take in His Glory. It is too much for us. It won’t always be like that!
Enough of me now!
January 14th, 2009 at 8:50 am
I’m not really sure why I’m writing this just yet I have not yet finished the book. The Shake was given to me by a dear friend Pyllis that just finished the book. She knows of my struggles and thought that this book would be perfect for me. So for her I picked up the book and allowed you, Mr. Young into my life. I am recently seperated from my husband of 22 years and I have 3 children. I also have lots of anger and issues that I don’t know if I can handle. So I do appreciate that you did write this book. and when I’m done I hope is does for me what it did for her!!!!! THANK YOU once again.. Jackie Soliz
January 18th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
what a story! absolutely blew me away!really got me thinking!thanks
January 22nd, 2009 at 5:27 pm
I just finished reading The Shack. I have been a christian for most of my life and recently I have stepped into the calling the Lord has placed upon my life with full force and determination. With that said, a friend of mine suggested I read this book. I did. I laughed, I cried and in some ways, I could relate to Mac on his loss of a loved one. I am young and have recently experienced the death of 3 grandparents in very short years apart.
My thought is this: It’s truly fictional, a novel at best. But what I have come to understand is that words given unto me by the Lord are revelation to me. Some may understand, some may not. William P Young in his comments at the end of this book ( I listened to audio) said that he took all of the notes and things he had with God over the years and comprised them into a story. The Lord has given me many revelations in the last 2 years that have astounded me and not made a lick of sense to anyone else. BUT,,,,,,
I was profoundly affected by this book.
Not because of God being a black woman or who Sophia was, but simply because I was one raised with the strict hand of “thall shall not drink, or smoke or cuss or chew or wear pants”. I have sense come to learn that my God knows me, knew me before the foundations of the world and yet, he STILL sent his son to die for me on the cross anyway.
I read a comment given earlier that says they doubt we would stand before God and CURSE him.
Well, you also said that you hadn’t read the book. Don’t judge something you haven’t yourself read.
I myself found it taken aback that Mac did such a thing until something happened in my life that made me question God and his supreme diety unlike anything I had ever known. I did not curse God, but in my conversation with God, telling him how angry I was and how mad I was and how I did not understand what he was doing, I used a few curse words myself. Then I began to bellow all of the things deep within my heart that I had to stay, really loud and really unashamed. Yes, I cursed, yes I hollered and screamed and pitched a fit and when It was over, God was still there, still smiling, still loving and still accepting me. Why? Because why not say what your thinking? why not say what’s on your mind? Is that not what Relationship is all about? Dont’ you get mad at your spouse when they make you angry? Don’t you raise your voice at your kids?
Sorry, get carried away. THis book profoundly put God in perspective for me. I needed a merciful God, an understanding God and one that did not CAUSE or MAKE bad things happen to me when I did something wrong. he is a God that loves me through them and if I allow him to, takes me to a higher place in his glory.
January 25th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
Paul,
I listened to “The Shack” on audio a few months ago. I am a courier so it was a perfect gift to me from my sister. My son “Paul” committed suicide last April 4th 2008 by GWTH. He was 5 weeks away from turning 32. It devasted our family & I have been a broken person since that day. My sister stumbled upon it in Atlanta. A man that barely knew her, but knew about my son’s suicide told her about it. He said it may do me some good to read/hear it. She went to a bookstore & couldn’t find the book, but found it on audio. She started listening to it & bought me a audio set so we could listen to it at the same time. It captured me from the very beginning… but to be honest, when Mack came out of the shack after contemplating suicide & falling asleep & saw the snow turning into beautiful flowers…. I stopped the cd & called her. I said “Paula, this cd is getting kinda wierd”. She laughed & told me to just listen with an open mind & heart & let it “wash” all over me. So I did. I wanted to tell you that you made me happy (for the first time since my Paul’s death) that Paul was in Heaven. I was so broken at that time that this book helped me turn a corner emotionally. I was so stuck in all the confusion that comes with a suicide that I forgot that God loves me too. I am a Baptist woman raised in SC & nothing you wrote compromised what my beliefs were. If anything, your book made me realize that Heaven has to be more than just “streets paved with gold & pearly gates”. I started thinking that maybe Paul CAN see me. (I never thought you could see your loved ones once in Heaven) Maybe Paul can see the “Big Picture” of life, death & Heaven & Hell & isn’t sad for me because he knows it’s only temporary until we can be reunited again.
I am involved with an on-line “Suicide Survivor” group & I got the book before most of them. The info about your book is running rampid through out our group. Everyone is on waiting lists to get it. I got the link to this web-site thru Louise Wirick, the groups founder. She’s great.
I love you for writing this book, because in reality… it saved my life.
Thank you Paul.
I love your name too.
Kathy Carroll
Paul Tyler Helton’s Mother
5/9/76-4/4/08
January 25th, 2009 at 9:26 pm
Kathy,
Thanks for your comment here on the book, and for your bravery in sharing a part of your story that is so deeply emotional. I’m so glad you found the book and were so helped by it, and pray that others will benefit from what you’ve shared about your experience. Blessings to you.
January 27th, 2009 at 10:41 am
I thought it started out reading like one of those Lifetime channel movies I refuse to watch. And wasn’t too interested many small details untill i started reading the failed attempt to describe the scent of the holy spirit. Having met sarayu personally on one occasion, it doesn’t matter if its fact or fiction. The Holy spirit is fact.
just some thoughts!!
January 28th, 2009 at 8:31 am
Paul,
I am Kathy Carroll’s sister and I am the one who found your book (audio) and gave it to her. I have since bought and given away several copies. I found it so comforting and I can’t even tell you what part of it did what to me. But it was like a cool medicine on my soul and I knew that somehow it would help Kathy. Losing Paul to suicide has ripped her heart to shreds and the descriptions you share in the book and the love of God that is evident in your words ministered to her and now to a lot more people who are hurting. I am sure you never thought that your book could be so helpful to a group of people who have lost loved ones to suicide but it is! I pray the Lord will bless you beyond your wildest dreams and use you to continue to write and even make movies. God can use even a simple book to change the world one person at a time. Thank you for your sensitive heart! God bless you and yours!
Grateful from Atlanta,
Paula Fowler
February 8th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
I enjoyed your conversation. I read the book because a sis in law told me about it. It was going through their church in Charlotte, NC. At first, I was not sure I would get into it, but I don’t give up easy. And I am so glad I read it! I bought 2 more copies to pass around our little country church. Well, about half have read it, and our ministers wife, if she could afford it, would buy every copy to pass around both their churches and one for every member of thier family! I want you to know I have never willingly bought extra copies of a book(except for Bibles) to pass out to anyone. Our high school library has put one in, and some of the teachers from my church are telling everyone to check it out. I have never seen a book excite so many people. It gave us all something akin to a fever. I would love to invite you to our church, but as small as we are, it wouldn’t be worth your while. We live in the boonies in East Tennessee. I have had has some experiences with God, but not anything like this. I can’t believe it is fiction. Waiting for a sequel or another book. Gena Lewis
February 9th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
Gena,
Your comments were so refreshing. I am so glad God is using the ideas in the book to change lives. I read the book but, also, got it on audio. I am finding things I missed when I read it. He talks about where we spend our time in our mind: past, present of future. It is an interesting concept. If it is in the past, I wonder if there are some things I need to forgive; if it is in the future, for me that means worry (which is not trusting God). God wants me to be in the present.
I wrote a comment earlier (it is kind of buried now) about a study guide I put together. I would be happy to send it to you if you like. My email is prayerdigm.bookstudy@yahoo.com
Blessings,
Trish I
February 13th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
Paul,
We live in Montana, small towns, mountains, wildlife, cattle, prairie, wolves, death, dust, ranches, and winter (not your typical Mayberry). We (my wife and I) read The Shack, upon the urging of our daughter and the fact that our church was going to gently “un-pack” this book, over 4 consecutive Sundays. It was soon clear, we both needed a book because we were running out of space for our own side notes and comments.
Simply put, I have never read any book which created such a profound or moving effect on my relationship with God. The Shack was not a read for me, it was a spiritual “trip” from which I did not want to end.
I am also part of a men’s fellowship group which meets on Thursday evenings in an old, double barrel wood-heated barn. Each person read it at their own pace, but throughout the process the effect on these brothers (all with their own wounds and personal “shacks”), was nothing short of amazing. It melted-like butter-the hearts of these “tough-Montanans”. One called me up at 7:30 am, weeping as he revealed his consumption of the book overnight and subsequent 6am waking of his wife just to share what he felt.
Many of these men have now handed out 10 copies to friends or acquaintances, not with expectations, but with expectancy that it will affect them some way….
For the past 5 weeks our barn group has literally discussed/argued concepts and messages, found within these pages (along with reading the bible) from 8pm till past Midnight at times. Is the book fiction? of course so, but is there truth to it,… absolutely.
Those stuck in the “doctrinal box” may criticize all they want (as seen in some long diatribes above)… I have seen the effects of this book help heal marriages (my own for one), bring fathers and sons together, and provided a loving perspective of the Trinity of which a “normal human” can actually understand. Perhaps it is not be the purest in scriptural doctrine and thank God it isnt. I’m certain of this, there are more passages in the Bible which have turned people away from God, than there are in The Shack.
So, if you are the type to take things literally and are proudly stuck in scripture, you may pick away at this work and probably gain little for your heart…… But if your heart has been wounded, or you have experienced the pain of loss, The Shack can provide a compassionate salve of dialog, forgiveness, grace, and relational healing with Papa, Jesse, and Sarayu, like nothing I (or we) have experienced.
Thank you Paul for what you did
8 men in a barn
February 13th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
Paul,
We live in Montana, small towns, mountains, wildlife, cattle, prairie, wolves, death, dust, ranches, and winter (not your typical Mayberry). We (my wife and I) read The Shack, upon the urging of our daughter and the fact that our church was going to gently “un-pack” this book, over 4 consecutive Sundays. It was soon clear, we both needed a book because we were running out of space for our own side notes and comments.
Simply put, I have never read any book which created such a profound or moving effect on my relationship with God. The Shack was not a read for me, it was a spiritual “trip” from which I did not want to end.
I am also part of a men’s fellowship group which meets on Thursday evenings in an old, double barrel wood-heated barn. Each person read it at their own pace, but throughout the process the effect on these brothers (all with their own wounds and personal “shacks”), was nothing short of amazing. It melted-like butter-the hearts of these “tough-Montanans”. One called me up at 7:30 am, weeping as he revealed his consumption of the book overnight and subsequent 6am waking of his wife just to share what he felt.
Many of these men have now handed out 10 copies to friends or acquaintances, not with expectations, but with expectancy that it will affect them some way….
For the past 5 weeks our barn group has literally discussed/argued concepts and messages, found within these pages (along with reading the bible) from 8pm till past Midnight at times. Is the book fiction? of course so, but is there truth to it,… absolutely.
Those stuck in the “doctrinal box” may criticize all they want (as seen in some long diatribes above)… I have seen the effects of this book help heal marriages (my own for one), bring fathers and sons together, and provided a loving perspective of the Trinity of which a “normal human” can actually understand. Perhaps it is not be the purest in scriptural doctrine and thank God it isnt. I’m certain of this, there are more passages in the Bible which have turned people away from God, than there probably are in The Shack.
So, if you are the type to take things literally and are proudly stuck in scripture, you may pick away at this work and probably gain little for your heart…… But if your heart has been wounded, or you have experienced the pain of loss, The Shack can provide a compassionate salve of dialog, forgiveness, grace, and relational healing with Papa, Jesse, and Sarayu, like nothing I (or we) have experienced.
Thank you Paul for what you did
8 men in a barn
February 18th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
Know the word as the Truths from God.Read and study daily the Bible. The book is a touching novel,fiction. Remember this for your santification journey with Christ.
In Christ
February 25th, 2009 at 7:44 pm
I love the fact that this book stresses the fact that our Father God, in all His wonderful, loving grace, will with no hesitation,put Himself into our “messy gardens.” And He will pull all of our “bad roots” so that only a beautiful garden of His creation is left. He even waters His seeds through His Living Word and never ending daily mercies and grace.
March 3rd, 2009 at 4:23 am
I am thanking God this book has been written. It has touched my heart with so many profound truths. I have wept, cried and smiled. I have found God in many pages and I have found fresh hope.
March 25th, 2009 at 9:56 am
God speaks, and people on Earth scramble like ants to decipher the words to frantically make sense of them or perhaps shape them into something they may want to hear. When all along, we should just smile and accept them for what they are, …the message of longing to love us and us love him.
Thanks Paul.
May 18th, 2009 at 8:43 am
The responces are represenative of the chaos in the Christian Church today. Satan is having success dividing us any where he can. I’m glad God understands everything is is not caught off guard or confused. I find in Jesus all the chaos vanishes and the sanity of God is like a rock where I can experience the peace of God and His sanity. Jesus is my refuge in a world of choas. When I am experiencing oneness with Jesus, all is at peace. We need more people experiencing oneness with Jesus and realizing that all else will pass away we can trust and rest in Jesus. It’s Jesus and His power that changes hearts and lives through the Holy Spirit, not our knowledge or self effort. “Knowledge puffs up but Love builds up”.I believe “The Shack” gives us a little insight into the workings of God in the hearts of his children. God is Love and only when we experience His love can we change and become conduits of that Love. I am not able to Love, But God can Love through me when I’m living in oneness with with him. “it’s not works or self effort but the Love of God manifested in our lives through the Holy Spirit that loves the unloveable. Jesus was led by the Spirit and so were all the Apostles. Paul spent 14 years in the desert and learned to let the Holy Spirit lead him instead of relying on his intellect or his own insights. Only God changes people, only God gives new birth and power to Love as He Loves. Enough of my ramblings
May 23rd, 2009 at 3:22 pm
My view of God is the God of the Bible, not a fiction writer’s God. God “hates” sin. It is written of God’s wrath. God is holy and cannot stand sin. We messed up in Eden and God was angry. Jesus is our shield who protects us from God’s holiness and covers our sin through his blood shed on the cross. There is no reason to think outside the words that God has given us to describe who he is and what he expects from his creation.
The God described in this book is more like a doormat and we can do whatever we want and never get punished. There are and should be consequences for actions, if there were not, and God loves us as this book says he does, with no limitations, no rules, and no matter what we do, why was Eden taken away? Why was the earth flooded because of man’s wickedness? Why did Jesus have to be beaten, abused, punished and ultimately put to death in the most horrible way? That to me makes NO sense with the description this book gives to God.
I was there with the story until of Mac and his kids, but once he got up to The Shack and met God, it all went out the window for me.
Please do not pick and choose what parts of the Bible to use and then throw out other parts to fit your reviews of the story. Read it for what it is, fiction, if you can stand seeing the heresy, but realize that there is scripture that refutes pretty much everything in the book with only a small sliver of truth woven throughout to keep some people thinking it is “Christian”.
To me calling this book Christian is hypocrisy, since Christ himself in this book is not a Christian.
May 27th, 2009 at 10:24 am
…a non sequitur from well deserved accolades here..
who were you refering to in the dedication with initials KMW?
May 28th, 2009 at 10:14 am
It’s natural to set in judgement and condemn, but when we do we forget….
Judge not less you be judge…
The same way you judge will be the way you will be judged…
Whosoever is not against me is for me….
I rejoice the gospel is preached, whether our of pure motives or out of jealousy or resentment..,.but that the gospel is presented…
KNOWLEDGE puffeth up, Love builds up….
Jesus came full of mercy and grace…to serve not to be served.
I did not come to judge…but if I did judge…..
God is the only judge, not people. We are told to Love as Jesus did, not to be full of selfrighteousness, judgement and condemnation. No wonder we are a post christian nation. Christians have gotten so much like the religious leaders in Jesus’s days that I’m ashamed to call myself a Christian. The religious leader knew more scriptue that anyone and could recite more scripture than anyone, but they didn’t know God. They even killed Him. I used to be a studier and quoter of scripture doing what I saw was my duty to keep the church spotless and clean and in the process did a lot of damage, and i wasn’t alone. It’s still going on today all through the church. I’m sorry. I was wrong, I didn’t trust God to manage his own church. I was all caught up into being the perfect christian and hid my humanity so I would fall prey to others who were doing what i was doing in the name of Jesus.
Today, I’m a child of God saved by grace through the mercy, grace and works of Jesus Christ. I have no room to judge, condemn and reject anyone God has applied the blood of Jesus to. If God loves someone, then I love that same person. If I don’t then the Love of God is not at work in my Heart and soul. God’s love forgives and loves even those who might kill us. We are to Love our friends, neighbors and our enemies. Nobody is left out of God’s Love. God loves the errant brother as much as he loves Jesus. And we all are looking through a glass darkly. We are all in the process of being made more like Jesus. We can never fully be like Jesus in this life or the next, because we are creation not the creator. So we need to quit trying to look like we have arrived. We haven’t. We live and have our being in the Grace of God in Jesus Christ. We must love truth more than we love ourselves, our pride and the mask of being the perfect christian.
Love builds up, it does not judge, condemn and reject. Jesus rebuked the religious leaders for not extending mercy and grace. I believe He is sad over us Christians who would rather judge and condem than Love.
Jesus said unless you remain in me you can not bear fruit . We are powerless to Love, only God is Love and only God can Love the way He wants us to Love. God’s Love is the fruit of His spirit living in us. He will bear his fruit if he is living in us. But if we don’t live in oneness with God then we are not bearing His fruit…His Love.
Christians are depending on their own ability to Love and are calling Judgement, condemnation and rejection Godliness. Christians are living in fear and pain. In this fear are not able to Love. Christians must become like little childern, who trust and experience Gods Love as a child so their hearts can be filled with Gods love so Gods Love flows out of them like rivers of living waters. We Love because He first Loved us.
The Book “The Shack” has a lot to say about trusting God and experiencing God’s love. I can see that a lot of people don’t understand what Mr. Young is saying, just like I can see that they don’t understand what God has said in His Book.
Mr. Youngs writes about having a servants heart, a heart of love, even for the person who does us the most damage. And God say’s a lot about the same loving servants heart we are supposed to have. Christians need to confess their inability to Love as Paul defined Love to the Corinthians. They need to climb into the bosum of Jesus and stay there and experience the Love of Jesus. Then the Love of Jesus will flow through them instead of their hurt , fears and selfrighteous bickering, judgeing and condemnation and rejection of those who God loves.
conclusion,
It is not of works less any many should boast.
As Paul said ,if he boast he boast in Jesus.
It’s got to be God and Gods power in us, not our own striving. God gives grace to the humble..not the striver striving to be Godly.
Question, How many hours did we spend just recieving Gods Love and experiening oneness with Jesus yesterday. If we don’t spend hours a day with God, it proves we think we can do without Him. Not studying or memorizing scripture, or preparing a lesson or a sermon Remember we are the child recieving love from our father in relationship, not in a task.
June 28th, 2009 at 3:10 am
I spent the entire day reading this book as recommended to be by a friend. I am a Catholic and he grew up in Africa as a child of Baptist missionaries. We have completely different backgrounds in life and in faith. He never “warned” me about Universalism… and to be quite honest I don’t even know what that is. I don’t know New Age, New Church, Emerging anything. All I know is that this is a great book. A great book about faith. Belief, relationships, with everyone. Including God. I think most people who criticize are soley concerned with what they perceive as wrong with the book. But this is my take on it.
I really found God appearing in the image of a heavy set African American woman cooking in the kitchen quite comforting and here is why. When my stepfather died I was alone with my mother in the house that early morning. He had passed in the night and even though I was a grown married woman, had served in the military, and was well over the age of 30, I felt as helpless as child. The pastor came, the neighbors, the house was a flurry of activity, and my mother was in comforting hands and after I had made all the calls I went next door. To escape. When my mom’s neighbor answered the door (the heavy set african american woman)the aroma of home cooked food was overwhelming and wonderful. Having no children, husband with high cholestoral and buying into the “thin is beautiful” I hadn’t had a meal like that cooked in a Mississippi kitchen in a very very long time. She welcomed me in, gave me a glass of sweet tea and talked to me. She comforteed me. I was the child that came home very rarely because Mississippi just didn’t have that much to offer and I prefered to spen my vacations seeing and doing in exotic locations. This to me was most certainly a better learning experience that spending days in the hot summer in a sleepy southern town.Or so I thought. She fixed me a plate of food and listened to me and gave me the best advise on life, death, and God. She had it figured out. Her life was much simpler than mine. So I thought. Things were easier for her to understand because she didn’t have all the outside influences to distract her. What I realize years later is that she had all the same issues, complications, and influences as me. But here is the difference she had a realationship with God. And I just worshiped him. He was as abstract to me as Picasso. But for he he was a constant…support and guide. She trusted him, because she knew he loved her.
After a week I had to leave to come back to life as I knew it because it wasn’t going to stop for me or my mother’s grief. She promised me she would watch over my mother. And I believed her. I trusted her. And when I left I felt great comfort in knowing she was looking over my mother. Now, I don’t presume to say she is God. She isn’t I know. But what I do know, is that talking to her about the only things in life that really matter was a heck of a lot easier than it would have been had I been sitting across from Gandolf.
July 19th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
Once again, the “Christians” are yapping… I thought God was supposed to be the judge.
I was really moved by the book – in so many ways. I know almost everything there is to know about Christianity (raised Christian, went to Christian schools my whole life, attended Bible College, etc.). Plus, part of my university major is in world religions. In other words, I am well versed in all kinds of religions.
This book untwisted alot of “twisted” theology and I am appreciative.
Thank you for writing the book, Paul. It is nice to see a human heart among the masses of “Christians.”
July 21st, 2009 at 2:50 am
I absolutely loved the book. Until I finished reading it and did some online research and found it to be completely fiction. For someone who knew nothing of the book to pick it up and read it, it read as if it were unproveable truth, therefore labled fiction. I have never gone to church and therefore reading the book made me think I was always right, that I did not need to go to church to be right with God. Having the ACTUAL author be purported as the “ghost writer” threw me off, to think this was real. Like I said, I loved it until after I immediatly finished it and found it to be complete fiction. I feel like I was dooped. There needs to be a note SOMEWHERE near the begining or on the back of the book that it is COMPLETE AND TOTAL fiction!!!! I feel like had I known it was total fiction I would not have invested so much in reading it. Now, I HATE the book.
August 12th, 2009 at 12:21 am
I read The Shack last week and can’t stop thinking about it. I, like many or most forty year old women, have experienced great loss, and have experienced doubt and anger towards God (strangely, never Jesus). I knew before beginning the book that some “Christians” disputed and criticized the premise and details of it. After contemplating it, and I’ll continue to do so, I believe it IS a gateway book, BUT a gateway to a stronger relationship with Christ The Spirit God. I have been so confused, frustrated and furious at God for my pain that I have “cussed” at God outloud; if my neighbors had their windows open, the’d think I was at the brink of insane anger. I have questioned, “If you’re real God, why do kids die, good parents lose custody to abusers, best friends suffer horrid pain from cancer, innocent people starve etc. I completely understand that the book is fiction and realize that some fanatics or biblically ignorant individuals will blindly turn this novel into and instruction manual, but no one can stop ignorance completely. What this book does for our potential relationship with Christ The Spirit God is remind us that even with the bible, we will never, can never completely understand God- God’s power, God’s love, God’s forgiveness- God’s everything. As humans, how could we ever possibly get close to having all the answers about who God is and how God works.
Yes, there are allusions to other cultures in this novel. Yes, there are plenty of bible verses that can contradict Young’s portrayal of Christ, The Holy Spirit, God and How-it-all-works. Yes, Young is not a prophet (well, I don’t think so, but God only knows ;-). But, it does clearly and without any hesitation, speak that without Christ we have no relationship with God; God loves us beyond our understanding or ability to love anyone as much; and The Holy Spirit is God’s voice. They are three in one. The novel supports the idea that we must somehow figure out how to forgive everyone who tresspasses against us because not doing so is a festering poison that keeps us from fully connecting. And let me tell you, I have been struggling with that one every moment for 18 months. I don’t know if I can or how I can forgive one person in particular, but I know I have to try.
Young’s image of heaven and our possible reuniting with our loved ones but most importantly Jesus Christ The Spirit God, is not new- let alone New Age. It’s heaven; who knows what it looks like or how Humans are when they are no longer human. The novel doesn’t contradict heaven as described in the bible, it fills in detail that remains a mystery to us. Human beings do that; we imagine and wonder about everything we don’t have all the answers to until we do have the answers. Young isn’t claiming (I don’t think) to have all the answers to Christ The Spirit God. He just shared his imagination about all the things he doesn’t have proof of with his kids and with his readers. If I ask my son to draw a lotus flower, which he’s never seen, and he draws something that doesn’t resemble a lotus flower, I can show him the flower and he will draw it like the flower appears; If I ask him to draw what he believes heaven looks like, I am not going to say “That’s wrong!” and cover my eyes fearing that his portrayal will mislead me away from biblical teaching. I accept that the bible shows it differently and that I’ll hopefully know the real heaven someday.
Young isn’t attempting to rewrite the bible, he is just drawing a picture of what only God knows. Mostly, his story encouraged me to focus on getting rid of the “stuff” that keeps me distanced from my Savior and salvation and hoping that dispite God’s disappointment in our mistakes, CTSG wraps warm, loving and forgiving arms around us time and time again even if we don’t always recognize them.
I will continue to suggest this book to others unless The Spirit discourages me. I will also warn them not to lose sight of the fact that it is, in fact, fiction. I will tell them that I had my moments where the story was such a pleasant notion that I wondered if it might hold some truth. As a Christian do I think that Satan is capable of misleading us away from God in creative ways, yes. Do I think the book might bring more people to Christ the Spirit God than lead astray, yes. I think so, I pray so. Lord, let this fictional novel from one man’s heart lead some of your straying or lost sheep back to you, and please help others wisely realize it is not a manual, but rather an invitation to meet Christ through the original Book that teaches Christ’s life and love. In your name I pray.
August 12th, 2009 at 12:45 am
By the way, Mopey, if you read the first two critic blubs on the back cover, both use the word “fiction”. Also, The word fiction is used on the very first page of the book (5th & 7th review). In addition, the word “novel” means a fictional work. Your frustration seems to be displaced. It would sadden me to think that we need bold warning print because someone might not read the back cover or know the definition of novel. It is sort of like the disappointment I feel knowing that there is a reason why the directions on a frozen dinner has to read, “Remove plastic before eating.”Even so, discovering your mistake does not seem like a rational reason to suddenly hate a story you loved moments before. What do you think?
September 5th, 2009 at 10:11 am
OMG!!!!! Just got done reading The Shack, absolutely loved it. I laughed, I cried, was truly inspired. Do you have any other books that you have written? I would love to know so that I may read them too. Congrats on a wonderful story!!!!!
September 5th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
When we get past the notion that 1) it’s fiction and 2) that it’s an allegory, the book carries a very fresh, new way of looking at the love of God. As it stands, the evangelical movement has put God and what’s become to be evangelicalism into such tight little boxes that if anyone deviates from the narrow way of looking at things like that, it’s immediately branded as heresy, blaspheming or something worse. Perhaps it might be time to brand the ‘Left Behind’ series as the same. The story line in these books has very little in the way of biblical truth attached to them and millions of gullible people have no problem swallowing this stuff without even bothering to check them out. We need to remember that ‘The Shack’ is NOT a theological treatise but it simply draws a fresh picture of one person’s perception of the love of God as it was revealed to him. Why is that so bad?
October 5th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
I just finished the book and found it interesting; I was not surprised to discover from the author’s bio that he’s a fan of C.S. Lewis whose fantasy, The Chronicles of Narnia, is a delightful way to discover insights into Christ and creation that are orthodox.
Though The Shack is not a theological work some of the insights can be confirmed from a Catholic perspective.
God’s infinite love and redemption: “You must have boundless faith in the Devine Goodness, for the victory is absolutely certain. How could you think otherwise? Isn’t our God more concerned about our salvation than we are ourselves? Isn’t He stronger than hell itself? Who can ever resist and overcome the King of the heavens? What are the world, the devil, the flesh and all our enemies before the Lord?” St. Padre Pio
Relationship and Prayer: “Those who pray will go to heaven; those who don’t, won’t.” St. Alphonsis Liguori (Young’s reference to God’s invitation to relationship, which some may refuse)
Forgiveness: Christ forgave the “good thief”, Dismus, crucified with him and promised him paradise. God is more willing to forgive than we often are to ask for forgiveness. Missy forgiving the criminal who murdered her (and Mack being coached by “Papa” to forgive him) has a precedent in the true story of 13 year old St. Maria Goretti who refused and fought off the sexual advances of their hired man who then stabbed her repeatedly, sat down at the kitchen table and ate lunch while watching her die. as she was dying she spoke his name and said, Alexander, I want you to be in heaven with me.” Years later and finally repentant, Alexander asked Maria’s mother for forgiveness. The mother replied, “If my daughter can forgive him, who am I to withold forgiveness?” And a non-Catholic reference: anyone who has read The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom knows of her sister’s forgiveness of the Nazi prison guard who was viciously beating her, telling her sister not to hate the woman whom she viewed as pitiful in her spiritual starvation. After the war Corrie found the grace through prayer to forgive a former Nazi whom she met on a train, if I remember correctly.
Dale Brown’s criticisms (March 31, 2008, above) are legitimate and they well express the caveat I would have in mind, but with good knowledge of one’s own faith much can be viewed as poetic license. For instance, God appearing to Mack as a black woman, done since Mack would negatively react to a man in view of his own father’s abuses and the resultant expectation that God the Father would reflect his natural father’s attitude. If one keeps in mind that these are literary devices used to convey an idea, it is not harmful. The emphasis on the community of the Trinity is good, as is the fact that through Christ we are brought into the very Life of God, communnion with the three divine persons.
I guess I was impressed overall.
October 5th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
I’d like to ask Jody, August 12th above, Who is “Jesus Christ The Spirit God”? Sounds like a denial of Jesus humanity, an old heresy that considers him God wearing a human costume with no real human nature. Other than that, I thought Jody’s comments good. Forgiveness is the key, though extremely difficult and in some instances impossible without God’s special grace. Read The Hiding Place.
October 26th, 2009 at 8:32 am
Just for background, I am 60 years old and can relate to many of the struggles Mr. Young has experienced. I have read the comments on this blog and find that the large number of those very critical of the book are the same members of the various congregations who want to put GOD into a box and forget that GOD lives outside any box we try to put HIM in. The Holy Word of GOD was written as a LOVE story and not an encyclopedia for us to highlight and use to judge. The Shack was a great example of another method for us to try to understand the limitless love of GOD!!!
November 23rd, 2009 at 1:33 am
I understand after I read “The Shack” why many people found it moving and thought provoking, but after I read it, I felt impressed to ask God what He thought about it. Anyone, who has a personal relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit understands that we serve one God with three “Essences” of His being for lack of a better word at this time.
I like to get God’s feedback and confirmation about the things I read, no matter who “writes” it because people are fallible, and we have to be discerining about what to chew on, and what to throw away. I did some soul searching about this book. I reflected on my relationship with God, the Word of God, and what it reveals about His character. And I read some comments regarding this book, and looked up some information on the net regarding some other subjects related to the arthor.
I believe that as Believers we need to be very “cautious” about embracing this book. The Lord has given me the gift of poertry, and I may be writing short stories to publish one day. I am saying this to say, that when you’re inspired to write by Holy Spirit, however creative it may be, one thing that you will want to do and not from a “complusive religious nature” is allow Him to help you as best you can, line up whatever your storyline is with a sincere desire to portray any reference to His character in a manner that is Bibically based, including you own unique experience. Of course, everyone may not be able to identify or even be interested in what you have to say.
God is not the author of confusion. If you notice when you read some of the “deep, deep”awesome prophetic revelations of Ezekial, Daniel, and Revelations God gave John, no matter how supernatural, terrible, and awesome they are, there is a Holy Spirit connection that so powerfully communicates to your human spirit that this is of the Lord (even though you may have to wait for Him to give you more revelation). It doesn’t contradict the “essence of His being”. You recognize “Papa’s” nature because it lines up with what you see in the Old and New Testament.
I am an African American woman (not that it matters to me) However, I have some real concerns about his portrayal of God as this “over weight” AA Papa/woman (turned to an old white man) and Jesus (with so much emphasis on His humaness) and the Sarayu/Asian/Holy Spirit and Wisdom Hispanic/Sophia woman (who he referenced almost like he would a sexy woman). I don’t have time to go into alot of other things here that concern me.
But, I will say that as a AA woman (Believer/Child of God is my identity). This thing with God/Her/Papa talking the way She/He/Papa did concerns me as well. (Sho’nuff, I is and all that….). Where is that coming from? I know to some extent what He was trying to portray in the book. The healing, and life lessons were very interesting.
However, God may have blessed all cultures with certain unique attributes to be used to glorify Him and bless each other, but My “Papa” doesn’t speak like a “stereotyped’ AA woman to me “ever”. And to reduce God Almighty to this level, to feel like you have to make a point like that, to me contradicts a great deal of what I think he meant to get across. There are many subtle theological things that concern me too. I think that this book “masks” some things the arthor may be really believe in a “covered” fashion.
We need to be wise as serpents, harmless as doves.
November 24th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Hi my name is Lisa from Canada, i do not read on a regular basis i do not enjoy reading but this is the first book i have read in a very long time. I have being going through a very difficult time in my life, 42 and im a christian but im in a very deep valley right now and this book is the only thing that has kept God in my sights, people that are against please be a little open minded, its not the bible and he is not saying its a true story he is just showing how he feels and how God gets him through and if that can help others why on earth would you not promate it to friends. Its like people want to say its a terriable book and should not read it its not promote witch craft or satinism its promoting love and relationships and that is what God wants to show us. So please rethink your attitude about the book and show love. Im on my way back to God and haveing a relationship with him again, cause no matter what i did or do i know he loves me.
Lisa
November 26th, 2009 at 11:21 pm
Lisa, I really appreciated your comment and how the SHACK touched you. So many well meaning Christians look at the SHACK and try to equate it to scripture. It is an allegory! GOD works outside the box that we as Christians try to put Him in. You got the main message. GOD wants relationship with you and HE died for your sins and wants fellowship with you. Keep on praying and seek out a fellowship of believers who practice grace. Blessings on you and your journey to know GOD as your savior.
December 14th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
If you like The Shack, you should try Forgiving Ararat by Gita Nazareth. It is a murder mystery/supernatural thriller with a wonderful Christian message. It’s about a lady lawyer who dies and goes to a sort of Limbo where she’s told she must defend souls in the Final Judgment. While she explores this amazing afterlife she’s in, she struggles to unlock the mystery behind her own murder. This is an intellectual, religious and historical journey unlike anything you’ve read before. I’m a publicist and fan of the book and I’d love to read your comments here should you choose to read Forgiving Ararat by Gita Nazareth.
December 18th, 2009 at 7:47 pm
I felt the story could start many people talking about God and prayer. I never forgot it was intended to be a story and the image of Papa, the loving, maternal God was one of the most comforting images I have ever conjured. However, this book will not win approval for someone cooped up in their literalness.
I thought it was interesting and researched for materials on The Shack. I noticed that this book has been compared heatedly to the likes of Forgiving Ararat by Gita Nazareth and The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, as Sharon has suggested above.
I understand that the three stand on similar premise of life and death, but The Shack would be a truly religious read whereas Forgiving Ararat creates a platform for discussion and reassessment. Lovely Bones would be more similar to Forgiving Ararat albeit in a weaker voice.
December 22nd, 2009 at 2:50 pm
I loved this book. I thought the theme of the breadth of God’s love was such an important reminder. For me, it answered so many questions, as well as opening up new ways of thinking of things. I also agree with previous commentators concerning Forgiving Ararat. This book too explores themes of judgment and forgiveness and love in the face of violence. As a fan and publicist for this book, I’m interested to see what parallels are drawn between the two.
July 6th, 2010 at 1:30 pm
Putting aside my disappointment in the literary quality, I was appalled at the story the father read to his little daughter of the princess that jumped off a cliff to save her people. After comparing this to Jesus giving his life to save people, the child could not get a decent answer from her father what this meant – this is too much for a little child to understand. Then, when a man came to Missey and possibly threatened to harm her family if she did not come quietly, the child could have followed him, from the teachings of her father, believing that she was saving their lives. Simply not a book for me. It is in knowing that God does punish evil, that I can live with the pain I’ve endured in life. I taught my children to recognize evil and to avoid it, not to embrace it and forgive it.