I dare you to read “The Shack” book
Over the past thirty-seven years of my journey with the Lord, I can count on one hand the number of books that I could honestly say, “Every Christian should read this!” With over 1,000 books in my library, I have chosen most of them for their theological integrity versus their ranking on the New York Times Bestseller list. If I could only own three or four books plus a Bible, I would choose The Pleasures of God (John Piper), The Pilgrim’s Progress (John Bunyan), The Jesus I Never Knew (Philip Yancey), and The Shack (William P. Young).
The Shack is one of those rare books that grabs you…heart, soul, and mind. One refreshing factoid is that the author didn’t actually write it for publication; in fact, it’s the only book he’s ever written and William Paul Young (aka “Willie” or Paul) will quickly tell anyone that it was his wife’s idea. She thought it was important for him to put something in writing for his children, to explain what makes him tick. He explains on his blog,
The Shack was a story written for my six children, with no thought or intention to publish. It is as much a surprise to me as to anyone else that I am now an ‘author’. Overall, I am a very simple guy; I have one wife, six kids, two daughter-in-laws and two grandkids on the way. I work as a general manager, janitor and inside sales guy for a friend who owns a small manufacturers rep company in Milwaukie, Oregon, and I live in a small rented house in Gresham, Oregon, that Kim has made into a marvelous home. My time is spent loving the people that are a part of my life. I am not connected, or a part, or a member of, or involved inside any sort of organization or movement anywhere. The truth is that I doubt anyone would want me.
You see, he grew up in West Papua, New Guinea, as a third culture kid (we used to call them MK’s) until the age of 9 or 10. Imagine being raised in a tribal culture, thinking of yourself as a member of that culture, then being uprooted and replanted in his native land of Canada, only to find yourself eventually moving to the backwoods of Oregon. [He's as mixed up culturally as my children and grandchildren will be one day.]
Young uses the genre of fiction to explain a lot of things about God that just do not fit neatly into a systematic theology book, or a PowerPoint presentation, or even a feature-length Hollywood production. You sense immediately that this writer is a trained theologian, but his amazing artistry puts words into the most profound sequences like the awe-inspiring Renaissance masters who could produce priceless treasures from blocks of stone or a simple palette of ordinary paint.
Read the endorsements of others, or preview the first twenty-three pages, or listen to an online interview of the author by Greg Albrecht or the hosts of the God Journey podcast. There’s enough here to whet your appetite and convince you to trade the cost of three latte’s at Starbucks for this 250-page paperback.
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RELATED POSTS (on this blog)
The Shack :: The Power of the Story
Truth, Freedom, Dancing Inside
THE SHACK: Does God Wear a Dress?
Bill,
YES! YES! YES! Everybody needs to get this book and read it! I just finished it and wow! It touched me in places that I needed to be touched! It was a fresh drink from a deeply spiritual stream. Like you, this one has made my top three list for sure! By all means, any and all who read this GET THE BOOK!!!
Randy Umberger
The Highlander
There is no question that “Wille” Young has written a book that tugs the emotions of any reader, especially a father. However he leaves a lot of questions about God’s role in suffering unanswered. To read more on this I suggest people read Bart Ehrman’s book, God’s Problem: How the Bible Fails to Answer Our Most Important Question–Why We Suffer
I couldn’t put it down. I laughed and cried and was overjoyed as I shared the weekend get away with the Holy Trinity. They were as I had often thought of them throughout my life and now someone else was actually able to but my random thoughts and images into words…..Could this be put into a movie??? I am not sure, but if it was well done I would own it….of course I knew that those who wrap themselves in the self-righteous robe of religion would call this book heresy, because it portrays God as forgiving and excepting and they love to pigeon-hole God into a “theirs only” hole…..anyway thank you, Willie, for writing this GREAT book…I’m giving it to all my friends…..love to you, Lynn
I read The Shack and was amazed at the simplicity, depth, and power of the ideas captured in the characters and dialogue. The sudden criticism it now has garnered is to be expected from those who carry the burden of defenders of doctrine. Young has no such burden. Rather, he carries the burden of sharing his own experience with a God of love creatively and that never goes over well with the academics. When you’re done with The Shack I invite you to read my own stories here, http://www.spiritisdeeperthanflesh.com/ written to clarify my own faith for my young adult children. Nice review, thanks for posting it.
How can I order The Shack book?
Elease: Just click on one of the links (underlined in blue) in the above article. The one contained in the “PS” would be the best link to use. If you’re in the UK, let me know and I can refer you to a Christian bookshop that has them in stock.
A god who is a woman, called Papa? Who says there are greater miracles than being raised from the dead? Who isn’t in control of all things?
Doesn’t sound much like the God of the Bible to me.
I am afraid I don’t share your enthusiasm for this book. It borders on profanity, and crosses the border in some places in my view.
Aaron: We finally found something we disagree on! What are friends for?
Seriously, there are parts of The Shack that bring me to tears every time I read them. It IS a work of fiction, but Young does a masterful job of weaving his own theological insights into the narrative. I don’t agree with every statement in the book, but then I don’t believe some of the stuff I read in Piper, Mohler, Driscoll…well, just about anyone! But that’s alright. I still learn from the writings of others, rather than trash them as heretics (not that you’re doing that here…but many of Young’s critics do that). I think he’s a good brother with some great insights!
Bill,
I have to say that I understand that it is somewhat of an allegory, and for some reason my mind has a hard time relating to allegories.
I have never read Pilgrim’s Progress through for that reason. Though I have started it several times.
But my objection to the book goes further than that. Though I am sure that some of the conversations that Mack has with the God are comforting and helpful to his readers, his portrayal of God is neither comforting or helpful to me. I find it offensive, and unnecessary.
I don’t want to judge the author’s motives for doing so, but it seems like it did it for the shock value.
Anyway, I don’t mean to impugn anyone who finds the book helpful, or suggest that they are less than they ought to be. And I am glad we are friends!
Well, I absolutley LOVED THIS BOOK! I have read many on this subject, and this is by far the best book EVER! It hits the nail on the head as far as I am concern. This is somewhat what I believe. God is ALL good, he doesn’t judge us. Why do you think Jesus died for us? To relieve us of our sins. This makes sense for me.
…When you read the book, have you try to list and compare the God it dipicts against what God actually says who He is in the bible?
Although this book have some good things, it also contain too many serious thological error.
Just to name one, “In the book, jesus answered “I am the best way to salvation….”but in the bible, we know what Jesus actually says, “I am THE way,THE truth, THE life; one one comes to the father but through me.”….As christian, it is essential that our faith rests upon this understanding of salvation – Jesus is the only way not just the best way.
I sincerely pray you will ask God to show you who He is through His words, so you can continue to worship Him in Spirit and in TRUTH, not in some imaginary thoughts of our own. Otherwise, you are not worship THE God, but a god… who is no GOD at all.
May God give you His dicernment in knowing the right from the wrong through the power of Holy Spirit when you approach him through our one and only sufficient mediator Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior who died for us for our sins.
God bless.
p.s: My lanaugage and tone might be very strong. I apologize if the tone offended some. I am not here to discredit this book all together. Rather, read my post and the things i pointed out as a note of caution: read this book with your own critical thinking and a discerning mind. Whether we like it or not, agreet or disagree, God is not going to be who you think He is, not even based on some of your personale experiences, but God will only be the God who He says who He is through His own words.
A church friend recommended The Shack to my husband during coffee a few weeks ago. We put it on our list, to get to it “sometime.” Then the very next day we attended Open House at our son’s (Christian) school and found out that they are reading it as a text in Bible class. “Sometime” quickly became “today.”
An unbelievable book, an enjoyable read, definitely thought-provoking and comforting in so many ways. So many people we know have been changed by this book – though it is fiction, of course, God can use anything to speak to us.
As His ways are higher than our ways, we as humans can never perfectly express or understand the mysteries of God. Does it have to be true to be real?
The Shack brought a long-awaited healing… Before I even finished the book, the Lord took me thru a dream. I was traveling up a road, steep, red, muddy and slippery, and I was having trouble getting up it. I noticed there were state troopers, state police officers, and city police officers all around. I stopped my car and opened the door and when I did, I heard this woman, screaming for help. The screams were deafening! They were horrific! I looked up, and at the top of the hill, there was a forest of trees. The atmosphere was dark, but around me, where my car was, it was day time. She was in her house and when I paid close attention, I could hear the beatings! She was being hit repeatedly. It sounded like bones breaking. I looked around and noticed that not one of those men “in authority” would go to help her. Then a young police office was gonna go, but the closer he got to her the more he feared. He came back and I asked him, not believing what I was witnessing, why he wouldn’t help her. When he looked at me I could see the fear in his eyes. I wanted, so bad, to go help her, but I “knew” I couldn’t.
When I woke up, I was so hurting in my heart for her. I asked the Lord what it meant.
I got to work the next morning and shared the dream with my mom. (she came by, unexpectedly). (humm) Mom said, “The woman, being beat, was you……
I knew it was, as soon as it came from her mouth. I began to cry, beautiful hot tears. So did my mom. I quit going to church or even being around people for about 5 years or so. I still loved God. But the abuse from the “townspeople” and “church people” after I fell into sin, (I’ve long repented) was so intense and never ending, that I could no longer bare it. It was so devastating that thru them, I truely believed that God did not want me anymore. I loved my Lord so much, that I died inside, to everything and everyone. I could face my punishment from the people, but I could not face my Jesus, tossing me away. I believed that I had become a Saul and a Judas and was unredeemable, because that’s what I saw from the churches. The Pasor was restored, but I was not.
In the dream, the different police people was authorities and the reason ” I ” could not help her, was because no one can heal their own hearts, or anyone else’s for that matter. It could only be done by my Father in heaven.
The Shack book led me to see a different side of my Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit because in my mind, I could only see Them as so Holy and unreachable after sin, that recovery was out of reach. This just recently happened and I have total forgiveness, not just for EVERYONE, but also for myself. I love who I am in God. He loves me so very much. And I thank God for “The Shack!” His story changed my life. I thank God, so very much, that I can be open to “however” He would choose to set me FREEEEEEEE!!!!!!.
Sincerely, Loved forever!
Pamela C: ‘The Shack book led me to see a different side of my Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit because in my mind, I could only see Them as so Holy and unreachable after sin, that recovery was out of reach.’
I am not a fan of ‘The Shack’ for a large number of reasons, but one minor one must be this: Willie appears not to recognise at all that God is holy and unreachable!
The only reason we are now within reach is because of what Jesus did for us on the cross, and Willie appears to entirely skirt around that issue. His understanding of the Trinity is unbelievably inaccurate – at one point ‘Papa’ is described as having scars on her wrists because she became human in Jesus – neither God the Father nor God the Holy Spirit became a human! He also appears to dismiss the use of the Bible as any reference to what God has spoken.
I am sorry to say this – as it will sound harsh – but it genuinely concerns me that so many Christians lack the discernment to see this book as the dangerous demonic tool that it is. The tears I have shed as a result of this book (and I have) are for the younger Christians who read this and are led into lies by a man who clearly is not in a relationship with God enough to know who He really is (i.e. his misunderstanding of the Trinity), what He really has a passion for (i.e. the bride of Christ, the church, which he has not attended for 15 years) and how He has made known His truth (i.e. the Bible).
I think there are some key points in this book which are to the author’s credit but there are so many disturbing errors that I’m afraid I cannot endorse it, and would refer anyone rather to a book such as Philip Yancey’s excellent ‘Disappointment With God’.
After meeting Young personally, I must say that I truly felt inspired to hear a Christian preach the love of God in such a relational way as it was intended to be. The way he portrayed the Trinity is so beautiful and shows this wonderful relationship. Refer to Baxter Krueger.
It can be hard for some people to accept that God is love and not condemning and by looking at some of the comments that have been published against the Shack, you can see this quite visibly. It is sad to see people so anti it.
God Bless
Oh, Sam, is not the point of any book to stress a relationship with God, a book worthy of a little praise? No matter, this is fiction and you really should look up the definition of fiction.
Opening a human’s eyes just a little to begin the journey of a relationship with God is so vital in a day and age of judgmental hypocrites. A quote directly from you “neither God the Father nor God the Holy Spirit became a human!” how do you really know? Have you been around forever?
You speak for the young Christians of the world and your concern…you should be concerned if you are a leader in the Christian world to which they are to learn to be a loving human with a heart and soul filled with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit; but
honestly, it is your comments and stance why I left the church never wanting my children to learn from ‘leaders’ such as yourself. (oh, yes, the entire conversation with Jesus in the book about leaders….ummmmm).
Oh, and BTW, Pamela C, who you absolutely tear apart is one that you should have said “Congratulations! Now go read the Bible and worship in the light of the Holy Spirit” …not tear her down in her/your thoughts. Also the point you make about Willie appears not to recognize at all that God is holy and unreachable! Hello, the entire book is about how Mack can’t reach God but is told time and again how Jesus made that relationship for God. Did you read the same book we all did or were your Christian blinders on too tight? Again why so many of us leave the church: you are not open to allowing others to worship and survive this crazy world the way we need to: thus the story of Mack someone needed to say how he feels about God. And that’s all it is.
Please go forth and love, not hate others for the way they learn to believe and worship…the world is hard enough.
Just wondering, but of those of you who loved the book, how many of you have had a “life altering” experience such as Mack’s? Not necessarily the unnatural death of a child, but the loss of a loved one, divorce, etc. I lost a son at birth and I couldn’t bring myself to read past the beginning of the camping trip. Mack’s cross to bear is so much different than mine that I couldn’t begin to relate. I know, some of you are going to try and comfort me with “it doesn’t matter because God’s grace is all encompassing.” It doesn’t work that way. Until you bear the cross, you have no idea; I don’t wish that anyone. We deal with grief in our own ways and have our own relationships with God (following scripture, of course). You think you might be able to relate to Mack and think his moment of forgiveness is a revelation, but again….you have no idea.
I was encouraged to read the book by a relatively non-’believer’ friend of mine, & when she raved about it, I didn’t honestly give it much credence. Then, I heard about it from someone at church (insert groan here), & I decided I needed to read it. SO glad I did. It’s up there with the 5 top books I’ve ever read! I purchased 2 more copies for family, & they’re being recycled- couldn’t wait for the family members to finish reading so we could all discuss it without giving anything away!
I ‘get’ the negative comments directed at the presentation of the trinity, questions regarding biblical accuracy, but if a fiction book such as this is getting secular folks to read/question/explore faith, then I find validity in the work.
With all the garbage in the media, the negative impact from this book is nominal, in my opinion.