THE SHACK Book: Does God wear a dress?
In his best-selling book, The Shack, author William Paul Young deliberately uses a fictitious story with a high degree of literary imagery concerning the Trinity and how each person within the Godhead might appear to a man drowning in a whirlpool of personal grief and pain. Did I mention that The Shack is fictitious? If not, please hear me, “The Shack is a work of fiction. The story is completely made up by the author.” While many people have found this a comforting way to portray and understand God’s love and grace, the appearance of God the Father as a large African-American woman bothers a lot of pastors and theologians, particularly some prominent and powerful men like R. Albert Mohler, Mark Driscoll, and Chuck Colson. But remember, God really didn’t appear to anyone as a woman…because it’s a work of fiction. I hope we got that straight.
Mackenzie Allen Phillips, the main character of The Shack, is also troubled by these things. Shortly after his arrival at the shack where his daughter had been brutally murdered by a serial killer, Mack expresses his surprise—even his discomfort—at relating to God the Father (Papa) as a woman:
Mack: “I think it’d be easier to have this conversation if you weren’t wearing a dress,” he suggested and attempted a smile, as weak as it was.
“If it were easier, then I wouldn’t be,” she said with a slight giggle. “I’m not trying to make this harder for either of us. But this is a good place to start. I often find that getting head issues out of the way first makes the heart stuff easier to work on later…when you’re ready.”
She picked up the wooden spoon again, dripping with some sort of batter. “Mackenzie, I am neither male nor female, even though both genders are derived from my nature. If I choose to appear to you as a man or a woman, it’s because I love you. For me to appear to you as a woman and suggest that you call me Papa is simply to mix metaphors, to help keep you from falling so easily back into your religious conditioning.”
She leaned forward as if to share a secret. “To reveal myself to you as a very large, white grandfather figure with flowing beard, like Gandalf, would simply reinforce your religious stereotypes, and this weekend is not about reinforcing your religious stereotypes.”
Mack almost laughed out loud and wanted to say, “You think? I’m over here barely believing that I’m not stark raving mad!” Instead, he focused on what she had just said and regained his composure. He believed, in his head at least, that God was a Spirit, neither male nor female, but in spite of that, he was embarrassed to admit to himself that all his visuals for God were very white and very male.
She stopped talking, but only long enough to put away some seasonings into a spice rack on a ledge by the window and then turned to face him again. She looked at Mack intently, “Hasn’t it always been a problem for you to embrace me as your father? And after what you’ve been through, you couldn’t very well handle a father right now, could you?”
He knew she was right, and he realized the kindness and compassion in what she was doing. Somehow, the way she had approached him had skirted his resistance to her love. It was strange, and painful, and maybe a little bit wonderful. [pp. 93–94]
Genesis 1:27 states: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” In some respects, the full meaning of this brief text of Holy Scripture is beyond our comprehension, but it seems clear to me that God created the human race as male and female to fully represent his image. If our internal visualization of God is strictly male—and I’m wondering how many of us would even be willing to confess that we sometimes picture God the Father in our minds—then we are missing an important element of his fullest essence.
Paul Young’s fictional character, Papa, who represents the member of the Trinity that we know as “God the Father,” appears as both male and female in The Shack. Yes, it’s true that Papa assumes a female visage in the beginning—fully explained to Mack in the above excerpt—but all that changes near the end of the book when Mack and his natural father have been gloriously reconciled to one another. Papa appears to Mack in a completely different form:
The man standing next to him looked a bit like Papa; dignified, older, and wiry and taller than Mack. He had silver-white hair pulled back into a ponytail, matched by a gray-splashed mustache and goatee.…”Papa?” Mack asked.
“Yes, son.”
Mack shook his head. “You’re still messing with me, aren’t you?”
“Always,” he said with a warm smile, and then answered Mack’s next question before it was asked. “This morning you’re going to need a father. C’mon now and let’s get going. I have everything you need on the chair and table at the end of your bed. I’ll meet you out in the kitchen where you can grab a bite to eat before we head out.” [pp. 218–219]
Those who miss the amazing story of The Shack by theological nitpicking are like those who try to fit every aspect of a biblical parable into their systematic theology textbook. They will never make all the pieces fit together. It seems to me that the predominantly white male critics of The Shack—especially those with Reformed theology running through their veins—may owe Paul Young an apology and the rest of us…well, we’re just really thankful for a literary portrait of the God who crawls into our deepest sadness and brings us through the darkest night from brokenness to wholeness once again.
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RELATED POSTS (on this blog):
THE SHACK: The Power of the Story
Surprise! Three In-Depth Interviews with Paul Young, Author of THE SHACK
Thanks Bill for sharing this. You are right on the mark! I guess some feel like God is portrayed by Young as just being TOO GOOD! Now, is that really possible? As one brother once wrote, “No thought that I have ever had of God, is better than He actually is!”
Bless you bro
Bill,
Well stated! I love “The Shack” and I completely agree with you that the criticisms about God having been written as both a woman and man are pointless. As you said, Paul did a wonderful thing by opening up our minds to the fact that God created us man and woman, and that He, in essense of His being, contains both elements.
Along with that, I loved how The Shack destroyed a lot of my previous bias and stereotypes of what Father, Son and Spirit should look and “act” like.
I honestly am convinced that the Holy Spirit breathed life into Paul Young as he wrote that book. I’m so grateful, and I wish him much success, love, peace and blessings.
I can’t wait until the movie comes out (which is in the works right now). Hopefully, it decently represents the book.
~Amy
http://amyiswalkinginthespirit.blogspot.com
Right on the money, bro.
“Jesus does not give recipes that show the way to God as other teachers of religion do. He is Himself the way.”
This book has been a Godsend to me and my family. Literally. We lost someone very dear both in April of this year, and in June. This book was given to us by a good friend to help us in our time of grief.
I am a strong Christian. I have loved and studies the Bible for years, and am a strong follower of Jesus Christ, firm in my theology. Yet, I cried for days after reading this book. It was the medicine I personally needed, as well as my 2 daughters, for the horrendous grief process we as a family have endured the past several months. The ease of the pain was dramatic after the reading of this book. Thank you for a true, balanced, review. I agree with everything you have said in your post.
Despite the common objection that the shack is a work of fiction and not theology, the vast majority of conversations in the shack revolve around theological discussions dealing with the nature of God. The problem, as some of us have pointed out, is that while they often contain a fair amount of truth, there are far too often elements intertwined with that truth that are completely antithetical to Scripture. It just takes a little bit of arsenic to ruin an otherwise terrific meal.
I do not mean to seem uncharitable, but honestly, the arguments that I keep seeing people present to defend this book concern me as much as the subtly subversive nature of its message. That so many people sing its praises does not necessarily make it a good thing. There were many in the desert that sang praises to a golden calf, too. Yet God said:
“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.” (Exodus 20:4-6)
Might that include quaint old black women named Papa?
In Christ,
Simple Mann
My daughter Lori has raved about the book and has given it to her sister to read and is in the process of ordering one for me. She said, “You must read it mom. It changed the way I think of God.” And she now clears her front seat for papa to ride in.
God Bless
Susan from TN.
Thanks to everyone for your comments! That’s one of the great differences between blogs and nearly every other form of communication: you can actually respond to the article and interact with others, even if you disagree.
Simple Mann: After a brief visit to your blog, I was really surprised to learn that you have never read THE SHACK because there are so many other good books on your reading list that you can’t be bothered. And yet you find the time to write multiple “reviews” and comments on the book. I take the biblical commandment on “bearing false witness” quite seriously, so perhaps you should simply read the book and engage the author directly with your concerns. Paul Young is a very warm and gracious brother in Christ who would welcome the opportunity to address any issues you might raise.
Bill,
Thanks for taking the time to respond to my comment and for visiting my own blog site as well. You made a reference to a statement I made in your response, where I said, “I *have* flipped through it and read enough in it to know I’m really not interested in devoting the time it would take to read it all the way through when I have so many other books on my list right now that seem to honor and glorify the God of the Bible so much more.”
Obviously that is my opinion, and you are free to disagree, but I still stand by that. I have read probably 40 to 50 pages in the shack in different parts of the book, and that was enough for me. Have you ever turned on the TV and seen enough of a movie to know that you really aren’t interested in watching the whole thing because it doesn’t appeal to you in the least? Or turned off the game when your favorite team was getting trounced? Could you imagine if one of your friends or family members was arrested (or murdered) and they kept showing it on the news? You ever reach the point where you’ve simply seen enough of something and have absolutely no desire to see any more?
I am aware that I’m in the unpopular minority of folks who have serious issues with the theology in the Shack. There are many, many people who want to feel better–about themselves, about their lives, about this fallen world we live in, about God… I think it is sadly revealing that the vast majority of people will find comfort and assurance in a work of fiction, rather than in the real God of the Bible….
Peace & Blessings,
Simple Mann
Hi Simple Mann,
I think that it is actually a very scriptural to use fictitious stories to point to the truth. Jesus did it all the time.
Truly, brother, I think wisdom would tell us (scriptural wisdom, even…) to hear a matter out before making a judgment.
Of course we are all free to just say and do as we please, …and I often do to me own detriment….,
but…
I would recommend reading the whole story before coming to any hard, fast conclusions.
In fact, I would love to read a full on review (negative or positive….so long as it is honest) should you choose to read the whole book.
~Johnny
I was given this book as a gift. I got so many answers for myself that never found in any organized religion. I have struggled with faith, belief and trust in God. Somehow The Shack states things in such a simple “down to earth” manner, truly felt the book was answer to many prayers. I reread, and underline things that have helped me let go of conventional wisdom about God always being with us. I almost cried. Real or fiction it makes no difference, it has changed my life. Thank you!!!
Lanna said:
“Real or fiction it makes no difference, it has changed my life.”
Mormanism is not a true religion. I’m sure it has changed many people’s lives but, it will not get them to heaven.
I’ve read more than half of “The Shack”. The ladies at church are doing a book study on it. Honestly, it is making me sick. There are many heresies in the book. Call it fiction if you want but when Greg Albrecht, editor of Plain Truth Magazine, says (in the front of the book under “What others are saying…”) “William Young’s insights are not just captivating, they are biblically faithful and true”, it really makes me wonder how many people honestly do think these things are “fiction”. We need to be like noble Bereans (Acts 17:11) and get back to looking in the Word of God for truths about Him.
“Seek and you will find” the truth on these matters. Pray for wisdom. The true and living God will give it if you truly believe.
“It seems to me that the predominantly white male critics of The Shack—especially those with Reformed theology running through their veins…” As for this quote, check out the following:
http://www.leadingtheway.org/site/DocServer/SpecOffer_The13HeresiesExplained.pdf?docID=1821
He’s definitely not white and I’m definitely not male, so please, don’t just come down on white males as many in our society are doing these days.
All for unity in the truth.
I have to say that The Shack was recommended to me and it was a life changing book. Since reading it I have purchased many copies and encouraged others to read it…every one of them had positive reactions to the book. I do let people know that they cannot get hung up on the “literal” and need to get the “message” (i.e. my mom couldn’t believe that God was a black woman in the kitchen baking muffins) …however, when you read the book (fully) and you understand why God was presented in this way you realize that this was a loving, unselfish thing to do. I love that our “preconceived” notions of God were shattered in this book…God is amazing and is everything and anything he chooses. Read the book…persevere through the beginning…get the message behind the story and feel it with your heart!
I love what one of Paul Young’s friends said about THE SHACK: “Your response to this book will tell me more about you than about the book.”
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
I was recommended to read the Shack and having done so I have to say that it is the first Christian book I have read by an author that is actually still alive that confirms all that I have struggled to believe in for the past 34 years since I was converted… I have never felt comfortable with a lot of the stuff the church teaches and I find that I agree with Mr. Young completely… I also noted that he has read most of the same ‘dead’ authors books that I have… especially that he was influenced by George Macdonald and CS Lewis…..and so may I recommend their books to any one who has enjoyed and been influenced by The Shack …it’s not a new thing that Mr. Young is saying …but he says it well and especially because very few other people have been saying these things in this way for a long time… I suppose I am also happy to have found some one else that believes as I do.
I had put off reading this book for awhile. Then one day after listening to all my children who have read it and loved it I decided to see what it was about. all I can say is I saw so much I can use in my walk with the Lord. I am always waited down with what is right and wrong. How to get over pain and sometimes wonder where Our God is. This book has answered some of my questions and now I have my own journey to straighten out -Thank you for writing this book-I agree every Christian should read this especially now when the future looks so bleak and people are trying to remove God from the world.
Mainly to Simple Mann….
I agree with another reader who said “read the whole book.”
All the theological tomes that I have read discussing the nature of the triune God have left me with about as much satisfaction as eating flour. Very dry. Very dead. Very dull.
I too, had to do a double-take with the characterization of “Papa” as a large black woman. I think that is the point though…to challenge our pre-conceived notions of God.
Where have we heard that before…try re-reading Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John…the theologians of that day hated Jesus because he blew their preconceived notions of God out of the water.
Granted, WP Young is not Jesus, but “The Shack” is not a theological tome either. It is one man’s struggle based on his own internal fight to find out who God is.
Because I can relate so much to Paul Young’s own life and my own distorted view of God, “The Shack” hit me right where it hurt the most…my heart.
So, Mr. Mann, go ahead and read your dry-as-the-hills-of-Gilboa theologically correct God-in-a-box books and please, enjoy. You will be saved by the same thing I will…nothing but the blood of Jesus.
I have just finished reading The Shack! I was telling everyone about it even before I finished and read about The Missy Project. I thought it was absolutely brilliantly mind blowing!! I was raised as a R. Catholic, and for as long as I can remember, I doubted, questioned, resisted, all I was told about religion. I began a long path of searching and learning about other religions and beliefs, and discovered they all ‘preached’ they were ‘the one true path’! The Shack lifted my spirits and put into words a lot of my thoughts over the years (I’m in my late 50s). My whole attitude has changed, and will continue changing. I will never be the same! (This is like God had to knock on MY door 49 times, and He’s at 48 or 49 now!).
This is definitely a must read – I’ve already passed the book on to my son, and have a copy to give to my niece and sister, and one for a friend who is supposed to pass it on to others. Those who can’t wait that long are buying it for themselves. Again, brilliant! Thank you, Wm. Paul Young!!!