I’ve never read it but the people I know who have fall into two camps - best book they have ever read or worst book they have ever read.
Thanks. I had not even heard of this book. I greatly admire Hank and his word is good enough for me. I agree with you that we need to keep up on what the enemy does. There were many who lost their faith after reading “The DaVinci Code.” Now one might suppose that people who have lost their faith after reading a book like that OR the Shack never had a saving faith to begin with but that’s an entirely separate discussion.
Knowledge is power my pops always said.
I read the book on the advice of a friend. There were times when I deeply moved by the book. A father loses a child in a very tragic way, and he seeks out God for answers to his tortured soul. There is some good in the story, as it can help us to see God does care for each one of us.
“The Shack” has some interesting ideas, but there are some real problems. The book is a bit too...”existential”. (Indeed the author says Soren Kierkegaard is one of his favorite writers.) What I mean by “existential” is that the “theology” taught in “The Shack” emphasizes one’s personal experience and exalts that experience over objective truth.
One must experience God, to be sure...that is the essence of salvation. But that experience is in relation to absolute truth—and The Shack appears to subvert even the notion of Absolute Truth.
I’ve read it and it was a good story but it is pure fiction so if you like fiction, its a good book. I admit I was misled into thinking it was a true story until I did some research.
I’m no theologian, but the book bothered me. I, too, thought the large, warm, straight-talking black woman was a stereotype. The Holy Spirit was depicted as a delicate Asian female, and another character (can’t remember who it was now) was a Hispanic female. I thought that was a little too pat, a little too politically correct.
There was also one part where “Jesus” accidentally drops a dish of food, and He and God the Father (the large black woman was God the Father) had a good laugh over it. Does Jesus make mistakes? Does He drop things? I don’t think so! I could be wrong....
I didn’t like it. I was the cranky one in my ladies bible study—I was always countering the statements in the book and trying to get the other women to open their eyes. Of course, they assured me they knew it was just fiction, but some of them just loved it. Guess I’m a hard realist, and I thought from the beginning the book was a deliberate attempt to mislead Christians or those who are seeking spiritual growth.
We definitely have to be on our guard; using wisdom and discernment to see if things are of God or not.
I knew it! The religious people would not like this book. I guess I am not “religious” and I’m happy about that.
I’ve read part of it - looks like another Unitarian Universalist looking to make a buck off God. I can’t send it to the used bookstore in good conscience, so I’m just going to toss it. I may or may not finish it.
I LOVED it!
It is the most important book I've ever read in my life.
Okay- now a few comments to the religious who hate the book and find it and everything else that Calvin or Luther or Spurgeon or {Insert Favorite Dead Guy Here} here didn't write to be heretical.
I get it- you hate it. It violates your well thought out safely filtered view of God.
I understand that by liking the book, in your opinion, I put my very eternity at risk.
I realize that I'll probably never ‘look like you’ in my relationship with Christ.
I'm okay with that. I never wanted to look like you anyway. Oh, and by the way God is bigger than your theology.
You can stop reading now- you know I like the book and the rest will just irritate you.
Now- to the people who will dare to let God be God in their lives.
Who can find truth that resonates the nature of God in everyday occurrences.
Who struggle with a God who doesn't respond the way we've been conditioned to believe he will.
Who find wonder in the fact that the living God will communicate in a personal and meaningful way with you as an individual.
Who have felt anger at God, or questioned God,
Who try to offer grace to others because you realize how much you need it yourself
Who's theology is big enough for seemingly conflicting, seemingly unresolved facets of God's nature
Who can laugh at themselves as they try to become more Christ-like- while remembering how important and serious a task it is.
To you, I say, READ THE BOOK!
It changed my heart.
Ping for later