While agreeing with the thrust of this article, I point out that my Catholic barber excitedly told me all about the book after he read it.
Bump for later read.
I picked up “The Shack” at LAX to read during an eight hour layover. About halfway through it, I tossed it in the garbage can.
If you like tv preacher theology, you will LOVE the shack. If you read your bible on a regular basis, you will detest it.
I figured if Oprah and the like were so thrilled with it, it’s something I should avoid like the plague. She has done more to distract and sidetrack many christians and those seeking Jesus and God of the bible.
I’ve had numerous christian friends tell me I should read it, but I told them they were letting twisted thoughts in their head and would do better to just read the bible. It tells us to keep watch of what enters our eyes and ears and take captive every thought and run it by God to see what is in line with Him or not.
"Punishment" is not God's currency.
Tossed it in the garbage.
I loved The Shack...it wasn’t written as a theology book, it’s a novel. And as a novel, it is one of the most riveting and emotion evoking novels I’ve ever read.
No one takes a microscope to the theology of the Chronicles of Narnia, or the LOTR books. Les Miserables, in my opinion, is the most encompassing
story of law and grace I’ve ever read...but we don’t examine the minutia of
the story to see if Hugo was theologically sound. They are, what they are,
books, and none of these authors have ever written their books with the
thought of passing muster for it’s theology.
I won’t see the movie, at least not at the theater. I would be a blubbering
mess if I had to see the depiction of Mack’s grief, and eventual healing.
From the article, posted below, it appears the author does not know the Bible. God DID come to earth in the form of man. And Jesus, that man, did nothing in His own power but all in God’s power and authority:
“Nowhere in the Bible is the Father or the Spirit described as taking on human existence. The Christology of the book is likewise confused. “Papa” tells Mack that, though Jesus is fully God, “he has never drawn upon his nature as God to do anything. He has only lived out of his relationship with me, living in the very same manner that I desire to be in relationship with every human being.” When Jesus healed the blind, “He did so only as a dependent, limited human being trusting in my life and power to be at work within him and through him. Jesus, as a human being, had no power within himself to heal anyone.” “
I had no idea what “The Shack” was about when it was chosen for my book club. Had I known, I wouldn’t have read it. As it was, I didn’t go to that month’s meeting. My daughter and only child died, so this book was very upsetting for me. I will not be going to the movie version.
I recommend that people NOT read it — pure trash.
Should we look forward to “The Snack” with Allah coming back as Michelle Obama?
Michael Youssef of Leading The Way radio show felt the need to preach an entire sermon responding to this book.