The blog is a simple one... "don't." I haven't read a fiction book probably since high school. For the longest time the thought of reading was about as appealing as vomiting. Then I went back to college and that's all I did was read, but not fiction. Now in the ministry I read more than I ever have before, but not fiction. So, I'm going away for a few days with the family and decided that I would read something just for the pleasure of reading, I was going to read a fiction book.
I had heard so much about the book The Shack, for a while it seemed like everyone had read it and it was on the top of every ones must read list, it seemed it set up residency on the USA top 10 list, so I thought, "boy this must be some book, I will read it, everyone is just raving about how it has shaped them and opened their eyes to a whole new dimension about understanding God." Who could resist such reviews? So that settled it, I took the book with me and set out reading it the first chance I got. At first it was captivating ( I love a good mystery) but then it got theological and that's where the "wheels fell off."
The shack is a theological catastrophe trying to disguise itself as a book of fiction. The book completely destroys the God of the bible in favor of a god of his own making, one that is much more...palatable to the human taste bud.
I could go into great detail about all the criticisms I have against the book but someone else who is way more clear and articulate has already done this so I will just leave a link to it, but first let me tell you a little about him. His name is Tim Challies and he is web designer by trade but has in the last few years grown very popular in the Christian blogging world. A reformed Christian with which we would affirm theological similarities, in other words...trustworthy. His website is www.challies.com and you can go there and read all kinds of great stuff but I want you to go to this link regarding The Shack and see what a great job he does handling it. http://www.challies.com/book-reviews/a-review-of-the-shack-download-it-here
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If you really want to do some research look up emergent church, that is if you havent already. The Shack reflects the idealogies of the emergent church movement which waters down the gospel in order to make it more appealing.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK65Jfny70Y
http://www.soundwitness.org/evangel/emerg_1_intro.htm
The best thing about the Shack was that it made me think about where I got all my perceptions of God and the trinity. I had to evaluate which were Biblical and which were of my mind or opinion. I did find his idea of heaven interesting. However, noone should take the potrayals in the book as fact and indeed, if any go against scripture, scripture wins. Every single time, without argument, scripture wins. Don't be deceived by the images in this book. Search and see what the Lord says.
ReplyDeleteVicki A.
I was given The Shack as a Christmas gift this year. I read it, cried my heart out when the child is taken, so it hit me emotionally there, but then, as you say, it gets into theology that seems so contrary to scripture and I was so disappointed by the time I finished it because it didn't stay true to the Word and what how it reveals God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. I can see why people who aren't familiar with scripture could so easily feel this book was good - forgiveness and all, but also how easily people can be lead astray by good intentions that fall short of the Truth.
ReplyDeletewww.gotquestions.com also does a great review of the this book and highlights all the scriptural areas where it was twisted. That's a great Christian website for any biblical question you have on almost any topic.