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ChristopherJ -> RE: "The Shack" (10/28/2008 8:13:44 PM)
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I finally finished reading The Shack today... (I had a good hour long chunk to read last night while my two oldest kids, Caleb & Tori, were in drum lessons - I ordered a large double double coffee at Tim Horton's & enjoyed my Boston Cream donut while I read). Here are my thoughts:
Overall, I would say I enjoyed the book, and am glad that I stuck with it until the end. Even though I didn't initially like the idea of God portrayed as a woman, it made sense in the big picture of the story. We realize of course that God is a Spirit, and is neither male nor female, even though He has revealed Himself through the metaphor of a Father.
As a fiction book, it was an interesting look at someone's personal encounter with God, and how the Lord changed his life. I must admit that the author moved me to tears a couple of times in chapter 18 (I don't want to give too much away to those who haven't read it yet, but it was with Mack's encounter with his friend, and later with his daughter). So, it was an enjoyable journey for me, and stretched me in my thinking a little bit. :)
However, having said all of that, there were definitely a couple of concerns that I had with the book, most of which have been shared already. They are all theological in nature, and concern my understanding of God and the church.
1. I disagree with the author's comments about the relationship of the tri-unity of God on pages 121-124. Although much of the dialogue between Father, Son & Holy Spirit was refreshing and enjoyable, I did not like the ideas Young presented about the Trinity. Is there unity in the trinity? Of course. Is there relationship? Yes. But this does not negate the fact that there is order and headship - see 1 Cor. 11:3.
2. I did not like the author's conversation where the main character asks God, "Are you saying I don't have to follow the rules?" on page 203, and God says, "Yes. In Jesus you are not under any law. All things are lawful." This is a ridiculous thought, to say that it's okay for Christians to commit murder, adultery, etc. And although it is true that Christians are not required to keep the law AS A MEANS OF EARNING OUR SALVATION, those who are saved will keep the law (do good works) which are the fruit that demonstrates that they are really saved. So I definitely did not like this part of the book! And although it is true, as Young writes, that some people use the law to judge others and feel superior to them, this does not mean that the law itself is not good, which the Apostle Paul states that it IS. God gave us His commandments NOT to give us a path to salvation, but rather a pathway to being able to experience the blessed life (see Psalm 1).
There were a few other comments along the way that were eye-brow raising, but those were the two main biggies... however, as mature Christians, we realize of course (1) that this is a fiction book, and (2) that with any teaching (be they a 'fiction' book or otherwise), we must always take them back to the Scriptures to see if these things are so.
Anyway, those are my thoughts on the subject... probably not a book that I would promote or give away copies of it to others, but it was an entertaining read, nonetheless...
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