The Shack – Week 1
This month on the Christian Book Club we are going to be reading The Shack by William P. Young. The Shack has created a lot of controversy. People either seem to love or hate the book. Here are the ten latest reviews from Christian Book Distributors:
- 5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Joan Wilson (Lacey, WA), October 30, 2008This short book was a great suprise to me inasmuch as it approached God described as a woman. Mack’s struggle to deal with the loss of his daughter was very real to me. The location meant an added delight to find it local in Oregon and now I want to travel and visit Wallowa in Oregon, and Joseph. I’ve lived in a shack but to think that God could come to me in this way I would love. It seemed to follow doctrine closely but held to the story line as in “Pilgrims Progress”, but for today’s readers. I am not bothered by it, and would recommend it to others to read. This is the God I know, but I do prefer him to be male and a father figure – Jesus said to call him “Father” as in his prayers for us. I would rather it be sent to my pastor and not Oprah (she is not the final authority). Now, my husband is reading it and we’ll talk about it along the way.
- 0 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Nathan Hutchinson (Sierra Vista, Arizona), October 31, 2008It is appalling when a 17 year old has to correct adults on theology. This book is no allegory; it is a deceptively written New Age story presented as Christian Fiction. The parallels between this book and some denominations of Hinduism are unbelievable. Not only do I not recommend this book, it should not be on this site at all; it is so far from being Christian that it scares me. This is the most heretical book I’ve read in a long time, yet so many people praise it regardless. I pray for Young’s soul after reading this book.
- 0 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by blessedX10 (Helena, MT), October 30, 2008This book makes me physically sick to my stomach (threw it away half way through), and I am so disappointed to see it sold as a ‘christian’ book. Full of heresy; the author has no respect for or fear of God. I don’t serve a god of crude remarks and immature behavior, and my God is definitely not a woman (I am). Emotions deceive – if you are looking to know God better, read your bible! You won’t find the God of the Bible here, just lots of new age paganism working towards a one world, feel-good religion. Terribly sorry that I wasted the money (and therefore supported such slander of my God).
- 4.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Suzanne Murchison (Trenton, On,), October 30, 2008I really enjoyed the book, the different description of how God presents itself was unexpected and interesting. It made me want to dig deeper in scripture just to remind me that God will never fit in our confining “boxes”. It is a sad story, the lost of a child always is, but there is hope for all,and sometimes the issues go way further back then we think.
- 5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Beva (Montevideo,MN), October 30, 2008This is a must read!! It took a brilliant mind to make the Trinity seem so down to earth. The chapter on the Judge really hit home with me. We all judge others, but the way he related it to how God still loves us when we mess up was really something. Just like we still love our children when they mess up. I would highly recommend this book!
- 5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by myra (lexington, nc), October 30, 2008I think this is one of the best books ever written about understanding the Trinity and they way the work together in the life of a believer. It reveals the depth of love God has for man in redeeming him from his sins and redeeming the unjust issues of life.
- 0 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Kandy (Arkansas), October 30, 2008This book is very dangerous! Christians are being deceived into this kind of thinking. There are many heresies in this book. It appeals to so many because it is an easy, feel-good read. I wish it were not sold as a Christian book. Maybe Oprah could sell it instead.
- 5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Shirley Samuel (Greensboro, North Carolina), October 30, 2008This book was the door that took me through a crossroad in my life. I found that I could relate to anger and disappointment in God, whom, I felt, had set me up to fail because all of my experiences led me to painful existence. I saw a real way to deal with it by actually telling God, “You made me mad, You disappointed me, you sacrificed me, you won’t let me out of the mud I have been made to lie in.” I have been able to talk to Him as “Papa.” I have been able to openly acknowledge my own selfish sinful ways and tell Him, “I am sorry.” I now see that He was always there protecting me and keeping me safe from destructive harm. I now know He really loves me. I found the true living God. I was given a loving image of Momma, Daddy, sister, and brother in the Shack. I had not known that before. Family did not represent love. It has been a source of pain and suffering. Now I know what family really means, and Paul Young made that possible for me. I thank him for the courage it took to write this book.
- 0 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Carlyn Benns (Trona, CA), October 30, 2008Young’s work is secular and sensationalzed to the max. I could not have been more disappointed and wonder why it’s considered a Christian novel.
- 2.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Grace (Canada), October 30, 2008It provides good understanding on human suffering, remarkable answers to age-old questions and a fresh look on the heart and the nature of God, but the Triune God portrayed was not entirely Biblical. It’d be erroneous to conclude God’s Personhood only from this book.
Like I said, people love it or hate it. I think it will be an interesting book for us to discuss. There is a Forward, 18 chapters, and an After words section in the book. Let’s break it down like this:
Week 1 – Forward and Chapters 1-4
Week 2 – Chapters 5 – 9
Week 3 – Chapters 10 – 14
Week 4 – Chapters 15 – 18 and After words
As you begin reading, please know that this book is fiction. The author refers to it as a parable. There is no real “Mack”. Even though the Forward seems to set up the story as true, the Forward is just part of the story.
I am including a video of an interview with the author of The Shack on the 700 Club.
I will also include a link here in case you need to order a copy of the book.
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The Shack |
Shalom Stephen! Thanks for the information, I just now found your suggested Scripture.
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Comment by Wendy on 3 November 2008:
Hey I’m back! Sorry for being MIA. I plan to read the reviews for Blue Velvet and comment also (I loved that book!)
Still reading and digesting Breakthrough…that one is too deep for me to read quickly.
I was given The Shack by a friend about 6 months ago. I finally picked it up when I saw that we would be reviewing it. I started on Saturday and I’m in Chapter 7 already. That says alot right there. I’m trying to be objective and not let others like or dislike for the book sway my thoughts. I also have a tendency to over analyze things and miss when God is trying to get my attention with the simple things. So now that I’ve made it through the background part of the book I look forward to sifting through what Mack is encountering.
The Forward reminded me of the forward in The Da Vinci Code. Many people believed the “FACT” in the forward was just that…fact. I’ve had friends tell me this book is a true story. I didn’t think it was and I’m glad that you point out it is fiction.
Chapter one has nothing really exciting to write about…just background for what is to come. I actually thought the letter was from Mack’s dad at first (didn’t speculate whether the poison killed his dad when he drank his alcohol). I imagined a grown man confronting his father who he hated and being asked to forgive a lifetime of hurt.
Chapter two: The questions of children often stumps us don’t they….we think too much as adults. The one thing that struck me was the legend itself. There seems to many legends which tell of a savior of some kind. I try to teach my Sunday School class that satan is the great imitator. He takes the truth and tweeks it and tries to imitate God’s plan without including Jesus. People buy into this all the time. They want the savior without accepting THE SAVIOR!
Chapter 3 and 4: I truly thought that Missy had gone to jump from the cliff to save her brother and sister. Thinking back to the legend it just made sense. I thought Mack was going to have to deal with telling Missy the legend and knowing that she took it seriously and killed herself. Of course that is not what happened. THE GREAT SADNESS is a perfect way to describe what Mack is going through after this happens. I now realize that the letter is not written by Mack’s father and wonder who did write it. Do I think God does things like that now? I some ways yes. I think it is dangerous territory when we limit how God can reach us. He can and has and will use any means to get to us. When we limit how then we often times miss Him because we totally dismiss the thought that God could be calling us.
Comment by Amanda R on 5 November 2008:
I think that everyone needs to remember when they read this is that it is a story, and we can often learn a lot from stories. I love the way the author writes, his descriptions and the flow of the words-makes for easy reading. I agree with Wendy about The Great Sadness description. I like that Mack obviously had a back ground in theology, and that he was the one the author chose to have the doubts and trials. It shows us that just because we have a lot of “education” in religion, we may be entirely missing the point.
Comment by stephenlawes on 5 November 2008:
Hi Amanda,
Welcome to the Christian Book Club Online. I agree with you about people needing to realize from the beginning that it is a story. Personally, I am enjoying the book very much. I do understand how upsetting the material might be for some people. I don’t feel like I am under a theological attack, but I do get where some people might feel that way. I look forward to your comments in the days ahead!
Blessings
Steve
Comment by boatpat on 7 November 2008:
the hurts that the little g god enjoys to instill in us so that life takes on another meaning than Gods plan for his children. walking into the shack and having to see the after math of an insident to alful to talk about is a life changing moment. i understand that the book is fiction but i also know we live in a time were it happens. in my walk ive been given notes and i was obedent just as mack is or at least thinks he is, we will see.
Comment by boatpat on 18 November 2008:
it seems its the darkest times that allow us the prevalege to step through the curtain. to find the truth or at least get a glimps of the light that allows darkness not but can show us the larger view of our lives. that place we must come back from , for now, holding onto a picture of love and a piece of the rock that flows peace into us. what ever darkness that shows up has no choice but to flee when we ask for the light to flow through us.
Comment by Alisha on 11 December 2008:
Hello everyone.
What I am taking from the story of Shack is the importance of tempering anger in our relationship with God. I think that the kind of anger Mack had for God upon the loss of his child is not uncommon. I think many people turn from God when they experience evil or hurt. I enjoyed the story of Shack because I enjoyed the presentation of God’s willingness to embrace our rage and anger and frustration and love us through it all. I take great comfort in knowing that God is not diminished by our questions or anger. As I mature in my faith I’ve learned not only to pray that God heals the hurting in this world but also that his children will not become angry with him and turn from him during their pain.