To Read "The Shack"

I first heard about The Shack while listening to The Albert Mohler Program. I posted a link to the program in my April 14th 2008 article which you can view by clicking the link below.

"The Shack" Not a Book Review

I resisted a reading of the book due to various warnings about it's content, but The Shack is beginning to penetrate the thoughts and emotions of people very close to me, and so, I read with a desire to build a framework in my mind on which to place the comments of both those who praise and those who revile the "The Shack".

The forward is a little confusing because it is written in the first person by "Willie" who is "Macks" best friend. I wonder if the author intended to give the subtle impression that someone actually experienced some or all of the events of that unfold in the following chapters?

I am disturbed that the god of The Shack was only willing to manifest himself in ways that were friendly to Macks emotions, not wanting to impose himself on Mack in any way, Manifestations such as Papa the "Father" an over weight black lady, Sarayu the "Holy Spirit", a thin and delicate oriental woman who consisted of a mixture of light and wind were designed to be non imposing to Mack and his weak emotional state. It is not until Mack experiences some major emotional healing that he is allowed to meet with Sophia, a tall "sensual" Hispanic woman who is a personification of Gods wisdom . "Papa" the Father only manifest Himself as a strong male figure once after Mack was able to forgive his own father. Jesus was the only accurate manifestation of God the Son but He was not spoken by the Father as the only way to God but merely the best way. I also noted that Mack was allowed to commune with the Father apart from Jesus many times throughout the story.

I am not going summarize the story or plot because there is enough of that already available on the web. I am going to do what I do best and highlight the parts of this captivating story that jumped out at me. The Shack does highlight a couple of good biblical principles like trusting God in trials, and forgiveness. but the dangers of its theology far out weigh a couple of good biblical principles

First, I agree with every discerning reader of The Shack that has written or spoken unfavorably about The Shacks theological message. The overwhelming point of The Shack is a deep study into the character of God and how he relates to the human race. The bible is hardly mentioned at all and is little more than a bad attempt by the author to make a joke at the Gideons expense. Mack is amused that God puts a Gideon bible in the night stand at the shack and reading it, is presumably unnecessary because God is speaking directly to him in order to clear up all of Macks institutionalised misinterpretations about God. God is supposedly saddened that the human race has been unable to understand that His relationship with us is about mutual submission with us. Here is a dialog from chapter 10, part of a conversation between Mack and Jesus which ends in an explanation of how the Trinity relates to us:

Jesus- "Have you noticed that even though you call me Lord and King, I have never really acted in that capacity with you? I've never taken control of your choices or forced you to do anything, even when what you were about to do was destructive or hurtful to yourself and others."

Mack- "I would have preferred that you did take control at times. It would have saved me and people I care about a lot of pain."

Jesus- "To force my will on you, is exactly what love does not do. Genuine relationships are marked by submission even when your choices are not helpful or healthy."
"That's the beauty you see in my relationship with Abba and Sarayu. We are indeed submitted to one another and have always been so and always will be. Papa is as much submitted to me as I to him, or Sarayu to me, or Papa to her. Submission is not about authority and it is not obedience; it is all about relationships of love and respect. In fact, we are submitted to you in the same way."

You can see that the author wants to belittle the hierarchy in the Trinity and by extension belittle Gods authority over us. Throughout the story Mack admires the way that the trinity mutually submits to itself instead of Jesus and the Holy Spirit being subordinate to the Father, like he had always imagined. God teaches Mack that Hierarchy is a man made idea that has never been part of God's design. The god of The Shack never requires anything of Mack but only makes polite invitations.

There are many concerns that I have with the theology of this book, and make no mistake that this is a book full of theology, but The Shack is also a page turner and a tear jerker. I was driven to tears with Mack as he mourned the death of his youngest daughter, and when he was granted a brief view of her playing with Jesus. I rejoiced with Mack as he was reconciled to his own father and I humbly repented with Mack as he finally forgave the man who murdered his daughter.

The god of The Shack encourages an emotional, rather than a biblical understanding of himself. The god of The Shack does not require us to deny ourselves and follow him. The god of The Shack is very appealing to those who want to be carried away by emotion and feelings.

The Shack will stir your emotions and even drive you to desire an ever deepening relationship with God, but the god of The Shack is not God as we see Him in the bible.

Until next time
David