Product Description Mackenzie Allen Philips' youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later in the midst of his Great Sadness, Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend. Against his better judgment he arrives at the shack on a wintry afternoon and walks back into his darkest nightmare. What he finds there will change Mack's world forever. In a world where religion seems to grow increasingly irrelevant "The Shack" wrestles with the timeless question, "Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?" The answers Mack gets will astound you and perhaps transform you as much as it did him. You'll want everyone you know to read this book!
Sentimental story carries the theology throughAugust 28, 2008 This book is essentially a theological message, one that diverges a bit from orthodox Christianity. And that's okay, and that's probably part of the attraction so many have found in this book. However, by itself, I doubt many persons would have read this theological treatise, myself included, and would have given it a poor rating. However, encapsulated in the sentimental story of the abducted and murdered girl, whatever theology would have been put inside would probably have worked, and hence my high rating.
Healing and InspiringAugust 27, 2008 I loved how the author so clearly depicted the heart of God. Don't get stuck on 'theology' with this one. It's not about right and wrong...it's about the heartbeat of God for each of us and it's only , in knowing God in this personal of a way that our hunger to connect with our Maker can be satisfied.Susie M.
Overcome your skepticism and read it -- it's wonderfulAugust 27, 2008 I approached this book with deep skepticism, thinking it would be a sobby, heart-on-sleeve, book club Oprah-popular religious testimonial which would undoubtedly suffer from poor writing and inconsistent logic. Not the ideal receptive audience, I admit. Nonetheless, I picked it up and read it on my brother-in-law's recommendation, and I ended up in tears halfway through. I am not normally a big softie; I don't like feel-good movies or books; I don't read romance novels or watch soap operas; I am not an evangelist. I distrust organizations of all kinds, including (if not especially) religious organizations. So I was taken aback to be so affected by this book. Obviously, it won't appeal to doctrinairians, but it's not meant to. It's more like an emotional stab to the soul which proposes to wake you up to the spirituality all around you and let you return to belief in Christ (and God) as an original moving force in your everyday life.
The Shack is not of God. Stay away from it.August 27, 2008 2 out of 4 found this review helpful
The first time I read "The Shack" I was so offended that it went against Biblical truth that I wrote a 19 page review on it. (And believe me it could have been longer) I never posted it, just sent it to friends and family to warn them. Since so many people loved the book I read it again, thinking that maybe my understanding of the book was incorrect. After reading it the second time I was even more offended. How people can call themselves followers of Christ and then turn their backs on Him and His Words so easily has dumbfounded me.
I have been an avid reader of Christian Fiction for over 25 years. This book is by far the worst attempt I have ever read.
Red flags go up when people say "it's only fiction" or "it takes God out of a box". For starters it's not only fiction. It's a thesis on the character and definition of God. If it were just a novel no one would read it because it's not a good story. Remember Jesus used stories to convey Truth and "The Shack" attempts to do the same thing but of course falls very short. Secondly God has never been in a box. People are in a box when they choose to follow religion instead of Jesus Christ.
Young is no doubt an Anarchist and has a great disdain for order and authority. The topic appears quite often throughout the book so the point is not vague or glossed over. His respect for Jacques Ellul confirms this.
Here are a few things you'll confront when reading The Shack.
Everyone goes to heaven even if you're not a follower of Christ. (That alone is enough reason to reject the book)
You do not have to be born-again to have a relationship with Christ.
You can be Mormon, Jehovah Witness, Buddhist, Muslim or whatever. It doesn't matter to God. He doesn't want to make anyone a Christian.
The god of The Shack is not the God of The Bible.
Oprha would love it.
God does not want us to serve Him.
God is our servant.
There is no evil. (The book contradicts this at times)
Satan and demons do not exist.
The husband is not the head in marriage.
Hierarchy is man-made and God does not approve.
God does not desire for us to be obedient to Him.
Guilt is bad and does not direct a person to Christ.
Universalists would love it.
Although the Father is always given the male attribute in Scripture, The Shack makes Him female.
Jesus does not live in His glorified state but as fully human.
Wisdom is an actual person.
God does not have a miraculous way to relieve you of your pain.
The Holy Spirit has a body.
The Holy Spirit does not empower us to live holy lives.
Papa (Father God) has scars on his wrists just like Jesus does because He was crucified too.
When Mack started reading the Bible in bed God came and took it from him. (Hmmm?)
Freedom is an incremental process, not immediate.
During an entire weekend with Mack, God never once quoted or referred to Scripture in a positive light.
God does not want us to fully comprehend Him.
The Father did not grieve when Jesus went to the cross.
God is afraid of guns and anti-war. (Throw out the Old Testament).
God is an environmentalist. (Throw out both Testaments, especially the book of Revelation)
The New Jerusalem is not literal even though the Bible gives its measurements.
The Emergent church would fall for this book easily.
God lives in us and we in Him (literally).
God is not to be feared.
God does not find more pleasure in those who love Him then those who do not.
God does not punish or discipline anyone for sin.
God is not a God of wrath.
Jesus is not under the Fathers authority.
God is not a God of order.
We are not in a spiritual battle.
We are to keep our eyes on the present and not on eternity.
Jesus thinks it's amusing when we curse.
The awesome God of the universe is submissive to us.
We are not called to be like Jesus. He was not intended to be our example.
There is no final judgment.
Sophia (Wisdom) uses human thought to teach that there are no judgments.
Sophia is part of the mystery of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus did not come to build the church.
"Religious folk" don't understand the Trinity.
We don't need to ask forgiveness when we sin. Once on the cross was enough.
God is reconciled to the whole earth, even those who don't believe and/or reject His Lordship.
The Ten Commandments were not given to help us live righteously.
The Law does not point out our sin anymore.
The Commands of God are evil and if used causes man to feel superior.
God does not have any expectations for us therefore He is never displeased with us.
God does not want us to put Him first. (or make Him Lord)
Humans respond to one another in colors.
God "messes" with us.
God does not forget our sins.
No evangelism is required, just relationships.
I think that's enough. Some of these you may agree with and some you may not. I find these views of God to be unbiblical and not of God. You don't have to be a great theologian to see this. The Shack feeds on people's emotions and hurts. It creates a big problem (the murder of a child and the dissatisfaction with organized church) to create a cure that sounds and feels good but is not Truth and therefore the ignorant will fall for it easily. Are there problems in the church today? Of course. But don't you think God would know that was going to happen when He started the church. All human institutions are flawed because they have people in them. The Shack is not the answer to these problems. Read The Word and find a church that adheres to it. Eventually the dead churches will die off and the living ones will flourish. Eventually we will all stand before the Father and give account. Don't let The Shack be your guide.
Do yourself a favor and skip this book. Look at some of my reviews if you're looking for good Christian fiction. May I suggest "Safely Home" by Randy Alcorn if you want a good book on the church and what God has called us to.
1 Star = Pathetic 2 Stars = Fair 3 Stars = Good 4 Stars = Excellent 5 Stars = Life changing
WonderfulAugust 27, 2008 For anyone who has thought that maybe God is different than what you were taught, this is the book for you. Beautiful story of a God who truly is love and how that love redeems and reaches to all people. I haven't read a better book in a long time. This book isn't simply for the religious (although they could stand to read it) it's for anyone who has wanted more than cold religion. If you're thinking of getting this, do it. You won't be disappointed.
