The Shack by William P. Young, April 2007
My roommate placed a book on dinning table and casually said, “read this, supposed to be very good one”. She was right as I discovered it later. The Shack is a novel written by the author who is a missionary kid, a theologian, a performer, a business person and a family man. It’s a novel about relationships, both seen and unseen.
It is about Mack’s story and his relationship with his abusive father, almost perfect wife and innocent children. The author has described Mack’s loss, grief, and adventure so richly so vividly that the reader almost can experience the same.
As the story progresses, the author presents solid truth while still engaging us with the plot. It contains solid biblical teachings that a seminary would take two years to cover, however it’s woven around the visuals, symbols, colors, objects, dialogues, and plots so well that one can hardly feel the weight of the teachings, in fact it reaches straight to the heart, like a touching story does. It is descriptive, humorous, and laugh-and-cry narration.
The Shack is a contemporary spiritual novel that has an ability to touch us delicately like a wind yet leave behind a solid impression and a burning desire.
The Shack is available online for order. It is also available for online reading at www.theshackbook.com
Tara -
You said: “As the story progresses, the author presents solid truth while still engaging us with the plot. It contains solid biblical teachings that a seminary would take two years to cover”
The Bible says: And I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity . . . (Isaiah 13:11)
. . . while on the other hand upon the self-willed who disobey the truth and obey evil will fall anger and fury, affliction and awful distress, coming upon the soul of every man and woman who deliberately does wrong . . (Romans 2:8)
The Shack says that evil and darkness don’t exist (page 136)
Jesus says: “unless you repent, you will perish” (Luke 13:3)
The god of the shack says he doesn’t want our sorrow for our arrogance, more than implying he doesn’t want our sorrow for any sin we commit (page 184)
To repent is to feel pain, sorrow or regret for what we’ve done or left undone, to seek forgiveness for sin and to lead a new life.
The Bible says: “This is what the Amen says — the true and faithful witness, the Beginning and Lord of God’s Creation. I know your doings — you are neither cold nor hot; I would that you were cold or hot! Accordingly, because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, before long I will vomit you out of My mouth. You say, I am rich, and have wealth stored up, and I stand in need of nothing; and you do not know that if there is a wretched creature it is *you* — pitiable, poor, blind, naked. Therefore I counsel you to buy of Me gold refined in the fire that you may become rich, and white robes to put on, so as to hide your shameful nakedness, and eye-salve to anoint your eyes with, so that you may be able to see. All whom I hold dear, I reprove and chastise; therefore be in earnest and repent. I am now standing at the door and am knocking. If any one listens to My voice and opens the door, I will go in to be with him and will feast with him, and he shall feast with Me.” Revelation 3:14-20
“But as for cowards and the unfaithful, and the polluted, and murderers, fornicators, and those who practice magic or worship idols, and all liars — the portion allotted to them shall be in the Lake which burns with fire and sulphur. This is the Second Death.” Revelation 21:8
The god of the Shack says he doesn’t place expectations on anyone (page 206)
The whole of the Bible whether through example, history, parable, teachings, or commands, are our instructions for how to live (and not to live). The Lord’s instructions are not only what the Lord expects from us, but requires of us.
The Bible teaches that each individual must chose for themselves to either follow Christ in the narrow way, or reject Him and His truth and join the multitudes in the broad and easy way.
The Shack teaches that if we forgive someone, it will allow God to redeem them (page 224). And that if we forgive them it will release them from judgment (page 225).
The only way to be forgiven, is for us as individuals to repent – to confess to the Lord that we are a sinner, ask Him to forgive us and to come into our heart and be our Lord and Savior. Then we are born again. It is Jesus Himself who teaches us that to enter the Kingdom of heaven we must repent (Luke 13:3) and be born again (John 3:3). Jesus is The Way, the Truth, and the Life. If we reject Him, His way, and His truth, we will have no life. No one can go to the Father except through Him (John 14:6)
For ours is not a conflict with mere flesh and blood, but with the despotisms, the empires, the forces that control and govern this dark world — the spiritual hosts of evil arrayed against us in the heavenly warfare. (Ephesians 6:12)
By: twoclayfeet on June 10, 2008
at 8:12 pm
dear twoclayfeet,
thank you for your response… it is here for people to read and judge for themselves. I am glad for your valuable contribution. Some of the points that you have pointed have added depth to my understanding. Thank you.
And if this (what you believe) serves to connects you with God, I am really happy for you.
Tara
By: Tara Rana on June 11, 2008
at 5:57 am