Ah, The Shack, a popular fiction book, but is it good for me to read?
Here's Tim Challies' conclusion from his review:
Focusing on just three of the subjects William Young discusses in The Shack, we’ve seen that errors abound. He presents a false view of God and one that may well be described as heretical. He downplays the importance and uniqueness of the Bible, subjugating it or making it equal to other forms of subjective revelation. He misrepresents redemption and salvation, opening the door to the possibility of salvation outside of the completed work of Jesus Christ on the cross. We are left with an unbiblical understanding of the persons and nature of God and of His work in this world.
But this is not all. The discerning reader will note as well that the author muddies the concepts of forgiveness and free will. He introduces teaching that is entirely foreign to the Bible, often stating with certainty what is merely speculative. He oversteps the bounds of Scripture while downplaying the Bible’s importance. He relies too little on Scripture and too much on his own theological imaginings.
All this is not to say there is nothing of value in the book. However, it is undeniable to the reader who will look to the Bible, that there is a great deal of error within The Shack. There is too much error. That The Shack is a dangerous book should be obvious from this review. The book’s subversive undertones seek to dismantle many aspects of the faith and these are subsequently replaced with doctrine that is just plain wrong. Error abounds.
I urge you, the reader, to exercise care in reading and distributing this book. The Shack may be an engaging read but it is one that contains far too much error. Read it only with the utmost care and concern, critically evaluating the book against the unchanging standard of Scripture. Caveat lector!
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2 comments:
Hey Yvette...I was encouraged to read The Shack by one of my uncles who is a life-long missionary who I respect a great deal. Before he gave me a copy, however, he made it clear I knew the background behind the book. This book was meant as a novel about his own journey, for his children. No one else. This is fiction, and it's private in a lot of ways. It was never meant to be published, and not meant as a theological statement. I can tell you more about the author and his journey next time I see you. I read it, and while I can't say I loved it, I think God is using it to open doors of discussion about God between people who might not normally engage in such things. make sense? Glad you had a good trip, we'll see you soon!
--jen
Thanks for posting this, Yvette. I hear Jen's point about it being intended as fiction only. But that argument is remiscent of The DaVinci Code with the "hey! what are you so upset about??? this is only fiction?!" defense. When an author writes about God, he's making a statement about God. And that statement is theology--right or wrong.
That's my two cents.
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