After being asked that question several times, I did read the best selling book “The Shack” by Wm. Paul Young. We discussed it at the Women’s Word Bible study yesterday. It’s the story of a father’s conversation with God after a great tragedy (I’m not going to tell you more in case you are waiting to read it). The book has created quite a stir, especially among people who are—or used to be—in the church. It addresses what theologians call theodicy (“the defense of God’s goodness and omnipotence in view of the existence of evil”—Webster’s).
Have you read The Shack? What did you think of it?
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I really liked the book - it framed very difficult Biblical concepts in a way that I could easily understand. It is like a parable - meant to help your mind along the way to understanding by way of real-life examples. If it were shorter, it would make a great Confirmation read.
ReplyDeleteMy mom brought me a copy of the Shack and she thought I should read it. I hated the violent imagery in the book; what parent wouldn’t? It’s painful to contemplate the bad things in life that happen every day, committed by God’s children against God’s other children. I personally like to live in denial and think that bad things don’t happen to good people, especially little kids…even when we know they all do. Mack, the protagonist, is a guy who has made a mess of everything…sound familiar to anyone other than me? Don’t we all have our times? The book shows him that his best efforts to cope won’t allow him to “pass go” and leave behind his pain. The book takes him back to the worst experience of his life and lets him recognize God is his only savior…his truest friend by far…the path to the truth and peace of mind. In a review of the book, I like this author’s statement: “…it's not about me. I have everything that matters, a free and open life full of love and empty of all secrets." Sure, there are theological questions about the depiction of the trinity in this book. Yeah, that’s surprising…folks get paid to critique books. The biggest thing to me is: What does reading this book bring up to us about our own lives Does it ring true in some ways? Does God speak to you through this writer? Does the book suggest things in our lives that we might pray more about? It did for me and that’s what makes me think reading The Shack was valuable albeit sometimes painful. You decide for yourself...if God has a message for you through this book.
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