I first read The Shack by William Young earlier this year. My husband, Shannon, had heard a preacher talking against the book and decided to check into it. He read the first chapter online and decided to buy the book. He and I read the book together and really enjoyed the story. Since then, we have heard some people give rave reviews of The Shack while others contend that it could be harmful to Christianity. Since it has become such a hot topic, I thought I would give my opinion of the book here and ask for yours.
The Shack is the story of a man, Mac, who has lost much in his life. Through his painful experiences, he has also begun to lose his faith in God. I do not want to spoil the plot, so I will try carefully to keep from doing that while giving you some vital information about the book.
The book opens in the good part of Mac’s life, and we are taken through a series of events that cause Mac’s world to crumble. He becomes only a shell of the man he used to be, and his wife and children also struggle through life in the face of extreme loss. One day, while Mac’s family is away, he receives a letter that changes his life. He travels to a remote shack in the woods, where he proceeds to experience God in a dynamic and tangible way.
I think Young’s portrayal of the nature of God is one of the most beautiful that I have ever seen. He shows that God is not constrained by our misconceptions or limited imaginings of him. God is more dynamic than we could ever imagine, and his utmost concern is that we have a thriving relationship with him. This is easily seen in how God reveals himself to Mac in The Shack. This has been an object of consternation to various people who criticize the book for not being theologically sound. However, I think the portrayal of God in The Shack captures many beautiful facets of the love of God that we see in the Scriptures, even if it is quite untraditional.
While there are some theological nuances in the book with which I disagree from a Pentecostal perspective, I think this book is one of the best books I have read all year and would encourage anyone who wonders about the nature of God and where God is in the middle of a bewildering situation to read this book.
Please let me know your thoughts, especially if you have read the book.
Blessings,
Dee
