tkerodd's Full Review: William P Young - The Shack
When friends kept talking about reading "The Shack", I really didn't think much about it. As a Christian, I do enjoy some Christian fiction, but I don't often go out of my way looking for new works. I prefer to read non-fiction and historical books. When I received "The Shack" as a giift, I decided to give it a try...and was absolutely blown away.
"The Shack" has been a surprise to many. A New York Times best-seller, it has been a real grass-roots success. Around November of 2008 I began to hear people talking about it, and the discussions continue to this day. William P. Young's book has an intriguing premise. The main character, Mack Phillips, had taken his family camping; one of his daugters was kidnapped and killed that weekend. The experience has hardened his heart, stressed his marriage, and ruined his relationship with his other children...and with God. One day, he receives a note in his mailbox inviting him back to the woods, to the shack in which his daughter's dress and bloodstains were found. The note appears to be from God Himself.
From this simple yet effective premise, Young leads Mack Phillips back to his point of despair and anger. There in the shack he confronts his own perceptions of who God is, who Jesus is, and how the Holy Spirit looks and feels. And it is not just a feel-good experience. Mack faces some tough questions; these are questions that all of us could face in a similar interview. The preconceived notions of how God might look and how Jesus might act are shattered by Young's skillful description of the Almighty in a way that will relate to almost everyone.
One question posed by some has been about the theological basis of the book. Is "The Shack" theologically sound? I'm no Bible scholar, but for the most part the book seems to be in line with the scripture as I know it. There are some parts that might not be in line with some faiths, of course. But if you are looking for spiritual doctrine, this is not the place. My feeling is that Young is trying to paint a picture of God's healing process and not a restatement of the Word. If one reads this book looking for Biblical accuracy, I think you are missing the point.
This is not a classic work of fiction by any stretch. However, it does take a topic that is worth considering and paints it in a beautiful and extraordinary way that can touch one's heart. Young and "The Shack" are worth the praise that has been given, and I would encourage you to try it for yourself.
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