Reviewed "The Shack"

[Edward the Theist]

Just finished my review of "The Shack" by William P. Young. Not my favorite book by a long shot. You can read my review and see my video review at The Novel Report Book Reviews

Please let me know what you think, especially if you have read this book.

 

[IAMstillis]

I wonder if anyone else here read your review. For those who haven't I will sum it up by saying it is intensely negative and very obviously written by someone who doesn't have a personal relationship with Christ.

To expound on this assertion I would like to address a particular remark in the review: "Eventually, Papa-God asks Mack to forgive the serial killer, and Mack ends up doing so in order to please Papa. One is left wondering if Papa is the serial killer himself."

Forgiveness is a biblical concept, one might even say it is the foundation of the new testament. Matt 6:14-15 teaches that in order to be forgiven we must forgive. We do not forgive to please God, we forgive to break the bondage that unforgiveness creates.

I have found that most people especially those who know the Lord deeply enjoy the Shack. However, I understand that you did not. Thank you for sharing your opinion.

 

[awakeningekklesia]

I wonder if anyone else here read your review. For those who haven't I will sum it up by saying it is intensely negative and very obviously written by someone who doesn't have a personal relationship with Christ.

To expound on this assertion I would like to address a particular remark in the review: "Eventually, Papa-God asks Mack to forgive the serial killer, and Mack ends up doing so in order to please Papa. One is left wondering if Papa is the serial killer himself."

Forgiveness is a biblical concept, one might even say it is the foundation of the new testament. Matt 6:14-15 teaches that in order to be forgiven we must forgive. We do not forgive to please God, we forgive to break the bondage that unforgiveness creates.

I have found that most people especially those who know the Lord deeply enjoy the Shack. However, I understand that you did not. Thank you for sharing your opinion.

I worked with family chrisitian stores for about four years. I was with them when the shack came out. Our store had alot of feedback on the book. Nobody like it. People were offended tht we carried it. I actually only heard one review on it that was positive and it came from an employee that wasn't even saved, who had extreme liberal philospohy and theology

 

[good brother]

I didn't like it for the fact that the Holy Spirit was portrayed as a woman. Not that there is anything wrong with women, but the Bible says the Holy Spirit is a "he". That was the biggest disagreement I had with the book, but there were others.

Another problem I had was that it seemed to be a little liberal leaning. THe whole book was about a conversation with God and spending time with HIM, and yet I don't recall ever hearing the plan of salvation laid out for the unsaved reader. If the unsaved has that book in their hands and are reading it, they are a captive audience and could have been witnessed to about the atoning blood of Jesus Christ during their reading of the book. That didn't happen that I recall.

It's not on my shelf, and I wouldn't recommend it. There are plenty of other books I would recommend- "Not a Fan" b Kyle Idleman, "Jesus Freaks" by DC Talk and Voice of the Martyrs, "Be Complete" by Warren Wiersbe, or "The Master plan of Evangelism" by (I cannot remember right now).

The truth is there are pleny of good faith strengthening books out there, and I don't feel as the "the Shack" is one of those.

In Christ, GB

 

[awakeningekklesia]

The shack started up a big controversy on Gods Gender. The infamous Rob Bell put out a nooma shortly after the shack was released entitled "she". Pretty much saying God is neither male or female. But he transcends gender. The biasis of his argument was God said "let us make man and woman in our image", wasn't just man and also he used the verse I think in psalms saying something like creation birthed forth from the womb of God. Most people's biggest complaint about shack was the gender thing. Me personally a don't hold alot of stock in the book.

 

[awakeningekklesia]

I would add anything by Francis chan to your list good brother. Think he's become one of my favorites. At least in current authors who are currently on the front line writing. So if iv gotten a bit off topic xD

 

[good brother]

I would add anything by Francis chan to your list good brother. Think he's become one of my favorites. At least in current authors who are currently on the front line writing. So if iv gotten a bit off topic xD

Yeah, Chan is good. What is it, the book "Crazy Love"? or something like that?

 

[awakeningekklesia]

He's actually has three books. All three of which have been life changing books for me

1) crazy love -his best seller and first book
2) Forgotten God -my favorite. It's about the Holy Spirit and not about what the Spirit does but who He is.
3) Erasing Hell -his most recent. It isn't what the title implys. Its a book written in response to rob bells "love wins"

 

[BlessedMommy05]

I read "The Shack" I found it interesting but not worth reading again in my opinion, its all so confusing and un-doubtably, either has no relationship with Christ or has a very interesting view of the bible and how his/her views of what a relationship with God is.. I wouldnt recommend the book to anyone

 

[Fantine]

Clicked on your link and got "404 not found." Maybe that's why you haven't gotten many responses.

 

[anaci]

He's actually has three books. All three of which have been life changing books for me

1) crazy love -his best seller and first book
2) Forgotten God -my favorite. It's about the Holy Spirit and not about what the Spirit does but who He is.
3) Erasing Hell -his most recent. It isn't what the title implys. Its a book written in response to rob bells "love wins"

Took me two years to read Crazy Love because it was so convicting with each chapter. But I'm reading it again and it is keeping me motivated to write my Christian fiction. There's no point in reading an inspiring Christian book, talking about how it inspired you, and then doing nothing about that inspiration.

 

[jessicamommabear]

I enjoyed the Shack. It was completely different then what I expected. It is a wonderful story. It personally made me take stock in my own relationship with God and to rethink what I think and start rereading my bible. Where exactly do we get off judging. I personally would not want God's job when it comes to that. I think we are taking one mans journey as the same we all must take, but we forget we have our on journeys to take. Maybe it is not that it was a bad book but maybe you did not understand it as his journey not your own. I personally going to recommend it to others. Just as I recommend John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress..