13 responses to “The Shack”

1. 

   Pats August 17th, 2009 at 21:53

   I saw it the way you do. Wish I had the words you use to explain my thoughts, you will have to suffer through my expression of opinions!

2. 

   Richard August 18th, 2009 at 09:22

   The Lord was taking me to the throne room of Revelation 4 and Isaiah 6 repeatedly leading up to my reading of The Shack, so I was already meditating on why those particular things about it were revealed in Scripture. The author’s stab at what it might be like in heaven built on what I was already imagining. I thought that using light and color to illustrate how interrelated the body of Christ is fits the “body” metaphor of Ephesians extremely well.

3. 

   Robin @ Heart of Wisdom August 18th, 2009 at 18:11

   I’m so glad you got to read this. I absolutely love Paul Young. I think I’ve listened to every interview. He is unmasked and Truefaced. Have you visited Wayne Jacobsen’s site. Many free book there. Check out “He Love Me.”

   Great new look!

4. 

   Catherine @soundsblue September 5th, 2009 at 13:37

   Thank you for your insightful review! Paul’s book had such an impact on my personal journey towards healing. I was abused within a very frightening, controling religious enviroment. As a result, my ability to relate to God as a loving Heavenly Father has been a real struggle. The Shack opened the door that allowed me to see & experience Him as my loving personal Papa. I have talked to dozens and dozens of abuse survivors whose lives have been moved one step closer to wholeness through Paul’s ministry. As a survivor himself, he understands the struggle we all share.

5. 

   Viv Palmer/Harvey September 6th, 2009 at 12:11

   Paul’s story is riveting..His focus is on relationship and restoration of it.
   He is not attempting to create “proper doctrine” in his personal theology His book is an encouragement to me. Perhaps the God I was taught to fear, the one who insisted that we become child sacrifices for the sake of the Gospel, to become “mini-missionaries” with our folks…and thus,be “good soldiers for Jesus” is not the same one. It is a book with a message of restoration and love. As coming from the Christian world,I can say that we have always been taught that being angry is a sin that will lead us to hell. This book deals effectively with that awful concept, and in doingso, gave me the willingness to ask God “who are you..Really?”

6. 

   Traylor Lovvorn September 16th, 2009 at 13:12

   Great post about a great book!

   As soon as I finished the book, I posted a review on my blog, Reflections of a Ragamuffin, called Praise for Papa”. That was before I knew that many theologians and professional church folk were outspoken against the book. A great friend of mine here in Birmingham, Tal Prince, had Paul on his radio show and we heard first hand the remarkable story of how this book came to be.

   Traylor

7. 

   Richard September 16th, 2009 at 16:12

   Thanks, Traylor, my mentor, Dr. Norman Geisler also objects to the theology behind the book as noted above. However, I myself feel no call to change my theology based on the author’s words and would not trade my big moments while reading them.

   I did rethink who I might recommend the book to, I don’t think I would recommend it for everyone, However, I would heartily recommend it to most.

8. 

   Katherine Russell September 19th, 2009 at 18:19

   Richard, thank you for posting your review of The Shack. I have to say that I was hesitant to recommend this book because of some of the theological implications. I am not a scholar and have not been trained, other than what I have received from the Holy Spirit, so that does not factor into my opinion of this book at all, then again, maybe it does.
   My concern was, at first reading, (weeping and rejoicing) that in the hands of a lamb who does not know the Word of God, it could misdirect their understanding of the Word of God. So, I read it a second time, not consuming it so quickly, and again, with weeping and rejoicing, came to the same conclusion.
   So now, I would recommend this book for consumption by one who is established in the Word, because it, just for a brief moment, leads us into the possiblity of the relationship God has with us on a different level than what we can see, touch or feel. The very idea that He is that involved in our lives, and I believe He is, causes my soul to rejoice.
   On the other hand, if the Holy Spirit was able to touch me with thoughts of love and intimacy with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, why would He not do the same with a lamb who does not yet know the Word.
   At some level, I believe this book is inspired through the experiences of a man’s life and isn’t that what our testimony is of Jesus Christ? He has inspired us to have hope and believe that what the Word says is true and so we live and have our being in Him. Bless you, my brother.

9. 

   Richard September 19th, 2009 at 18:23

   I think now that some time has passed since I read this that I would agree. The bigger benefits of the book are hard to give up in favor of the smaller challenges but then I don’t have theological challenges.

   What is your Twitter name?

10. 

    Bridget Haymond October 15th, 2009 at 18:59

    Hi mcProdigal:

    It’s @truthlifecoach here. Glad to see I’m not the only one who likes this book! People who attack the book miss the point that this is a fictional novel, but it also has scriptural truth woven throughout. The novel skillfully communicates the reality that God really does desire a relationship with us. I think it does a terrific job of taking God out of the box and makes Him real in the midst of pain and confusion.

    There is no doubt that people will be changed after reading The Shack!

11. 

    Randy Peck October 27th, 2009 at 15:03

    Hi Richard,

    I just discovered your blog today when Virginia Morton (@vamorton) mentioned in an email that you will be joining our weekly Marching Through Culpeper prayer call today. That’s great.

    I really like what you wrote about The Shack. That’s a great novel depicting God’s unconditional love as well as many profound truths. I second Bridget Haymond’s comments.

    Blessings to experience God in extraordinary ways for extraordinary fruit!

    Randy
    “Blessed to be a blessing”
    THE CONNECTOR and The Journal Guy

12. 

    mcProdigal November 23rd, 2009 at 16:08

    I recently purchased the audiobook version of The Shack. I think I paid $5 at Christianaudio.com. I want a chance to hear it while relaxing and meditating.

13. 

    MariLee Parrish November 23rd, 2009 at 18:20

    I LOVED the shack and wrote a similar review on my facebook page!