Book
Review – The Shack
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Author —
William P. Young
Published by Windblown Media
Available online here
Review by Tom Gilbert — © September, 2008
The
Shack is a bestselling novel, but the
author, William P. Young, wrote it specifically for his
family and children. His original intention wasn't to
write a work for publication, but spurred on by his friends
and family he did write a powerful story about grief,
redemption and an intriguing look at God, the Trinity.
And he did it with an imaginative approach.
A friend recommended this book to me and he didn’t
tell me much about it. Rather, he coyly told me it had
an interesting look at how to view God the Father, Son
and Holy Spirit and their important relationship with
each other. And ultimately that is what Young does for
us with this story. He shows us a God in three persons
that is outside the box many Christians try to place God
in. He gives us a look at a totally loving God in three
persons and the love is best demonstrated by how they
relate to each other in a constant circle, or dance, of
unconditional love and support.
Some of the reviews I've read for this book express concern
about the book not being theologically correct or Biblically
sound. Personally, I think they are missing the point.
The book is meant to give you a fresh look into a loving
God and our relationship with the admittedly difficult
concept of the Trinity. The view does not contradict what
Christianity is, even if it does at times take organized
religion to task. Frankly, we sometimes need to criticize
religion when it misses the point of Jesus' real message
of loving all people. Everyone is a child of God, even
when they don't know it.
The story of The Shack is the
story of Mackenzie Allen Phillips, the main character
in the book. He's known as Mack to his family and friends
and one of his best friends, Willie, relates the story
to the reader. Mack lost a daughter to a kidnapping and
brutal murder in the woods of the Pacific Northwest. Missy
was an innocent young child and the anger and grief that
Mack carries like a huge boulder makes it very hard for
him to find meaning or purpose in his life. "The
Great Sadness" hangs on him like a thick and wet
blanket. The day that he finds a mysterious note in his
mailbox inviting him to return to the shack where his
daughter was killed is the catalyst for the beginning
of the difficult, sad, tough, but ultimately redeeming
journey Mack must take to reclaim a life worth living.
The note is signed Papa, a familiar name for God
used by Mack's wife, Nan. Is it a prank or a cruel joke?
He must find out so he travels to the shack and there
he has a weekend of spiritual enlightenment and fellowship
with Papa (appearing to him as a jovial and caring large
African American woman), Jesus (a carpenter in jeans and
plaid shirt with Middle Eastern features) and the mystical
Sarayu (the Holy Spirit as a waif-ish Asian woman). All
three spend time with him and take him on journeys of
discovery about himself, life, heaven, forgiveness, love
and most importantly, loving relationships.
Fiction can often take us to a place of acceptance in
a way that doctrine and dogma and preaching can't. It's
important to have faith and beliefs. But opening your
mind and your heart to a picture of God that is bigger
and greater than you have ever considered is a great thing.
We all need to grow in love, forgiveness and hope. The
Shack helps take you there.
You can
preview The Shack at the official The
Shack website. Also, you can find out more about
the author, his special Missy Project and interact
with other readers - www.theshackbook.com.
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| Tom Gilbert writes articles
and reviews about the Christian life and maintains the
e-ministry, Living the Solution (www.livingthesolution.com) |
Go here
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Scripture taken from the
Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.Copyright ©
1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights
reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International
Bible Society.
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered
trademarks of International Bible Society. Use of either
trademark for the offering of goods or services requires
the prior written consent of International Bible Society.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy
Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996. Used
by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton,
IL 60189, USA. All rights reserved.
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