(my best attempt to answer all the people asking theological questions
about the book "The Shack")
When I was young I would often go into the living room with big questions for my Dad to answer.
“Dad, can a person lose his salvation?”
“That’s a good question. What do you believe Jonathan?”
“I think he can.”
“Why do you believe that? What does the Bible have to say?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Here are some passages to look up.”
Instead of answers, my Dad gave me a hunger to question, seek, find, and grow. Is my theology all nice and neat and correct now? I wish. I have so far to go and so much to learn. But may we "Learn together".
We, the staff, here at Good Shepherd have been getting non-stop questions about the wildly popular book called “The Shack”. I was handed a copy about six months ago and I read it to my family. Local author, Paul Young, has done a superb job of breaking our preconceived notions of who God is and has painted a beautiful picture of a God, who above all, loves and desires relationship with his creatures. He also treats the problem of pain and suffering in a magnificent way. I especially liked the chapter, “Here come Da Judge.”
The main reason I really like this book is that it creates an amazing opportunity to talk theology. Tragically, few Americans ever talk about theology - which I believe to be the world’s greatest and most important topic of conversation. This book provides the greatest opportunity in years to engage in discussions about the God we say we worship.
The greatest compliment you can give a book is to talk about it. I was a literature major and have loved to debate over an author’s meaning, philosophy, and theology. This is good. It is not being unkind to the author to do this. Authors love this.
Some people love this book so much that they get very frustrated or downright angry when I do this with “The Shack”. I find that phenomenon quite fascinating. What is it about this book that rings such a chord that when one dares to discuss its possible shortcomings – they call it “book bashing”? What about this book seems almost sacred to so many?
Anyway there are a number of questions the book raises in my mind and in the minds of the other pastors on staff here. I have wrestled with these questions with my wife and kids and have spent hours with friends talking theology both with those who agree with and disagree with me. The discussions are valuable and I learn. I love it!!!!!
If the book somehow seems sacred to you, maybe you don’t want to ask these questions. But if it is all good, and you want to be stretched in what you believe about God – wrestle with them. Here is my simple exercise “Read the quotes in “The Shack” in context, and then see if you can reconcile the book’s content with these quotes from the Bible as read in their context.” Then ask yourself “Why does it matter?
Some friends I know can do it, and I can reconcile a number of them in my mind. Others I know simply cannot. But no matter these are good things to talk about. What we believe to be true about God is what we live out and is truly the most important thing about us.
I do feel really bad when people get angry at me and say I am throwing a bucket of cold water on a great book. If you feel that way, you might not want to do the following exercise. I actually look at it - not as throwing a bucket of cold water - but as fanning the flame of a great “God” discussion. If we want to be challenged to think biblically, I think this might do us all some good.
Jonathan
The Shack: “I never left him at that moment” (on the cross)” p.96 -
The Bible: Mark 15:33-39, 2 Cor 5:21, 1 Peter 2:24 and Romans 6:23
The Shack:I don’t need to punish people for sin: sins it’s own punishment. p.120 -
The Bible: Rev 6:16,17 Acts 5:1-11, Romans 2:5 ,6, Rev 2:4,.14-16,20-24 3:15-19
The Shack: “No concept of final authority” or hierarchy in the Godhead 122-124, 145 -
The Bible: 1 Corinthians 15:20-28, Mark 14:32-42, Rev 2:26-27
The Shack: “I don’t create institutions – never have, never will” p. 178, 179 -
The Bible: Romans 13, 1 Peter 3, Luke 12:42 , Dan 4:24-35, Rev 11;15 , 20:6
The Shack: “These institutions are all a vain effort …. They are all false” 179
The Bible:Luke 20:25, 1 Tm 6:1, Col 1:16 Rev 2:26,27
The Shack: “Guilt will never help you find freedom in me” p.187
The Bible: 2 Cor 7:10, John 16:8
The Shack: “You never disappoint me” p 187, 206
The Bible: Mark 3:5 Ephesians 4:30 Prov24:17
The Shack: “I’m not frustrated or disappointed. I’m thrilled” p 187
The Bible: Eph 5:10, 1 Cor 5:9, 1Thess 2:4,15 Heb 13:16, 21 1 John 3:22
The Shack:You won’t find the word responsibility in the Scriptures pp 203-05 –
The Bible: Luke 12: 47-49, Matt 11:28,29 Matt 12:36, Matthew 25:20-30 24: 45-47
The Shack: I’m omniscient- so I have no expectations, p. 206. -
The Bible: 1 Cor 4:2 Micah 6:8 Matt 12:36
The Shack:In my relationship with those men I will never bring up what they did or shame them or embarrass them. Pg 225
The Bible: - Acts 7:51-60 , Luke 9:26
The Shack:In Jesus I have forgiven all humans for their sins against me. p .225 -
The Bible: Luke 12:8-10, Acts 8:22
The Shack: “The whole world – you mean those who believe in you right?” “The whole world Mack” p. 192
The Bible: Acts 10:43, Luke 19:27, Luke 24:47, Acts 2:38, 1John 2:1 , Acts 28:16,
The Shack: “I am now fully reconciled to the world” p 192
The Bible: 2 Cor 5:18-27
So now that God has reconciled himself to the world – go at it and wrestle these passages and get into some great conversations about the God of the Bible, and may it push us to His word and into real relationship with Him.
