Book Review - The Shack
Published by LifeIsAJourney.org under on 6:00 AMThe Shack
Wrapping your head around the Trinity can be overwhelming to say the least. The fact that God has existed for eternity, never changes and is infinite in His knowledge is enough to send your mind spinning. Jesus' willingness to give up His power as God and come to Earth to live among us and as one of us seems impossible. And the Holy Spirit indwelling in us and advising our conscience seems unthinkable. Each one beyond our full understanding and yet craving us to understand them and know them fully.
Would it help if we could sit down and talk to each of them face to face? Would it help if they showed themselves to us in a way that we could see them in human bodies, hear their voices and have an open dialogue? Yes, Jesus did do this for us when He came to Earth but unfortunately most of us were born too late to see Him. Fortunately He did leave His story behind for us in the Bible. But what if we could take a walk in a garden with the Holy Spirit? What if we could enjoy a cup of coffee and a conversation with God? What if we could sit across from Jesus at the dinner table and look directly in His eyes as we thank Him for our food.
In the Shack the main character is given the opportunity to see God in a whole new way. Through tragic circumstances he comes face to face with God Himself. And what follows is an incredible and unusual tale of a weekend with God.
I have to admit that I did not devour this book in the same way many others have. To tell the truth, about half way through I put it down and didn't want to pick it back up. I may even have rolled my eyes as I was challenged to view God in entirely different and unusual ways. But then because I've never not finished a book I started (except for Cape Fear) and because I knew I had to write this review I put my cynicism aside and finished it. And guess what? I began to enjoy it again. And even more than that it opened my mind and heart to the reality of what our relationship with God could look like. Through this book I realized that if we set aside our desired vision of what God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are like we may get to know them on a deeper level and understand their role in our lives more clearly. God isn't trying to fit anyone's mold. And I know I've created many that I try to stuff Him in. The Shack brings up many points to ponder that may lead to a fresh look at God's plan for our lives and our response to life in general. For example, when we keep making the same mistakes we tend to get frustrated with ourselves and with God's plan for us. But God knows how many times we are going to fail before we finally get it right. How liberating to be able to view our failures as one step closer to success.
Another challenge addressed in the book is our insistence that we are able to exhibit our own independence from God. He was gracious enough to allow us free will. So then why do we complain when other's independent choices affect us negatively? We only want our own way. We don't like the fact that others are allowed to make their own choices, right or wrong, because their wrong choices may affect us in a negative way. An example: you want the freedom to decide which house to buy. That seems like a good choice. But what about that person who uses his free will to decide to break into your home while you are at work. Not a great choice. But both choices were made because God did not create us to be puppets but instead to make our own decisions. Why should your rights to exercise your free will be held above someone else's?
If there is any hesitation in reading a Christian novel that mixes theology with fiction it is that we as readers may make those same mix ups. The Shack is a great catalyst in raising some interesting questions. Hopefully it will lead us to rethinking the ways we relate to God and what it is that He expects from us. And hopefully it will do that by causing us to run to the Word. The conversations that take place in the Shack did not actually happen. But the conversations that take place in the Word did. And it is in those conversations that we can be drawn into the true fellowship that God desires with us. It is in those conversations that we can hear God's voice and see His face.
Jennifer Stratman
4 comments:
best book review ever!!
I read The Shack in July, then my husband read it, then I sent copies to my mother-in-law and 2 sisters. Then I told most everyone I could about this book. I Loved it!! It spoke to me like no other book or person ever has. As I read it, it began to break through my life long belief that I was not loved by God or "a favorite" of his. I log on to theshackbook.com and enjoy reading others opinions and interpretations of this book.
It's a wonderful story about God's love for us. - I am now reading a book I've never thought I'd understand, the bible, alittle at a time starting at Matthew!
I read the shack about a month ago. My family and I were going through and are still going through a tough time. Although there are some theological ideas in the book that are a struggle to wrapp your head around, there are some great simple lesssons. The one on our struggle to be independent was a good one. Another that may fit more into everyones struggle and fears today was the one on expectations vs. expectancy. With the fears of jobs, homes, health issues, even doing the best at guiding our kids, family and ministry, it was a big eye opener that God who knows all would rather we live with the expectancy. What he might do today, what our kids might do right, rather than trying to control the things in our lives is what God really wants for us. It comes down to TRUST. A very difficult concept to grasp if fear is involved.
This book showed me that my trust level was not where it should be, but that even that is ok with God and that God is willing to help me get to where He intends for us to be. Philippians 1:6
Lori
My husband just read this book. Now, let me tell you a little about my husband. He was raised in a very strict Christian household. Strict to the point where he could not listen to radio, he could only listen to the hymnals that the church approved. He couldn't watch movies, only movies like "A Thief in the Night" that came out in the 70's and the following movies that were in the series. He couldn't celebrate any holidays, no birthdays. When he turned 18 he broke off and never returned. He has such a jaded view of Christianity and church now and I can only get him to step into church maybe once or twice a year for a baptism or Christmas.
He just read "The Shack" and cried through it. He said it has reawakened something in him. I am so glad something was able to do that. I have tried for years to do it but he finally told me that the more I push him the more he resists. But now, he seems a little more open to the notion of starting to ready the bible a little more. Every day he raves about this book. I can't wait to read it.
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