~ ~ ~
Ever since I made a post on a book called The Shack that everyone is talking about, I've being collecting reviews. This post has gradually turned into a long list of reviews about this book.
The author of this book frequently talks about a facade. The question is - is The Shack itself a facade, as in 'theology posing as fiction'? Is it a heretical book, as so many are saying? Read the reviews and decide...
Whats Wrong With The Shack Book?
The Shack is full of false doctrine looked past by people who are emotionally swept out into the sea of deception. They look past the truth of God's Word because they want a god of their own making, one who fails to punish for sin unrepented of.
The primary source of this bad doctrine is because the trinity of The Shack Book is not the Trinity of the Bible. Rather it is the goddess Kali.
This is the book for you if you believe in a Universal salvation without seeking forgiveness, if you want a god who loves without logic, and if you don't know or don't care about biblical truth and sound doctrine.
To read A Critical Review of The Shack Book see here:
http://www.squidoo.com/TheShackBook
Also see:
They say it’s just a novel…{Note: yes, that should say 'John Bunyan', not 'Paul Bunyan', but the above is a quote from the squidoo article and I did not write it}
At least that's what the folks at church group tell you. Yet on the back the endorsements of Eugene Peterson tell us that this book is equal in value and theology the classic "Pilgrims Progress" by Paul Bunyan.
Elousia calls herself god, Sarayu claims to be the Holy Spirit, and Jesus goes around saying that they are all equal in authority, contrary to the Bible teaching that he lays down all authority in deference to the Father. These and other things in the story will reveal to you, like they have to me a darker story than the one revealed in "the shack" book. What you will find is that interwoven among the storyline and chapter is is the tale and the character of a god completely foreign to Christians.
Source:
http://www.squidoo.com/ShackHeresy
~~~
More reviews:
Defending a Book or The Book
(The Shack's publisher responds to reviews)
Here's another VERY interesting review of The Shack (read the comments):
hutleyshappenings.blogspot.com/2008/01/shack-book.html
And this: Another Shack Review
(two, actually)
*** NEW: Also see Challies updated review of The Shack HERE and Tim Challies interview on The Shack at Sermon Audio HERE. Also listen to Albert Mohler's radio program on The Shack HERE.
Two more new reviews here:
*THE SHACK & Its New Age Leaven
God IN Everything?
By Warren Smith
http://herescope.blogspot.com/2008/06/shack-its-new-age-leaven.html
*THE SHACK, "Elousia," & the Black Madonna
IMAGINATION, IMAGE, AND IDOLATRY
By Pastor Larry DeBruyn
http://herescope.blogspot.com/2008/07/shack-elousia-mythical-mystical-black.html
Just quickly adding these as well:
*A critique of The Shack
By Julie Klassen -- January 4, 2008
*The Seductive Subversive "Shack" by Jan Markel
www.christianworldviewnetwork.com
*Stay Out of the Shack
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQVztUhmdAA
*NEW* A Preliminary Critique of "The Shack" (August '08)
http://christianresearchnetwork.com/?p=5859
***Also new (September '08):
*"The book is like a deep ditch"
`Thirteen Heresies of The Shack~
*Gary Gilley's Review of The Shack
www.svchapel.org
*The Shack Review
http://hereiblog.com/2008/08/08/the-shack-review/
*Adultery and Idolatry
Why the 3 Part Series on The Shack is such a serious matter
http://herescope.blogspot.com/2008/09/adultery-idolatry.html
***NEW!!!
October 7th interview with Jan Markell and guests regarding The Shack - LISTEN HERE.
*Also, two new balanced reviews on The Shack here:
1) The first one I found at a blog called Deus Pro Nobis which you can read here:
http://jsyuille.blogspot.com/2008/10/shack.html
2) The second is at a blog called Straight Up, and you can read this review here:
http://blog.harvestbiblefellowship.org/?p=679
MORE OCTOBER UPDATES:
'The Shack' Author Insists Bestseller 'is a God Thing'
www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com
THE SHACK and Universal Reconciliation
*Part 1: Relationship, Rules and Reconciliation[1]
herescope.blogspot.com
Sin Separates
*Part 2: THE SHACK and Universal Reconciliation
herescope.blogspot.com
*Part 3: The Theological Implications
herescope.blogspot.com
***November '08 review:
The Shack: Helpful or Heretical?
A Critical Review by Norman L. Geisler and Bill Roach
http://www.christianworldviewnetwork.com/print.php?&ArticleID=4169
***Also see Lighthouse Trails blog article archives on The Shack HERE.
***New addition over at In Plain Site:
The Shack
http://www.inplainsite.org/html/the_shack.html
*My latest blog post on this book (again):
Famous Books
morebooksandthings.blogspot.com/2008/11/famous-books.html
***BRAND NEW! November 25:
The Death of Discernment
– How The Shack Became the #1 Bestseller in Christianity
By Eric Barger
www.christianworldviewnetwork.com
*Also new - December 2008:
In My Father's House There Are Many SHACKS? Part 1
herescope.blogspot.com
Part 2: In My Father's House There Are Many SHACKS?
herescope.blogspot.com
And this...
Shocked by the Shack
by Mike Oppenheimer
http://www.letusreason.org/bookR21.htm
***NEW January 2009:
*Guest Contributor on the Gospel Driven Blog:
Dr. James DeYoung Revisiting The Shack & Universal Reconciliation
gospeldriven.wordpress.com
(Note: Dr. DeYoung brings a unique perspective in his reviews due to the fact that he is personally acquainted with William Paul Young.)
*Warren Smith on The Shack
simplyagape.blogspot.com
(former New Ager addresses the things in this book)
***February 2009:
THE SHACK
Exposing pagan, occult and New Age teachings in THE SHACK
www.spiritual-research-network.stirsite.com
Note: As a result of posting THE SHACK page, the ministry of Spiritual Research Network (SRN) has sufferred the loss of donor support from Christians.
_ _ _
Here's another I recently came accross...
Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth Exposes the Truth about The Shack
by Kathy Beardsley
- - - - -
March 2009:
De Young’s “The Shack” review
March 10, 2009
mywordlikefire.wordpress.com
Listen to this interview:
Interview with William Young(***Read partial transcript of this revealing interview HERE.)
Here is an interview with The Shack author William Young. In it he flatly denies the substitutionary atonement (which was one of the questions many people had as they read the book).
http://rock-life.com/files/shakcomp.mp3
(As found on www.challies.com)
Also see these:
*The Shack Inspection
alwaysreformingtoscripture.blogspot.com/
*The Shack - A Review REVISED & UPDATED
Written by J.R.Hall
www.bereanwatchmen.com/j.r.hall/the-shack-a-review.html
*Sad Thing- Pastors Endorsing 'The Shack'
morebooksandthings.blogspot.com
*The Word is Out
morebooksandthings.blogspot.com
*Will the Gaither's Promote The Shack?
apprising.org
*Gloria Gaither Endorses The Shack
slaughteringthesheep.wordpress.com
Another truthful review:
*The Shack-Heresy At Its Finest
heargodspeak.blogspot.com
April 2009:
*Another Interview
morebooksandthings.blogspot.com
(4 days of William Paul Young on It's a New Day)
Note: Quotes from Day 1 of interview:
"In some of the controversy around the book…there’s not a huge amount of it…it’s pretty small in comparison with how the book is positively impacting the culture, but even that, so much of it is fear based, and one of the questions I wanna ask is… what is it really that you are afraid of here?***NOTE: Watch William Young interview on It's A New Day, July 2009, HERE.
There’s been some push back and unfortunately some of it is from fairly significant voices and some of them have never even read the book …some of them who are upset about it don’t want to dialogue about it…that doesn’t bother me, it’s just people being people, bringing to the table what they have, including their doctrinal paradigms and their fears and whatever…to me, it’s not about me…when I say that this is a God thing, I even mean the controversy that is a part of that…
The controversy is God stirring up the pot for healing…
A lot of the push back is from people who are afraid…"
- - -
***New Review here:
Re-imagining God in the Shack
Mary Kassian
April 17, 2009
www.cbmw.org
Excerpt from this article:
The thing that bothers me the most about the Shack is that it wraps destructive ideas up in an appealing package and feeds it to people who have neither the discernment nor the desire to carefully separate truth from error. Most Shackites don't have a clue about the magnitude of the implications of messing with Trinitarian imagery. Here's the thing. In the Old Testament, God instructed his people to reject female goddess images and images of God as a bi-sexual or a dual-sexual Baal/Ashtoreth-type collaboration. God hated this imagery so much that he had his people destroy it and all those who promoted it.
~ ~ ~
One hour video discussion @ bible.org...
The Shack: The Good, the Bad, and the Controversial
http://www.bible.org/page.php?page_id=6198
~ ~ ~
Another good review:
In My Father's House Are Many Shacks?
www.michianachristianembassy.com/view/?pageID=372975
Found another...
"The Outhouse": One-Hour Blasphemizing
suspiciousberean.blogspot.com
The latest news about The Shack (June '09):
Elmbrook Church to Host Heretical “Shack” Author
www.sliceoflaodicea.com
(church charges admission to hear him speak)
*Now look who is promoting it...
RW's online magazine is promoting The Shack:
Finding Shelter in "The Shack"
http://www.purposedriven.com/
article.do?method=articlePage&contentId=600001149
(copy and paste URL into your browser without spaces)
OR
Go here:
PURPOSE DRIVEN ONLINE MAGAZINE OF RICK WARREN PLUGS THE SHACK
apprising.org
***June 25th - MUST SEE VIDEO:
Todd Friel (of Wretched) nails it here:
Author of “The Shack” Is a Universalist,
Denies Penal Substitutionary Atonement
http://5ptsalt.com
***July 2, 2009 Interview - Pastor Larry DeBruyn
"The Shack" Author Brings Heresy to Evangelical Churches
http://crosstalkamerica.com/
More on that here:
Crosstalk: “The Shack” Author Brings Heresy to Evangelical Churches
christianresearchnetwork.com/?p=11862
~ ~ ~
Here's a good review on YouTube by Dale Brown (9:18)
The Shack Review
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BK0J2-lFH0
*July 3, 2009
Reviewing "The Shack"
Podcast Guest Heinz Dschankilic MP3 here:
Nicene Council
MP3 Reviewing The Shack
www.nicenecouncil.com
Here's another good one:
Guest Contributor: Dr. James DeYoung Revisiting The Shack & Universal Reconciliation
gospeldriven.wordpress.com
~ ~ ~
Related:
Guarding the Gospel
seekingtobefaithful.blogspot.com
Listen to what the author has to say in this latest interview...
An Interview with 'The Shack' Author Paul Young
07/09/2009
www.guideposts.com/video/paul-young-the-shack
August 2009
Fractals, Chaos Theory, Quantum Spirituality, and The Shack by Warren Smith
www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/
Here's one I missed:
What's At The Back of The Shack? A Look At William, P. Young's THE Shack
By Marcia Montenegro
Written November 2008
www.christiananswersforthenewage.org
Here's a radio Q&A time about The Shack:
Should 'The Shack' Be Attacked?
Radio Program of the Berean Call
[MP3 and Transcript]
http://www.thebereancall.org/node/6994
Another interview:
Interview With Paul Young
http://christianresearchnetwork.com/?p=13152
[An interview with the author of The Shack, which is quite enlightening. Young himself admits: “We tend to project, and create a ‘god,’ in the image of what we know”]
Very interesting:
**Matt Slick of CARM interviews William P Young about his book The Shack:
On youtube HERE.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Are we sick of this yet? The Shack - yes folks, it's another interview. This time on 100 Huntley Street...
http://www.100huntley.com/video.php?id=AY954mG0-cw
[etc...etc...other parts can be clicked on in the side column]
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
United Kingdom: The Shack has “taken country by storm” with 1/2 a million in sales
http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/?p=3822
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
New: February 25, 2010
Radio Interview:
Pastor Larry DeBruyn of Franklin Road Baptist Church joined us on the Crosstalk Show to discuss his new book, Unshackled: Breaking Away From Seductive Spirituailty. The bestselling allegorical novel, The Shack, has taken the nation by storm. Evangelicals across the spectrum have embraced the book and pastors have bought crates of it for their church members. Why would a book that contains 13 separate heresies about God be so popular with those who ought to know Scripture? What is behind the emotion-laden content of the story? Pastor DeBruyn answered these questions and gave an overview of the basics of the spirituality that is coming in like a tidal wave. A tremendous falling-away from truth is seen on every hand. Be armed and prepared with the Word of God to be able to refuse the seduction and warn others. Listen here:
Seductive Spirituality and "The Shack"
www.crosstalkamerica.com
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
***Beware The Shack, by author, John K. Langemann, compares the biblical God with the god created by the imagination of the creator of bestselling book “The Shack,” of which features in a Christian Bookshop near you! See here:
Beware the Shack
http://girdedwithtruth.org/2009/08/30/beware-the-shack/
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
****Brand New - April 30
New book coming out on June 1st called Burning Down “The Shack”
The mother of all “The Shack” reviews
http://mywordlikefire.wordpress.com/2010/04/30/the-mother-of-all-the-shack-reviews/
Also see:
"BURNING DOWN THE SHACK" pre-review
mywordlikefire.wordpress.com
NEW:
**BLAZE OF GLORY
Up in flames: Melting false teachings of 'The Shack'
Professor takes torch to 'blasphemous doctrine' of best-seller
May 23, 2010
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=156873
*Wake up, you so-called Christians!
Exclusive: Joseph Farah sounds alarm for 'foolish virgins in the church'
"I urge you to read "Burning Down 'The Shack.'" It's about a book that has had a profound and negative influence on the church and the culture at large."
Joseph Farah
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.printable&pageId=160381
Other reviews:
*The Shack Review
A place to discuss The Shack by William P. Young
http://theshackreview.com/
"The Outhouse" (aka The Shack): One-Hour Blasphemizing
http://suspiciousberean.blogspot.com/2008/12/outhouse-one-hour-blasphemizing.html
Finding God in The Shack?
http://suspiciousberean.blogspot.com/2009/04/finding-god-in-shack.html
The Shack: best-seller theology
June 21, 2010
mywordlikefire.wordpress.com
*A Critique From Matt Slick of CARM (www.carm.org):
Errors in the Book The Shack by William P Young
www.youtube.com
New article:
The Shack Author Says: “The God of Evangelical Christianity is a Monster.”
www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com
~ ~ ~
***New book by James B. Young exposes The Shack and its author in a new book called 'Burning Down The Shack':
Cult following of 'The Shack'
Exclusive: James B. De Young exposes obsessive devotion to popular novel
*The following posts contain quotes from 'Burning Down The Shack':
The Shack - based on truth or emotions?
morebooksandthings.blogspot.com
No Devil in The Shack
morebooksandthings.blogspot.com
The Shack's Father Co-crucified with the Son (heresy)
morebooksandthings.blogspot.com
Things We Should Expect to See in a Christian Novel
morebooksandthings.blogspot.com
Shame on Pastors who invite The Shack's Author to their Church
morebooksandthings.blogspot.com
~ ~ ~
New:
How 'The Shack' seduced evangelicals
Prof who knew author says book's acceptance exposes weakness in church
www.wnd.com
New:
July 13 2010:
The Shack, Revisited
solasisters.blogspot.com
***NEW: Trouble (AND LAWSUITS) brewing in the shack...
The flak over 'The Shack'
July 17, 2010
www.latimes.com
SEPTEMBER 2010:
TOUGH TALK TO MARK DRISCOLL FROM SHACK AUTHOR PAUL YOUNG
apprising.org
*************UPDATE:
MAY 2011 TROUBLE IN THE SHACK
FROM NOW ON, TO SEE UPDATES ON THE LATEST SHACK FIASCO(S), CLICK HERE:
http://mywordlikefire.wordpress.com/?s=The+Shack&submit=Search
43 comments:
I am so relieved that the truth about this book is finally coming out! So, why is our local Christian book store promoting this kind of garbage?!
How very very interesting!!! Thank you so much for these links. I had no intention of reading the book thanks to your talking about it last week, but I am sure it won't be long before I start being asked if I have read this "amazing, wonderful book". Good to be armed with truth. Thanks, Carla!
When the first Harry Potter movie came out, my own pastor (from the pulpit) defended taking his children to see it. Many in the church saw no problem with it. I did not feel that I would have the moral authority to say anything about it unless I saw it so I bought the movie on DVD and watched it before publicly criticizing it and before I took my pastor to lunch and talked to him about this issues which he had not recognized in that movie and book series. Yet, the writer of this blog is confident in labeling the book as heresy while also proclaiming that it has not been read, nor will it be read, by the blog's author. I won't go into defending the book's ways of portraying the Trinity with someone who has not read it.
For a well written defense of the book, go to http://www.windblownmedia.com/shackresponse.html
By the way, I already read the response at Windblown last week. I posted about it just this morning.
I have read this book and found it to be completely heretical and a danger to the believing community. What was even more frightening to me was the person who gave me the book told me it was based on a true story and the people (including the pastors wife) of this large church were all reporting the same news, this is a TRUE story! I fear that one day this book and ones like them, will cause a great apostasy of believers because the god they think they see in this book is not the one true God of the Bible and His creation. So sad, but I thank you for posting your opinions based on others reviews.
I disappoints me to read an "authoritative" (if it's spelled right, I'm lucky) that begins by stating you didn't read the book. That's just weak. I have read the book and feel there are some points for discussion. Unfortunately, you are the definition of ignorant.
I HAVE read the book and am an ardent believer in the authority of scripture. I don't see the "heresy" in the book. I see that it tweaks our cultural ideas of God. I thought the book was excellent.
Here is a good response to the objections to the book: http://lifestream.org/blog/?p=530
Yes I read that response on Wayne Jacobsen's blog some time ago.
He says that "the book uses some characterizations of God to mess with the religious stereotypes only to get people to consider God as he really is, not how we have reconstituted him as a white, male autocrat bent on religious conformity."
Herein lies the whole problem. We don't need a fiction book to mess with our stereotypes of God to consider God as he really is. What we need is THE BOOK to mess with our presuppositions of who we think God is. In depth study of the God breathed living Word is the only safe way to be washed and cleansed of our false presuppositions.
Correction:
"What we need is THE BOOK to "mess with" our presuppositions"
What I should have said is:
"What we need is THE BOOK to "change" our presuppositions"
God does not "mess with" us. It is we who are messed up. He changes us, renews our minds, and puts us back together the way we should be.
It's the devil who "messes with" us.
I am in the middle of this crazy book. The "Trinity" seems like a laid back trio of potheads who want to turn everybody on to their relaxed lifestyle. Not exactly the deep, life changing spiritual literary experience I was expecting - just a wacky poke at religiosity.
You pose some very interesting points, haven't read the book either, but definitely have heard a lot about the book from my friends. Thanks for sharing.
Your comments would have more merit if you had read the book. I've seen too many books, movies and art slammed by overly-defensive Christians who spoke without knowing what they're talking about. This happened with Jesus of Nazareth, the TV movie/mini-series. Many Christian leaders who had spoken against the movie before it was released, regretted what they said after they saw the movie.
Keep in mind this book is a work of fiction! It is a story. If you don't like stories used to illustrate theological truth, you will have to throw out most of the Bible.
Ah yes, and that's the beauty of it...I have provided a pile of links to Biblical reviews by people who have read the book.
This book is definitely heretical. Someone from a church my wife and I left last year (because of poor doctrinal teaching) sent my wife a copy of this book. I had heard of it but didn't know too much. A little bit of research and a little bit of reading (plus all the "Lifechanging" reviews on Amazon) were enough to convince me that this is a dangerous book. I blogged about it on my site. Here's a couple of links for anyone who is interested:
http://simplemann.net/?p=46
http://simplemann.net/?p=62
Over the last two or three months, without any sort of effort on my part, I've been exposed to The Shack, Todd Bentley, and John Crowder. Last year we left a church that was apparently pretty heavily influenced by the New Apostolic Reformation (we split when things took a turn for the weird and I began to unravel the reason why). For whatever reason, it seems this stuff just keeps coming before me, and I must admit I am shocked and appalled at the amount of distortion and deception taking place in the *church* and among those who call themselves believers.
Before God elected to save me (for what reason I still do not know for there was nothing desirable or deserving about me, for sure) I was an atheist, then a psychologist, then an occultist, and a mystic. I rebelled against my Lord in every way imaginable, but I never sought to call myself a Christian until he completely broke me and gave me a new heart that was capable of knowing and loving Him. But now I see so many people who do not know Him, and whose theology more closely resembles things I believed *before* I came to Christ when I was actively opposed to Him. And yet they call themselves CHRISTIANS! I don't get it! I think people have a false sense of security today, thinking if they just tie the name of Jesus around whatever false religion they choose to make for themselves, they will be saved from Judgment.
Oh, that God would open their eyes and that the dead would rise and see the King! But instead they bow down and worship at the altar of The Shack, or hail false prophets like Bentley and Joe Avanzini, admire mockers and scoffers like John Crowder and Ben Dunn... where is the heart of worship today? Why are the hearts of the people so dead? I just don't understand.
Lord, have mercy on us, and let us hear your voice and follow You and You alone.
Simple Mann
First, not reading the book and then posting about it on your blog is bad form. Honestly.
Second, Paul Bunyan is a legendary lumberjack, not the author of Pilgrim's Progress.
I was being hounded by everyone to read this book, and experiencing its "life changing" quality. Without even having heard a critic, I purchased the book and began reading. As soon as the trinity was revealed in the book, the word heresy popped in my mind. I was alarmed that many who I consider sound in the Lord would go so gaga over this book.
I would warn anyone reading this to proceed with caution. This book is dangerous. If your relationship with the Lord is stale, or lacking, then don't think a novel is going to give you some new revelation. It will only give you a distortion of God and try to appeal to your fleshly desires to "know" God. God does want you to "know" him, but this book is not how.
No one has seen the Lord. This book attempts to bring God down to our level. God is not some jovial black woman baking cakes in the kitchen. Shame on the author and publisher for trying to create a god in their own image. You shall not make unto yourself ANY graven image.
I don’t care what color God is, thats not the problem I have with this book.
Witchcraft holds a pantheistic view of God. With that in mind Wiccans believe that God is nature, therefore God is in all things and all things are a part of God. However, this “god” is in actuality a goddess. Even if it's not the authors intention, The Shack strongly quotes the pantheistic point of view.
I find it interesting that Jesus almost appears like a child dependent upon a mother. Goddess worship is mother/child worship, for example Venus and Cupid. However, Jesus is not a little boy. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords who sits at the right hand of “The Father” and when the world sees Him, “Every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord!” Now thats a God I can believe in! My Jesus rules!
I could name many things about this book which shows it being out of order in light of scripture, and I truly say this in love and not out of sarcasm or anger.
Goddess worship, many times called "Mystery religions," has been creeping into the church for years, but now through the popular emerging church movement. The author of the shack is highly connected within that movement and so are those who endorse the book.
I'm not trying to bash anyone, I'm only presenting the truth in light of scripture interpreted within its proper context. Sadly, speaking the truth is considered arrogant within this postmodern movement as they believe that truth is subjective and not absolute.
God help us all............
With an open mind, I read Wayne Jacobsens rebutal. He claims that he is not affiliated with the emergent church movement. For this I offer my appologies. Apart from that, my observations of the book remain. I do not hate the author or anyone who reads it, I simply do not agree with it. I have no hidden motives to downplay the book, I just can't endorse it. Those who want to scream at me, do so at freedom_won4me@hotmail.com Take care and God bless. :)
Wow everyone. This book is a FICTION! Stop saying it is a substitute for the bible and that it is heretical. No one should be replacing it with the bible because it is False. I don't think anyone who is serious about their faith puts all their trust and understanding of God in this book. It is just one persons understanding of the Trinity, that doesn't mean it has to be yours or even that his understanding of it is wrong. I don't necessarily agree with all of it but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy it for what it is. Has anyone here read "The Great Divorce," by C.S. Lewis. That book is about a bus trip from hell to heaven. It is a fiction. But is has a general message. I don't think many of us would consider C.S. Lewis to be an unintelligent Christian at all. He is brilliant. But his fictitious story helps us understand the ideas of predestination vs. free well. Come on guys, really? A forum about how anti-Christian "The Shack" is. Please.
Hello Peter,
The problem with that is the 'general message' in this book is false, and people ARE subsituting the Bible with this book. They say it has been life changing. Rather than help people understand God's character, as CS Lewis did, this book gives them a false idea of who God is. It doesn't line up with the Word.
Therein lies the concern.
According to the Bible, we should be wary of any 'Christian' book that is popular with the world, especially if it makes the New York Times best seller list. The world hates the true gospel, but LOVES cleverly told tales that make them feel good.
- - -
If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
John 15:19
- - -
They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them.
1 John 4:5
- - -
2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
2 Tim 4:2-4
Hmm, I did not know people were actually substituting this book with the Bible. I have not heard of people doing that but I'm sure you have, and that is a huge problem.
However, I feel like you are going to post about how detrimental this book is to Christians and their understanding of God, you should probably read it. I know you have said many times that you haven't read it and feel no need to... but honestly, for your own sake as well, read it so you know what you are arguing against in detail. We as Christians should read (not acknowledge as truth of course) other texts from other religions so we can be more knowledgeable, less judgmental, and more equipped to debate these matters. It also will give us more security and enforce/encourage our own beliefs. I am not saying you are judgmental because you gave a kind response, but seriously, read the book so you know exactly what you are arguing. Even if you don't have enough time. Read it for a purely informative, non-theological approach. I always read books like these very skeptically of course, but it was an enjoyable tale that basically tells the story of Job. Why do bad things happen to good people? The book mainly focuses on that fact, and with that, how to seek God for comfort during those times of heartache and trouble because is the Only one that can truly fill us. That he is always with us. I don't feel like this book was made to explain the Trinity but rather to just simply encourage us to include God in ALL areas of our life.
Sad.
My 14 yr old daughter read this book before it became all the rage. (She reads a lot) She couldn't put her finger on it, but she knew something was wrong with it. She had to put it down and read the Gospel of John to flush the weirdness out of her mind. She didn't tell us till months afterwards (when she saw our pastor had it as a "must read" on his Facebook).
To the critics... One doesn't need to read trash to know that it's trash. If that's your only rebuttal, suck it up and post reasons why The Shack agrees with the Bible (bonus points if you can cite verses).
I read the response at Windblown several weeks ago, and his complaint simply doesn't wash. Here are just a few:
>If it helps convey the reality of Jesus to you, great!"
Ummm.. hullo! The Shack opposes blatant statements made by God and Jesus. How can distortions "convey reality"? If I told lies about you, would I be sensible in suggesting they "conveyed reality" about you? Grow up.
>we .. are deeply committed followers of Jesus Christ who have a passion for the Truth of the Scriptures
Then why did you write that "most roads lead to nowhere"? Jesus said all roads except one, lead to destruction. If you think destruction = nowhere, then fine - but tell me this: would you rather drive down a road that led to nowhere or a road that led to destruction? How committed to Truth are you, if you're twisting it all the time?
>Is it a complete picture of him? Of course not!
I don't think anyone would expect you to put a complete picute of Christ - but our complaint is that it's a *twisted* picture. If I took a photo of you from the neck up and photoshopped/distorted it, would you complain that I didn't include your chest, legs and arms, or would you complain that I messed up you face? Get the difference?
>This is not the angry and tyrannical God that religion has been using for 2000 years to beat people into conformity and we are not surprised that this threatens the self-proclaimed doctrine police.
Thanks for the mischaricterization.
If you don't like the "self-proclaimed doctrine police", then how about the authors of the Bible? Jesus Himself (the Bible!) spoke more about hell, judgment and condemnation than any other topic. Look how many times the word "wrath" is used in the NT. Look at Felix's response to Paul's message about goodness, self-control and the judgment to come (Acts 24. If you don't have your Bible handy, Felix was afraid and told Paul to stop preaching).
>The words, "I don’t want slaves to do my will; I want brothers and sisters who will share life with me," are simply a reflection of John 15:15.
Nice try. Now try reading that verse along with the rest of the chapter and you'll see why all throught the NT, Jesus, Paul, Peter, James, John and others continually calls us to be servants, slaves and sacrifices.
Plenty more where this came from, but you get the gist.
Carla - keep up the good work. And don't bother reading The Shack. It's a waste of time.
(Y'know.. I hear drugs are bad for my health. But.. I haven't tried it, so for all I know, it's just hearsay.)
Awesome comment! Thank you!
@sbherbert, who said: First, not reading the book and then posting about it on your blog is bad form. Honestly.
That same logic would prevent me from telling others that heroin is bad and to stay away from it just because I've never used it myself.
@linearconcepts - Amen. Kudos to your daughter for having such discernment at such a young age. That is awesome. I was extremely disappointed to hear that one of the youth pastors at the church my twelve year old daughter goes to for after-school care told a group of 9 to 13 year old boys and girls that it was a "great" book. It is disappointing to know that even in the body of believers there are many who seem to lack discernment with the “trojan horse” theology Young hides amongst some very definite Biblical truth.
1Jn 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
1Jn 4:2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God;
1Jn 4:3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.
1Jn 4:4 You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
1Jn 4:5 They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them.
1Jn 4:6 We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
I’ve been exchanging some comments with a shack defender on another site. I think it's an interesting exchange because it basically reveals the core problem that so many people who love this book have--they have a greater reverence and appreciation for this work of fiction than they do for God's own inspired word. They accuse concerned believers like me of being stodgy and Pharisaical--"trapped in religion"--which of course is one of the "core values" is you will within the book. I think you will be edified by the review and the comments you'll find here:
http://hereiblog.com/2008/08/08/the-shack-review/
Another argument that I hear too often from defenders of this heresy is that the shack is a work of fiction, not theology. Despite the common objection that the shack is a work of fiction and not theology, the vast majority of conversations in the shack revolve around theological discussions dealing with the nature of God. The problem, as already stated, is that while they often contain a fair amount of truth, there are far too often elements intertwined with that truth that are completely antithetical to Scripture. And it only takes a little bit of arsenic to ruin an otherwise terrific meal.
I do not mean to seem uncharitable, but honestly, the arguments that I keep seeing people present to defend this book concern me as much as the subtly subversive nature of its message. That so many people sing its praises does not necessarily make it a good thing. There were many in the desert that sang praises to a golden calf, too. Yet God said:
“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.” (Exodus 20:4-6)
Might that include quaint old black women named Papa?
In Christ,
Simple Mann
I must say, there have been some incredible comments lately by some very wise people. Thank you so much.
This post gets a lot of hits every day. I hope that many will read and be helped to see the truth.
God bless you linearconcepts and simple mann!
By the way, thanks Simple Mann for the link. I keep adding good reviews to this post and have just put it in.
I didn't read your review, just the first little bit. I've read others like it, and I'm pretty sure yours is terrible too.
How does that feel? I would have quite a bit more respect for you if you would actually read the book. I haven't, and everyone saying it's full of heresy just makes me want to read it more and come to my own conclusions, like an educated, discerning Christian should.
Hello Adam,
I'm perfectly fine with that. I certainly respect your right to read whatever you want, but you could't have read my review even if you had tried because I didn't write a review. I have simply written a post that is filled with other people's reviews who have read the book.
I believe that one can only become an educated, discerning Christian if one spends more time in 'The Book' than in 'a book.'
Adam,
Congratulations for joining with all believers whose faith can withstand anything that might come from reality, including reading a controversial book. I hope your comment will challenge others to pull their heads out of the sand and face their fears about their faith.
There is so much fear in these comments. It seems to me most have a G-d that is too small. Since the Reformation many Christians hold to only the image of G-d in the (shorter) Bible. We must realize that G-d has been active and revelatory even since the Catholic Bishops closed the Canon in the fourth century.
you know, you can use all the references and big fancy words in the entire world, but the fact is that I read the book and recieved a lot of healing from God through it. A bunch of my false preceptions about God were confronted and removed, and now my relationship with God is even stronger and closer than it was before. You can not say that what happened in my life is wrong, or unbiblical or a herisy or whatever, cause you would be calling me a liar.
"A bunch of my false preceptions about God were confronted and removed, and now my relationship with God is even stronger and closer than it was before."
How on earth could your 'false perceptions of God' be confronted by the false perceptions of God in the Shack? (The writer keeps saying the book is a fiction)
Of course if you buy into the lie that God does not judge anyone, does not send anyone to Hell, and at worst, nudges one when they do wrong, and does not want to embarrass one etc., it is easy to get cosy and close to a god like that, but I'm afraid that it does not bring you nearer to the only true God as He is portrayed in the Bible.
It does not make you a liar or a heretic, but it makes the creators of an imaginary, unbiblical God, potential liars and heretics.They have created an imaginary god who satisfies itchy ears.
Let the Bible show you who the real 'Papa', is and not a mess of a book written by a man, who at the time of writing it, was in a self-confessed mess.
Dear Carla...
You are acting very rude. I know you are "defending" your oppinion but you have no respect for everybody else defending theirs as well. No need to leave nasty little comments back to people who disagree with you. Honestly.
I completely agree with Peter that this book is FICTION! I understand that you are upset. There are many books that are FICTION and have underlying messages. I personally don't believe in wizards, yet I enjoy watching Harry Potter. Problem? I think not. It's entertainment. It's not like i'm going out and worshiping witch craft.
Would it make you happier if the author wrote on the cover WARNING : FICTION BOOK, DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ FROM FICTION BOOKS. ( by the way we learn not to believe everything we read in second grade, and we also learn that FICTION means FAKE)
Actually Harry Potter is witchcraft, its just repackaged.
Look at all the effort you've put in here to collect all the negative things you can about this book, without having read it and without examining or presenting the many who disagree with your assessment.
The ironic thing is, mostly what this sort of thing does is generate more interest and sales for the book itself.
It's fine that you disagree with and choose to see the book in the most negative light possible. I just wonder if you realize that when you define yourself by what you're against, instead of what you're for, in the end what you accomplish actually promotes the book more and encourages people to read it.
Interesting, isn't it? Actually, it hasn't really taken much time at all. Whenever I come across an article, I add it to the post. Takes a few seconds.
{By they way, not that it matters one bit, but having read major portions of the book, I found it alarming enough to start collecting biblically based reviews, because I agree with the Bible and choose to see God's book as the sword of truth, able to divide truth from error.}
It is John Bunyan, not Paul Bunyan.
Thanks
Yeah, that's right, but I didn't write that, it's a direct quote from an article.
What a breath of fresh air The Shack was.The moment I open the book I had to finish it.William Yound I'm still waiting for the sequeal. It is nice to see the heretics shaken up by it and they should be because its not about legalism, its about fiction,grace fiction.
Open your eyes, man. The gods of the Shack are not the Godhead of the Bible.
@Clive.
Heretics? My dear friend, the bible needs to be studied in context, it is not studied by your feelings. As your brother in Christ, I would like to encourage you to learn what heresy is. I understand that the Shack is a "feel good" work of fiction, but as an example of the church.
Even in fiction, we need to portray it in light of biblical truth, not by how we feel. I can truly hear what the author is trying to say and I honor that. However, in light of scripture, his theology is way off course. I'm not saying that the author is a bad man, nor am I judging him. However, heresy is not subjective, and neither is truth. May God richly bless you dear friend....
Chancellor,
Bless you for your example, and the lesson on patience.
Post a Comment