More on The Shack
I had lunch with a friend today, someone who is in a hard transition and who, because of it, is finally able to face reality and grapple with some of the lies that have been in his head for decades. These are lies that have been told him by our evangelical, performance-driven subculture that has framed God as taskmaster and him as soulwinner. And finally, he is breaking free. But it’s been a costly journey.
At the end of our meal, I told him about The Shack, which I’ve commented on previously. Since we were near a bookstore, we popped in and I scooped up five more copies to give away. I gave him a copy as I felt its message would resonate with where he was at.
I’m not unaware of the controversy surrounding the book, but I have to say I have very little time and patience for anyone who wants to parse every jot and tiddle of its theology. That’s not the intent of the author. Naked Pastor says it best:
This is a work of fiction! The author writes that its purpose is to awaken you, help you feel something, unlock your heart, surprise you, and so on. It isn’t meant to be a theological text. It is, in other words, a piece of art. Whether good or bad, that is up to you to decide (I refuse to use those two categories for art). I am surrounded with art. I am an artist myself. I listen to all kinds of music. God save me if all I listen to is theologically correct music. (What does that sound like anyway?) I surround myself with paintings and photographs. What do they say? Be sure that they say all kinds of things. Some of it isn’t “correct”, but all of it is valid and has a right to be said. I watch lots of movies. I may not personally appreciate or agree with everything that they communicate. But I love how diverse and varietal films can be and how they can shed new light on old ideas or open new vistas of possibilities in the dull and boring routine I often find myself in. I have a library full of books. You would never be able to peg where I stand theologically from looking at my diverse collection. I expose myself to all kinds of art because I love diversity and what all art may have to say or contribute to my life.
Karen happened to be in a group that went out with the author, Paul Young, last weekend and heard that he spent $300 (total) on marketing the book – its growth has come through word-of-mouth. And it is popping up everywhere; I was at LaGuardia airport on Sunday, and saw it for sale in a bookstore.
So if you don’t have it yet, get out and buy this book. Read it from a place of humility and openness, to be moved. Don’t read it to critique and judge.
The problem is that maybe you are mature enough of a Christian not to believe anything theologically incorrect (which the Shack absolutely is) but there are thousands of Christians and non-Christians who have little or no discernment at all. Just the thought that you went out and purposely bought copies to give to others makes me question if you are yet another 1 in that multitude. You look like an intelligent guy. Please read the scripture and compare this heresy with the Bible. The Shack is New Age heresy.
Hmmm. Lemme see. Eugene Peterson compares it to John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress. “bella” calls it New Age heresy. It’s a tough call, but I gotta go with Eugene on this one. Sorry, “bella,”
This morning as I read and meditate on scripture (John 12:1-11), I am struck by the story of Jesus whose feet were washed by the hair of the adulteress (Mary) with expensive perfume. It was a blatant act of worship and gratitude to the Man, perhaps the first man in her life, who honoured her and loved her for who she was, not for what she did. It was a remarkable moment, one that contravened every societal norm in a religiously uptight environment. And the woman took huge risks in showing her love in that moment.
Judas, who couldn’t see beyond himself, criticized and rejected the precious moment of sacrifice and unabashed love. Blatant acts of worship and passion are frequently misunderstood, spurned, and/or coolly dissected for orthodoxy.
But when your two year old crawls up on your lap with peanut butter lips and kisses you, do you run to the bathroom to wash it off?
Paul Young, in his book The Shack, has offered us a treasure that has been close to his heart. He doesn’t share details in his book, though I know through his personal sharing of it with my wife, of the intense pain he went through in his life. His book is a gift in response to that pain, a gift where he reveals how he met God and finally discovered a really full life as it is intended to be.
So let’s not take this book to the priest or prophet for analysis, to tear apart a beautiful gift that is being shared with us out of a place of remarkable desolation. Receive the gift, and let the beauty of grace in the desert move you closer to God.
ah mark, don’t let the trolls get you down.
Mark;
that was eloquent, thank you.
We make grave mistake when we forget the context of things we encounter. Bella wants the Shack to be a decisive theological treatise that can be evaluated and exposed. You have chosen to embrace it in the form it seems was intended by the author.
The danger (which I admit Bella may be right about) is that few people seem willing or able to identify context, even when it is made explicit. Those who want to make The Shack into their sole source of enlightenment will do so, and be wrong for doing so. On the other hand, my experience of the book has drawn me deeper into the God of the Bible. For that I am grateful.
And congratulations on the flaming Mark!
i love how the last line you write is “don’t read it to critique and judge”
Mark, I love this book. It has such deep spiritual truths for healing. I have heard several pod casts featuring Paul Young and I am just moved by his story and the healing God has done in his life.
I am so bothered by the comments of people who down the book. It is a work of fiction that is utterly full of God’s message of hope. Is it a FULL representation of God and Who He is? No. It never claims to be. But it is an incredible work and God is using it in huge ways.
I love the way the author showed that we are all created in His image and therefore that image can take on many different forms and colors and either gender. That was beautiful to me. And Sarayu creating and working hard in the garden of our souls…..could there be a more beautiful and personal pictue of the Holy Spirit? Yes. I love this book.
I enjoyed reading your thoughts on this. Mel gave me the link to your blog. Good stuff.
Thanks Shelby for commenting, and welcome to this blog!
I have a hard time having patience for literalists. They are people without imagination or dreams. It is sad. Such are those who gripe about theological correctness in books such as this.
Mark;
Understanding that you prefer not to force the theological conversation from the fiction, but still this article from Christianity Today sheds light on the use of allegory and theories of the Trinity: http://tinyurl.com/6qyynb
Out of Ur has now chimed in on The Shack:
http://blog.christianitytoday.com/outofur/archives/2008/06/taking_the_shac.html