The Shack

After hearing some of the buzz surrounding this book, and running into a display of them at Barnes & Noble last weekend, I picked up a copy and read it for myself.

It's really interesting how the Church at large is responding to this book. On one hand, you've got Eugene Peterson (The Message) & others giving it rave reviews. On the other, there are prominent Christian leaders decrying it as deception and heresy (one even calling it goddess worship - I'm sorry, but did you even read the book? Oops, I won't spoil it by elaborating on that one.)

Firstly, I liked the book. Read it through in a couple sittings and plan on reading it again, kinda like watching a movie a second time & catching what you missed.

Folks, remember that this is a work of fiction. Read it as such. It's not meant to be a resource from which you should base your theology. The Shack tackles the subject of the Trinity, something that has been tying knots in theologins' heads for centuries! In creative literary form, the author illustrates the relationship & interplay between the members of the Godhead (one God, three distinct individuals, but they're all One, but three...there we go again!) and the personal, loving relationship God desires to have with us. Again, remember that this is a fictional novel, but it beautifully paints a picture of how a loving, relational God desires to walk with us, day by day, moment by moment, just like He walked with Adam in Eden before the fall.

I think it'll challenge you in different ways, and with it entering a 4th printing & talks with major studios about a motion picture version, the sheer circulation of this story may give you opportunities to share with others the nonfiction relationship you have with God.