The Shack by Wm. Paul Young

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Permalink Reply by Steven Leigh on January 15, 2009 at 9:52am

I liked it quite a lot. He writes in a way that you can really feel what it is like to be him, and understand this face to face relationship to the God characters.

It sparked a thought in me about whether it is appropriate to write a novel with a character named God. I think it is stronger to name it Aslan, or some other symbol and allow the reader to connect that the character is like God. By naming the character Jesus or the Father, the author immediately limits the description of who He is. It seems a little like writing a novel and using Will Smith as a character. The reader is continually asking, if this event or attitude is true about Will Smith, or if it is the fiction part of the story. In the same way, I was regularly finding that I wanted a reference on something that the Jesus character said, to better understand whether that statement is true about the character or if it is part of the fiction aspects of the story. I am rarely one to make rules or even hard and fast recommendations about nearly anything, but rather make this recommendation as a means to deepen the understanding of the Jesus character. I think it would have been more interesting and fun, to linking the God characters back to scripture and letting the reader make their own evaluation.

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Permalink Reply by Scott Stearman on January 15, 2009 at 2:28pm

I didn't read anything about the the Jesus character that conflicted with the image I have come to know through who He is in the scripture. If there had been something that raised a red flag when I read it, I sure would have pulled back from the story and wanted to know where it came from.... but I didn't see anything that really bothered me and I enjoyed the ride. I think some of his language felt like they way I want to hear him speak to me.... I mean we all talk about hearing from the Father... God speaking into my quiet time. Those thoughts aren't scripture but I bet a lot of us can talk about times when we heard the voice of God. I don't think the name Scott is in the Bible but I sure do want to hear Him say it sometime.

Doesn't music do exactly what this book does? It uses phrases and rhyme and many times the words are from the writer but they still give me a picture of God that helps me along the path....

...still thinking...

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Permalink Reply by Steven Leigh on January 15, 2009 at 2:38pm

Good thoughts. There were a few things that I thought. Hmmm do I really think Jesus would say that, really? Or is it just something which I think I would want him to say. My book is lent so I can't refer to page number. I enjoyed the ride as well.

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Permalink Reply by Scott Stearman on January 15, 2009 at 2:41pm

Yeah.... I have a whole bunch of stuff I wish He would say....

Steven Leigh said:

Good thoughts. There were a few things that I thought. Hmmm do I really think Jesus would say that, really? Or is it just something which I think I would want him to say. My book is lent so I can't refer to page number. I enjoyed the ride as well.

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Permalink Reply by Community on January 15, 2009 at 3:04pm

We were camping when I read it -- by flashlight, in a tent. The first couple of chapters scared me to death, so I ended up reading the whole dang thing in one night, just to get to the resolution of story ... and sleep without fear!

That said, I think it's important to see this story as just that -- story. I agree with Steve. It feels uncomfortable when someone quotes Jesus, and it's not scripture. And there is something that tugs at my sense of reverence to paint God as a woman who bakes muffins. Those things ring a bit off-key for me.

BUT, I do see this book's huge theme of forgiveness and healing as something very powerful. People are really understanding that piece of God differently because of this story. I know women who have cried and find hope in a new way because of the way this story is told. It creates a sense of hope for hoplelessly broken relationships, and interest in Jesus, I think. And there is great value in that.

Oddly this past Wednesday morning, this book came up in discussion among my women's-group friends. One new-believer friend asked me a question that I'll ask you:

"So who would you suggest this book to a Christian or a non-believer ... or both or neither?"

What would you say?

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Miller on January 15, 2009 at 5:26pm

I'd be fine recommending it to either, but reminding both that it's a bit odd and as you guys said...just a story. A perspective by a man.

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Permalink Reply by Teri Miller on January 15, 2009 at 5:46pm

I loved readingThe Shack; thought it was an excellent, well-written, gripping, thought-provoking fiction book. Several of the themes were really impacting to me, and sparked faith discussions between Kevin & me. I was moved to tears at times, and convicted about issues of forgiveness and self-acceptance.

The camaraderie and affection between the characters caused me to rethink 'relational' time with Jesus...and I really loved the unique description of the Holy Spirit. That characterization rang true to me, and I also loved the human-ness and down-to-earth divinity of the Jesus character...tho I did struggle a bit with the God characterization. However - the author was beautifully clear about why God was characterized as a woman - and did a great job exploring the concept of God 'appearing' to each of us how we particularly need to 'see' Him. For me, God is absolutely the loving, providing, tender Abba God...but in The Shack, the character of Mack wasn't able to receive the image of God as a father. So it made sense, but was still a bit difficult for me to connect with. I also didn't really connect with the imagery of the saints, or the people in heaven or whatever that was supposed to be. A bit too weird & new-agey for me.

Overall it was very impacting tho - in the same way that Francine Rivers' books Unafraid and Redeeming Love moved me. I read Unafraid two years ago, at Anne-Marie's request, when preparing to do the modern-Mary character for EID. It was deeply moving to my heart as a mother, and a redeemed child of Christ -- and it helped shape & refine how I played the Mary character. Redeeming Love was absolutely incredible; another Biblical analogy that shaped how I think about Christ's love for me, about forgiveness, and even my relationship with Kevin. No kidding, in the weeks during and after Kevin read this book...he made me feel so cherished and adored!! Another excellent fiction book that explores the characterization of Jesus is Anne Rice's novel Christ the Lord; Out of Egypt. It was also greatly impacting and moving, and helped me get a better handle on my perspective of Christ as a living man, instead of just some floating-figure in a picture frame. I imagine that Francine Rivers has several more novels of Biblical characterizations that are excellent - books that are on my wish list, 'cause I loved the two I read.

My point is that these are all FICTION novels. Skilled and gifted authors were inspired to write about things close to their heart; were compelled to explore controversial stereotypes of Biblical characters, and even the Trinity itself. As with any book (fiction, self-help, historical, etc), the reader has the responsibility to 'eat the fish and spit out the bones.' There will always be things that seem odd, or don't line up with my perspective, or that just don't interest me. If I toss out the whole work because of a few bones, then I've missed an opportunity to feast on some great morsels of truth and perspective.

I think that anytime a book like this comes out (remember The DaVinci Code?), alot of Christians get all freaked out because they think it is blasphemous. Okay, so maybe it is a bit whacked out, but it is just fiction, again, without any claims to being some Biblical or Spiritual truth. I didn't ever read the DaVinci code - so I can't really speak of it - but I tend to think the controversy over a clearly fictional novel is kinda silly.

Okay, anyway - just my 2-cents worth - make sure to 'eat the fish and spit out the bones' of all the above. hmmm...what's that in my teeth...???

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Miller on January 16, 2009 at 10:29am

Kind of brings up the issue about 'inspired' words.
We have one book, the bible, that we as Christ followers are to believe is written by men, but divinely inspired by God, and therefore...truth. Few people, even a majority of 'christians' truly believe this. That's one topic alone. I think even my mother, father and sister have fallen away from this belief in their 'maturing faith.'

But aside from that topic, has any man written anything that is inspired by God since the bible? Will it ever happen again? Do we shun all written material from the church other than the bible for teaching and learning?

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Permalink Reply by Community on January 21, 2009 at 5:19pm

So... Brenda started this conversation. Doesn't it only seem right that she'd answer these questions, too?

Did you love it or hate it, Brenda? What stuck with you?
Enquiring minds must know...

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Permalink Reply by Brenda Baker on January 22, 2009 at 10:07pm

Typical me. I was just sitting back enjoying the wisdom of readers far more profound than I will ever be, and got caught up and forgot to say anything. Sorry.

First, I hated it. So horrible to have such tragedy, such anguish in your life. And to carry it for so long that the feelings take on a life of their own and a recognizable presence. Ugh.
Then, I liked it because I related to the main character's curiosity, and his wanting to go deep in the process of dealing with the past. Of grieving... and how scary it can be to face yourself and who you really are through the grief.
And then, I was on a wild ride of creative writing, reading a fiction story about one of the most bizarre, beautiful ideas of God and Heaven and forgiveness and the human heart. I was glad to get to the end, I really was.

Favorite part? I loved the imagery of us worshipping not only with our voices, but with a color, too. That children's souls were white with the mix of experiences and expression in their worship to God not yet complete and that mature souls worshipped with one strong color. That color being intermittant if we were distracted or unfocused, like the dad character displayed in the story. So, of course, I have been wondering ever since what color my soul's worship is.

I can tell you my mom's favorite part... the way God (as three) interacted, communicated, treated each other and responded to one another. She longs for that. She is going to love Heaven!

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