Eckhart Tolle may have Oprah Winfrey, but “The Shack” has people like Caleb Nowak.
Mr. Nowak, a maintenance worker near Yakima, Wash., first bought a copy of “The Shack,” a slim paperback novel by an unknown author about a grieving father who meets God in the form of a jolly African-American woman, at a Borders bookstore in March. He was so taken by the story of redemption and God’s love that he promptly bought 10 more copies to give to family and friends.
“Everybody that I know has bought at least 10 copies,” Mr. Nowak said. “There’s definitely something about the book that makes people want to share it.”
From what I’ve read of the novel, and that includes excerpts but not the whole thing, I’d be leery of classifying it as a ‘Christian novel’. Religious, definately, but the theology is a bit waaay out there to be considered a ‘Christian’ novel.
Jim Elliott <><
As long as one knows it is fiction there should not be a problem. I know many Christians who read The DaVinci Code and many who thought it was sacrilegious. I read a book called “Golfing With God”. It was hilarious, and I recommend it to any golfer. No, it is not theologically accurate. I am pretty sure God must have a good sense of humor. If not, I’m in big trouble . . .
Charles, unfortunately “The Shack” is being promoted as a Christian book that, while clearly fiction, tries to comment seriously on one of the most important theological issues in Christianity which is the Trinity. Everytime I hear about the book from critical minds whom I trust I am told that the trinitarian theology is very far off. When that is the point of the book, to talk about the Trinity, I think there’s a problem.
Hank Hanegraff had this to say about the theology “Furthermore, virtually every theological heresy begins with a misconception of the nature of God and The Shack is no exception. After chiding those he believes to have misconceptions about the Trinity Young proceeds to compromise, confuse and outright contradict biblical orthodoxy.”
If your interested in more from him, here is the website I pulled that from.
http://www.equip.org/site/c.muI1LaMNJrE/b.4244357/
The book is FICTION. Just like the “Left Behind” series, it is FICTION. Like Nancy Drew. I loved the book, and would have no problem recommending it to anyone. A couple who we are vacationing with next week tragically lost a child 9 years ago – she loved the book – deeply understood the “great sadness” of grief – and was blessed by the ways that judgement and forgiveness and love were worked out through the book. The book caused me to think – to search the scriptures – to wonder in new ways about the love that God has for me – and to weep. And remember, IT IS FICTION!!
Dana, I have to ask the question, how long are we going to promote things that would have actually been called heresy in the past? While I don’t think all the theological points of “Left Behind” were on the mark, I enjoyed the series because the thoelogical problems I might have had with it did not concern the very nature of God. Martyrs died for a correct understanding of God’s nature and to more or less dismiss the problematic understandings of the Trinity is not a good thing.
Yes, maybe the book is written as fiction, but so were the Narnia books which, just like “The Shack,” had intentional things to say about God. Had the Narnia series gone outside of Christianity, it may have still been a series loved by children but critically thinking Christians would have spoken out about the problems, not lift up all the good things while ignoring the heretical understandings of God.
Yes, IT IS FICTION but just because it is fiction doesn’t mean that we should accept it as good Christian fiction when it promotes heresy.
Hmm, so far those who disapprove of the book are those who haven’t actually read it. A risky business, don’t you think, forming an opinion without informing one’s mind first. As one who prefers to think for herself, I like to think that I bring my critical thinking skills with me as I read. I read and re-read the book because it makes some very thought provoking points about common misconceptions about God. Misconceptions I held when I was an atheist and thought I knew all about God.
I plan to give it to non-Christian family members to stimulate a conversation.
http://www.crosswalk.com/blogs/DBurchett/11578109/
Money quote: “I have seen some pretty dire warnings about this book. One of the critiques that I read often is that the book makes God small. Aren’t we also making God small by being so concerned about the possible damage done by this book? God can, will and is using this book. I agree the theology gets shaky at times. But the truth is that The Shack is causing many people to think about things they have never considered.”
Please read this review… I’ll take a graceful and loving approach to sharing Christ with people every time over the “shoulds” and “should-nots” of leagalism. As soon as someone tells me NOT to read a book, guess what I do??