Review of The Shack by David Meyer, November 18, 2008 Young, William P. The Shack. Los Angeles: Windblown Media. 2007 WARNING: This review reveals plot elements of the novel The Shack. "The Shack" is a surprise bestseller novel that is attracting a lot of attention among Christians, most of it very positive. I agree that overall it is a very entertaining and thought-provoking novel. Many reviews of "The Shack" are available on the Internet (see [[*Other Reviews]]), but I will record here a few of my personal reactions, both positive and negative. ** Plot summary During a family camping trip, Mackenzie "Mack" Philips's six-year-old daughter is kidnapped and murdered. The killer escapes. Mack spends the next four years in depression. One day Mack receives a mysterious note he believes is from God inviting him back to the remote mountain shack where his daughter was killed. Mack goes and has an encounter with the three Persons of the Holy Trinity in human form. Through a series of conversations with each of the Persons, Mack's relationship with God is restored and he is able to come to terms with his daughter's murder. ** Comments *** The Problem With Mack The novel is structured in two parts. In the center is Mack's extended encounter with the Trinity, which I will discuss in the next section, and a framing story before and after the encounter that introduces Mack and tells us who he is, how he feels, and how he gets to the Shack both literally and emotionally. The framing story is the weakest part of the novel. Although it does its job of getting Mack and the reader with him to the shack, it is perfunctorily written and relies too much on cliches. A greater problem is that the character of Mack is drawn inconsistently and generally underdeveloped. We are asked to believe that Mack is so deeply depressed (suicidal is hinted) that a special revelation from God is required for his recovery, yet the details of his emotions are papered-over with the often-repeated phrase "the Great Sadness", and Mack never behaves consistently with a state of emotional despair. *** Conversations With God Mack's series of conversations with the three Persons of the Holy Trinity is the center of the novel and its high point. The Persons each appear to Mack in human form: The Father appears as a jovial black woman constantly cooking through most of the story, the Son as a Jewish carpenter, and the Spirit as a semi-transparent oriental woman gardener. The conversations cover a wide range of topics. Saving discussion of theologically controversial points to the next section, the threads woven through all the conversations are God's love for each of us individually and our need to relate to Him personally and trust in His presence and solicitude for us even in adversity. We need Him to be complete, and if He feels distant it is because of barriers WE erect to receiving His grace and not vice versa. All vital truths of which every Christian needs an occassional reminder. *** Theology I am no theology expert so I will leave a detailed analysis of The Shack's theology to other reviewers. Here I will just relate this layman's impression of what's in the novel. First, I think that it's important to keep in mind that the author does not represent any religious authority, and that the book is a work of fiction. Therefore, whatever theology is found in the book is at best merely the author's opinion and does not necessarily represent the teachings of any religious body, and may not even represent completely or accurately the author's own beliefs since the fictional genre may have forced choices of storytelling expedience over theological purity. So rather than accept or reject the novel as a whole, each reader should take or leave each theological idea he finds, testing it by his own informed conscience. After that long preamble, I find The Shack's theology a mixed bag. Young's portrayal of the Trinity has raised controversy among some Christians. I feel that while not theologically accurate, the characterization of the Trinity is effective within the story and am willing to tolerate it as author's license. The center of the novel's plot is also the center of its theology: The amazing grace of a personal relationship with our Creator, that God wishes all His children to share, and through which we can recieve the power to overcome all the humanly impossible obstacles to our growth and happiness. Further, the assurance of a relationship with Him allows us to have faith in the all-knowing and all-powerful benevolence of the unseen God when we might be discouraged by evil in the world and cannot see His purpose. However, some of the novel's theological ideas are both problematic and cannot be dismissed as mere storytelling expedients. Of particular concern are blanket dismissals of hierarchical relationships, institutional organizations (including religious organizations), and the concept of responsibility as unnecessary products of sinful human nature. The role of hierarchy in Christian theology is best understood in light of Trinitarian doctrine, so the reader is referred to the more theological reviews, such as Challies. The divine inspiration of the institutional Church is a subject dear to Catholic hearts, but even limiting the discussion to only Scripture, I think most Christians agree that there is ample evidence for Christ's will that His followers be gathered together in an organization that is in but not of the world. ** Other Reviews - Challies, Tim. "'The Shack' by William P. Young." (January 15, 2008). http://www.challies.com/archives/book-reviews/the-shack-by-william-p-young.php (accessed October 14, 2008). - Driscoll, Mark. "Doctrine: The Shack." Mars Hill Church (March 30, 2008). http://www.marshillchurch.org/media/doctrine/trinity-god-is/the-shack (accessed October 14, 2008). Video exerpt from longer sermon on doctrine of the Trinity. - Grossman, Cathy Lynn. "'Shack' opens doors, but critics call book 'scripturally incorrect'." USA Today (May 28, 2008). http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2008-05-28-the-shack_N.htm (accessed October 14, 2008). Suggests novel is emotionally autobiographical. - Kjos, Berit. "Deceived by a counterfeit 'Jesus' - The twisted 'truths' of 'The Shack' & 'A Course in Miracles'." (February 14, 2008). http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/08/shack.htm (accessed October 14, 2008). - Rich, Motoko. "Christian Novel Is Surprise Best Seller." The New York Times (June 24, 2008): http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/24/books/24shack.html (accessed October 14, 2008). - Van Der Hart, Will. "Review: The Shack." Christianity Magazine. http://www.christianitymagazine.co.uk/reviews/books/the%20shack.aspx (accessed October 14, 2008). Positive review. (end)