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The Shack, Pt. 3
by docjerry · Filed Under: Book Recommendations · General Encouragement · The Shack
Series Contents
- The Shack
- The Shack, Pt. 2
- The Shack, Pt. 3
- The Shack, Pt. 4 (the end)
“Relationships are never about power, and one way to avoid the will to power is to choose to limit oneself — to serve.” William P. Young
How important are relationships to you? How well does your day-to-day life reflect that value?
Then God said, “Let us make people in our image, to be like ourselves. They will be masters over all life — the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the livestock, wild animals, and small animals.” (Gen. 1:26; NLT)
Let’s go back to The Shack. The book has a very compelling story line which embraces a question that is on everybody’s heart, Christian and non-Christian alike. If God is real and allegedly so good, how can there be so much evil in the world? (This question is the basis of the theological focus called “theodicy.” Not that it matters much, but it just might help you win a game of Scrabble some day.)
Does Paul Young answer the question that centuries of theologians haven’t been able to? Certainly not, but he does offer some refreshing viewpoints that deserve further reflection. In my mind, the beauty of the The Shack is not in the answers it offers, nor even in the story line, but lies within the ongoing conversations with Mack, the main character of the story, and members of the Trinity. The book’s strength, to me anyway, lies in its ability to cause me to consider several issues that I thought I was sure of in a whole new light. As I mentioned last week, it takes grace to a whole new level in my thinking.
Let me quote some of the conversation on one of the central themes of the book–relationship.
Jesus speaking: “Once you have a hierarchy you need rules to protect and administer it, and then you need law and the enforcement of rules, and you end up with some kind of chain of command or a system of order that destroys relationship rather than promotes it. You rarely see or experience relationship apart from power. Hierarchy imposes laws and rules and you end up missing the wonder of relationship that we intended for you.”
The Holy Spirit (on the same topic): “When you chose independence [a reference to the Fall] over relationship, you became a danger to each other. Others became objects to be manipulated or managed for your own happiness. Authority, as you usually think of it, is merely the excuse the strong use to make others confirm to what they want.”
Finally, God weighs in: “We carefully respect your choices, so we work within your systems even while we seek to free you from them. Creation has been taken down a very different path than we desired. In your world the value of the individual is constantly weighed against the survival of the system, whether political, economic, social, or religious — any system actually. First one person, and then a few, and finally even many are easily sacrificed for the good and ongoing existence of that system. In one form or another this lies behind every struggle for power, every prejudice, every war, and every abuse of relationship. The ‘will to power and independence’ has become so ubiquitous that it is now considered normal.”
By now, some are shouting, “heresy!” Others, “Preach it, brother!” And some of us, “Hmmmmmmm…interesting line of thinking.” All I can say is, “What fun!!!” (Feel free to weigh in with a comment in the box below. It’s perfectly OK to hate the book.)
I found an interesting blog post that I’ve included as the Link of the Day that looks at this same issue. I do hope all this is making some of you want to read The Shack. I can promise you that you are going to hear a lot more about for the next couple of years. As I mentioned last week, a major publisher is planning a very significant campaign this summer, and I’ve also heard rumblings about a movie in the making. Anyway, on this, the start of a brand new week…Make it one of your best ever. It’s up to you!
Prayer Power
Lord, we thank You for minds that can think and ask questions. We thank You for a Bible that contains the answers. Most of all, Lord, we thank You for loving us even when we disagree with each other in the interpretation of Your Word.
Link of the Day
I Liked “The Shack”
Blessings on you as you ponder concepts like relationship, authority, and hierarchy. Enjoy the experience!
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3 Responses to “The Shack, Pt. 3”
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Jerry Graham, aka "DocJerry," is a professional lifestyle and leadership coach and a social marketing authority who coaches ministry leaders, small business owners, and network marketers, on how to properly capitalize on the current Internet trends. He is also a blogger, a charter member and guide at Renegade University, and one of the Super Guides at Marketing Merge. 
Sharon Graham, R.N., is a professional lifestyle coach and a wellness authority who coaches a broad range of clients from corporate executives, small-business owners, and other professionals, to stay-at-home moms and dads in how to achieve and maintain wellness. Sharon is also a blogger, a sought-after public speaker, and a great cook who is currently compiling a cookbook. 
I believe the whole hierarchy thing is why Mr. Young does not attend church. I will be the first to agree that authority has hurt many through abuses of power. Yet, does that mean we throw it out? Is relationship really not possible with hierarchy? I believe when a father is healthy the love in the hierarchy of the father/son relationship can be one of the most intimate of all. Authority, I believe, is God’s idea and is wonderful when healthy. There is a security it brings like no other.
A form of child abuse and rejection is when a parent only seeks to be his child’s friend and never sets boundaries nor uses healthy, valuing discipline. These become the hardest people to see healed. There is no real abuse they can point to yet they carry rejection and a lack of self-discipline and a lack of respect for consequences.
Zechariah 14:16-21 talks about God withholding rain from nations that do not come to worship God in Jerusalem during the new millennium. I do not believe hierarchy, or government, or economies, nor will religion (in a good sense) ever be done away with. I believe they will be purified. I believe that William Young with his partner Wayne Jacobson, along with Frank Viola and his conference partner George Barna, Leonard Sweet and others are in serious error in leading people away from organized church.
I actually listened to this book on my iphone. When you are in seminary you don’t often get to read what you want to read. You read what you are told.
However, I heard so much about this book I thought I better find out what it was about before people in the church I lead started asking questions.
In short, I found this book to be a great read and a tremendous blessing to me personally. I agree with the reviewer on the link of the day in her assessment of the author’s possible tendency toward universalism. This is one of those books that could be interpreted differently by a lot of different groups. I do believe the book should be read and discussed in community – maybe a small group led by someone who is biblically and theologically grounded.
Having said that, I found myself moved and being dealt with by the Holy Spirit for some false beliefs (maybe even dream-killers, Jerry) that I had held. I add my voice to those who recommend it – but with the above-mentioned caution.
I had heard about this book but knew nothing about it. From what you have written and all the other comments, I think I will read it. It sounds very interesting. Thanks for all your encouragement. I really enjoy getting the e-mails each day. I feel like my mind is being stretched.