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The Shack, Pt. 4 (the end)
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)
“Mack, just because I work incredible good out of unspeakable tragedies doesn’t mean I orchestrate the tragedies. Don’t ever assume that my using something means I caused it or that I need it to accomplish my purposes.” Wm. Paul Young
Why do you suppose some are so drawn to controversy?
So wherever you assemble, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy. (1 Timothy 2:8; NLT)
I promise to make this my last post on The Shack — at least for now. But I did want to take one last shot at peaking your interest in this fascinating book.
If you’re drawn to controversy, there’s certainly a lot of that surrounding this book. I loved what Brandilyn Collins wrote in her blog regarding The Shack, “It doesn’t contain the entire orthodoxy of Christianity, but that’s not its focus. Its message is of God’s love, and it is, in the end, a novel. However, there certainly is some controversy, although the naysayers are far outweighed in number. I do recommend reading the book because so many people are talking about it. It’s not fair to voice opinions without reading the thing.” I couldn’t say it any better than that.
Kim Gentes writes, “One could argue that the images and metaphors may not sit well with the buttoned-down theocrats, and that, yes, perhaps the allegories aren’t perfect at every level. But the over-arching nuance of Young’s book is not that we need a theology class — it’s that we need to actually live what we say we believe. That God is love. That His efforts towards us have always been completely done in love, and will continue so. That His primary purposeful intent in dealing with mankind is to make Himself and His love completely and gloriously sufficient for us, whilst giving us the freedom to reciprocate that love back to Him in words and lives of praise, thanksgiving, and worship.”
With those two quotes, I will leave you be…at least on this topic.
Prayer Power
Lord, thank You for using a servant like Paul Young to draw our attention back to You. It will be fascinating to see how all this plays out over the next several years. What a blessing to be alive in times such as these.
Link of the Day
USA Today report on “The Shack”
Blessings on you as you choose to think for yourself.
2 Responses to “The Shack, Pt. 4 (the end)”
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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. 
Thank you Jerry! It’s been fun to read your articles on “The Shack” and the controversies that it has stirred up amongst those who are more attached to legalism and orthodoxy vs. those who are more open to the voice of God’s Spirit! I believe that Wm. Paul Young has done a wonderful job of getting us to question our belief system and make sure that it’s aligned with God’s perspective of things, and my hope and prayer that it will draw us closer to Him to put on “the mind of Christ” (1Cor.2:16)! I certainly appreciate the assurance of God’s love and understanding of our human nature that I draw from the book!
I loved this book. I thought the theme of the breadth of God’s love was such an important reminder. For me, it answered so many questions, as well as opening up new ways of thinking of things. Another book I recently read builds on this: Gita Nazareth’s Forgiving Ararat. This book too explores themes of judgment and forgiveness and love in the face of violence. As a fan and publicist for this book, I’m interested to see what parallels are drawn between the two.