The Shack Review

I actually finished The Shack book about six weeks ago. The book is an easy read and to be honest with you, it has challenged me to think outside of the box. Some of the symbolisms in the book can definitely cause controversy. The book does describe God in three distinct personalities that coincide and live harmoniously together. The real controversy comes by the description of these people. As humans, we have a preconceived idea of what God will look like, but in reality, we don't really know. In addition to just appearance, there are some actions that the Godhead characters take that have not been seen in the scriptures - which leads many to question. There is one very disturbing area for me where the natural realm meets the spiritual realm and it was just a little quirky for me - it felt like the Holy Spirit character was conjuring up spirits and allowing Mack to speak to the dead. This was a big RED FLAG for me! We don't talk to dead people! The book is also light on sin and that really messes with theology.

There are many other items in the book that, if you are one who knows doctrine and reads the Holy Bible, you will not be fooled. But if you don't know the scriptures, you can get a distorted view of God. So why is this book being pegged as FALSE DOCTRINE? I would say because novice believers and non-believers are taking the principals and thinking that it is real. The truth is, the Holy Bible is the ONLY written and infallible WORD OF GOD that we can ever glean from and know that it is TRUTH. To take a dive into any other book, whether written by your favorite Christian author, preacher, whoever - you still have to align it with the Word of God - the Holy Bible.

I don't really have a problem with The Shack. Books like this one really charge me because it sharpens my defense and it weeds through all the "trendy believers" and identifies the remnant. I found it entertaining and it really did provoke some things within as far as my relationship with Christ. But I have to admit, while I was reading it, my training in defending the truth of God's Word was constantly working. But I have a different thought process... You never know how to defend something if you don't know anything about it. In addition, you cannot fight a good fight without knowing your enemy and his tactics. I was glad I was able to read this book and know what's being said. I'm not one of the reviewers who just takes a stance and doesn't explore the entire book - I read it and I know what it says, and guess what... I am still a firm, confident believer who defends the principles of the Holy Bible and the doctrinal teachings of Christ.

I say that if the reader understands that the book, The Shack, is purely fiction (something invented by the imagination) then they will be safe. There is NOTHING in this book that is real - it is no more real than Cinderella or Peter Pan. If you are unsure about what the Holy Scriptures say, I would advise you to get familiar with them. As the days wind up, all kinds of "mess" will try to label itself as truth. So find what TRUTH really is and then defend it. I would love to hear from you about your experience with The Shack.