I just finished reading The Shack, which is one of the latest popular books to hit the Christian market. It is quickly gaining success and prestige, which often deters many from actually picking up the book and giving it a read. I am among this group because I have gone that route, of reading the latest Christian book sensation and have been disappointed in the past. I won't name any book titles that I've been either impressed or unimpressed by, so don't ask. Needless to say, when I first heard about The Shack, I didn't give it much thought. When it started to gain some notoriety, I dug my heels even further in, preferring not to get simply swept away in the latest Christian craze and set of new vocabulary words that will undoubtedly spark a series of other books agreeing and disagreeing with the theological views purported in The Shack. But, when someone gives you a copy for free, what can you do? If you know me, I'm not one to turn down a free book. And in all honesty, I knew that before I passed judgment (which I had basically already done), I should probably read this book that "everyone" is talking about.
So, yesterday, I finally picked it up and started reading. And then I finished it today. That will probably tell you something about how I reacted to the book. If nothing else, I got caught up in what was happening in the book and how it resolved. Strictly as a written work, it is well-written. It is a concise 200+ pages that flow quickly. Some of the spiritual revelations that came to the main character even seemed to come a little too quickly. There is a directness to how the author writes that both aids to and detracts from how he conveys his message. Within the first few chapters, the central conflict and problem that the main character is plagued by develops fully and then the rest of the book is spent unpacking, unraveling, and resolving that central problem. I was told that the first few chapters are hard to get through, and this is true. Anyone who has a vivid imagination will struggle through those first few chapters. Don't be surprised if you have to put the book down or and moved to tears of sorrow.
The rest of the book details the main character's interaction with God over approximately a 48-hour period. The author's portrayal of God at times struck me as somewhat cheesy, especially the different displays of affection that sometimes reminded me more of a bad Christian romantic fiction novel than anything else. (Sorry to all you fans of bad Christian romantic fiction novels. Maybe I'll read one of those next so I can be more compassionate...) However, due to the content of what is discussed in the novel, I was lead to question whether or not my disgust at the displays of affection was justifiable disgust or a symptom of the brokenness and inherent lack of love that I possess due to my own sin and the sin that surrounds us all. I hope that if you read the book, you humbly pose the same question to yourself. The discussions that the character has with God are honestly discussions that I have sometimes wanted to have with God myself. As I said, the spiritual truths, especially those conveyed in such conversations come quickly. So, be careful not to miss something that the God character says if you don't understand it right away. Go back and re-read the line again if necessary. In all honesty, these spiritual truths are nothing new (see Ecclesiastes 1:9), but that doesn't make what is conveyed in the book irrelevant or unworthy of being written. The book moves very strongly against the rule-abiding God Who can be proved with rationality and reasoning. He is a completely relational Being in the book, not that He isn't so already in reality. To anyone who experiences regular waves of guilt and obligation, this book will be like a breath of fresh air. However, to more acutely experience this breath of fresh air, I would recommend one thing: leave behind your preconceived notions and baggage attached to the word "love." It should come as no surprise that the English language is sadly inadequate in expressing the varying degrees and depths that love can contain. There is certainly something wrong when you can look at your wife and say, "I love you with all my heart," and then turn to the pie you are eating and say, "I really love this pie!" Not only that, the very concept and possibility of love is severely damaged by the continuing sin and pain we experience day-in and day-out. I can promise that when you read this book and the word "love" comes up as much as it does, you will be tempted to gloss over it, but don't!
The last thing I will say is this: There was one question that haunted me throughout the book and still haunts me. It is a question that is indirectly addressed within the plot of the story, and is only directly addressed at the end of the book, though not to bring about an answer. The question is this: What if all this really happened? The story is based on the true account of one man. It would be extremely easy to brush off the story as imagined and contrived as some sort of unbelievable piece of encouragement that's nice to hear, but wouldn't really work in the real world. Don't jump to this conclusion, my friends. If nothing else, do yourself the favor and don't dig in your heels and relegate this story to the imaginary. Allow yourself at least to entertain the thought that this might have been true, this might have really happened, and the truths conveyed therein might actually be true. What happened to the main character, Mack, happens to all of us in varying degrees, and the scars and doubts he bears can often look strikingly similar to scars and doubts we bear as well. For that reason alone, I would recommend that you let this book, this story, these truths penetrate the harsh exterior we all erect around our hearts and the deepest places of souls and just see what happens. If nothing else, I think that entertaining the thought that this story might be true will spur on some interesting debates, internal and external, and maybe we can all take one step closer to the One Who made us.
