The Shack

My Observations

Imagine that you were asked to write a fiction novel. It will be about a man named Mack whose 6 year old daughter was killed by a kidnapper. Mack and his family are completely devastated by this senseless killing. Still struggling with the death, a few years later Mack receives a note from Papa (God) asking him to meet with God at this particular shack in the mountains. Mack actually goes and yes, Papa shows up. Not only does Papa show up, so does Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Your goal in this fiction novel is to use your biblical knowledge of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, and write a dialogue between the four of them. The questions on Mack’s heart are obvious. Why did Missy (6 year old daughter) die? God, what was Your role in her death? “If you couldn’t take care of Missy, how can I trust you to take care of Me?” p.92. Good question…Welcome to “The Shack..”

Obviously your understanding of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit will be the key to this story. The theology of author William P. Young certainly shines through in this fictional novel. Yes, its fiction, but he is teaching about the Christian God. I have to admit, as I was reading, I was brought to tears several times as I identified with Mack's loss of his daughter. But I also found within his teaching doctrinal error which is pervasive in the Christian church in our day. I would not be concerned except for the unusual acceptance by many believers today. As a shepherd of God's flock, I have the responsibility to oversee, to watch for myself and for all the flock the Holy Spirit has made me overseer. I must warn and bring to light the not-so-subtle error in this book.

My blog would simply be too long if I cited each biblical error, but here’s a few.

1. God (Papa) is actually portrayed as a “big black woman.” p. 88-89.

2. In the book Papa says, “I’m neither male nor female.” But in Scripture God is called Father.

3. “When we three spoke ourself into human existence as the Son of God we became fully human…we now became flesh and blood.” p. 99.
God the Father and God the Spirit did not become human flesh, only God the Son. There are three distinct Persons in the Godhead.

4. “Do you understand,” she (God) continued, “that unless I had an object to love – or, more accurately, a someone to love…then I would not be capable of love at all?” p. 102.
This is error. God is love. He doesn’t need a person to love to be capable of love.

5. “The God who is – the I am who I am – cannot act apart from love!” p. 102.
Yes He certainly can. Read the Old Testament. The author does not see the wrath of God, or the hatred of God.

6. The writer paints a picture of only a loving God. Mack asks a good question of the Three. “Are there any (people) who you are not especially fond of?”
“She (God) lifted her head and rolled her eyes as if she were mentally going through the catalog of every being ever created. “Nope, I haven’t been able to find any. Guess that’s jes’ the way I is.” p. 118-119.
I know of many in Scripture that God was not especially fond of. God hated Esau (Rom 9).

7. The writer portrays the Christian God as follows. “I don’t need to punish people for sin. Sin is its own punishment…It’s not my purpose to punish it; it’s my joy to cure it.” p. 120.
If you are a believer, I hope you understand that God will certainly punish people for sin (Matt. 16:27; Rom. 2:6).

8. p. 122-123; undermines biblical authority.

9. p. 147-148; If women ruled, the world would be a much calmer and gentler place.

10. p. 148; In the answer of why Jesus became a man, the writer quotes Jesus as saying, “I came as a man to complete a wonderful picture in how we made you.” What’s wrong with just getting biblical and saying I became a man to take upon myself God’s wrath, to become sin. To pay the penalty for the sin of the many. But the writer doesn’t see God as a God of wrath.

11. The writer pushes throughout the book the doctrine of salvation by man’s choice. “We will never force that union on you.” p. 149.

12. p. 192 Here’s a very popular teaching today. The author writes, “Through his death and resurrection, I am now fully reconciled to the world.” Mack answers, “The whole world? You mean those who believe in you, right?” “The whole world, Mack. All I am telling you is that reconciliation is a two way street, and I have done my part, totally, completely, finally. It is not the nature of love to force a relationship but it is the nature of love to open the way.”

According to Young, the way was opened 2000 years ago. This view believes Jesus’ work is completely done. He’s now in heaven watching and hoping for you. It is now up to each man, woman, and child to choose Jesus. He’s out of the picture. Each person must make the decision “on their own” to receive Jesus or not. In this view, each person must now search for Him. As the song says, “wise men still seek Him.” Are men, in their depraved, sinful state, wise enough to seek Him? R.C. Sproul writes,

We do not “find” God as a result of our search for him. We’re found by him. The search for God does not end in conversion; it begins at conversion. It is the converted person who genuinely and sincerely seeks after God. Jonathan Edwards remarked that seeking after God is the main business of the Christian life.

Those who believe this view have a difficult time with the following: We who have believed in Jesus are all drawn, chosen, elected, enabled, appointed, called, predestined, given mercy, made alive, and granted salvation by God’s sovereign purpose and power. The Spirit of God must DRAW every person to salvation. To say the Godhead is no longer involved in salvation is heresy.

13. Another troubling heresy is the teaching that God is not involved in bad things that happen. Missy’s death was not God’s idea. p. 165; “But I still don’t understand why Missy had to die.” “She didn’t have to, Mackenzie (Mack). This was no plan of Papa’s. Papa has never needed evil to accomplish his good purposes.” p. 222; “I did not purpose Missy’s death, but that doesn’t mean I can’t use it for good.”

My question is how can one take comfort in a God who is not in control? Can someone take my life, or my grand children's lives outside of God's will? This is heretical teaching. Can thousands of people die in a 9/11 outside of God's will? This heretical teaching is called dualism. God and Satan are battling it out. Two equal powers battling it out for the souls of mankind. This teaching describes an unbiblical, weak, god. This god is one who cannot control the destiny of mankind.

Matt 10:29-31
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

If a sparrow can’t die outside of God’s will, certainly a human being can’t.

14. p. 185; “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. That will only lead to a false notion about me.”

Quite the contrary:
Isaiah 45:6-7
I am the LORD, and there is no other.
I form the light and create darkness,
I bring prosperity and create disaster;
I, the LORD, do all these things.

Job certainly did not believe in the author's god.
Job 1:21
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away.
Blessed be the name of the LORD."


15. Let me close with the following quote from the book.
p. 225; “In Jesus, I have forgiven all humans for their sins against me”

If all humans sins are forgiven, all humans will go to heaven. Can somebody be sent to hell with their sins forgiven?

Ok. Your assignment is to now re-write this fictional novel. How will you write the dialogue between Mack and God? How will you respond to Mack's questions? I believe the author's, biblical understanding is greatly lacking. Therefore, I do not recommend this book.