NOTE: I wrote this book review of THE SHACK in 2012. I recently learned that a film has been made from the book. I have no interest in seeing the film, and would not want to support it by paying an admission fee.
But
I am still very surprised (and saddened) at how many people,
including Christians I know personally, are flocking to see the film.
Here
is the opinion of just one Christian minister, who prays for
discernment in the Body of Christ, and as always, the readers may make
of it what they will...
Let
no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except
there come a falling away first.
2
Thessalonians 2:3
THE
SHACK, written by William Paul Young (published 2007) is described as
"Christian fiction".
The
book rose to #1 on the New York Times bestseller list and has
garnered a cult-like following among Christians. There are "SHACK"
study groups; SHACK online discussion groups; SHACK "projects",
and strangest of all, even SHACK 'ministries'. Christians are buying
multiple copies of the book and distributing it to their friends,
family and church congregations.
It
has received countless glowing reviews and the author, William P.
Young, has been interviewed on many of the mainstream TV and radio
talk shows, including Christian programming.
Consider
this quote, displayed on the front cover of THE SHACK:
"This
book has the potential to do for our generation what John Bunyan's
Pilgrim's Progress did for his. It's that good!"
--Eugene
Peterson
From all the hubbub surrounding THE SHACK, you'd almost think some ancient
hidden scriptures had been unearthed!
I
first heard of THE SHACK in 2009, when some people I knew had chosen
it for their Christian book discussion group. I was invited to
participate but declined the offer. I hadn't read THE SHACK, but I
did take a brief look at the front cover and perused the summary on
the back. Immediately, I was struck with a sense of sinister
foreboding. I did not get a good feeling about THE SHACK.
One
day, about a year later, I was at the used book store. Most of the
fiction books I read come either from the library or else I can trade
in my old books for ones I haven't read. I went to the Christian
section, looking for something else, and there it was, THE SHACK. I
wouldn't have paid money for it, but decided that I would get it as
an exchange, just to find out what all the fuss was about.
THE
SHACK sat on my bookshelf for months, gathering dust. I didn't even
open the cover in all that time, I had such a creepy feeling about
it. When I finally decided to read it, I understood why: This book
could be an insidious poison to the Christian believer, at least for
those who have not developed a true spiritual discernment.
But
I also could understand, from a more objective psychological point of
view, how so many people, even genuine Christians, might be deceived
by the book's false theology. The Shack appeals first and foremost to
the reader's emotions and offers what appears to be a powerful and
effective antidote to those who are desperate to fathom the depths of
their pain and suffering. But the "solution" presented in
THE SHACK is a contrived and counterfeit secular humanist, new age
"spirituality" which bears no relation whatsoever to the
actual Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Unlike
so many Christian readers, who gushed praises that the book "changed
their lives", or that they "finally understood the truth",
I found THE SHACK to be deeply troubling, in more ways than one. But
I'm not sorry I read the book, if only because having done so, I felt
compelled to issue a warning to my fellow Christians.
This
book review is not comprehensive, in the sense that I can only cover
so much ground in pointing out the false theology. So I'll limit the
focus to what I found to be the most salient errors.
Having
read THE SHACK, I decided to do some research on the author. After
watching some interviews of William P. Young, I later learned that
the book was autobiographical in nature, not in the sense of the
actual events depicted as fiction, but in terms of Young's personal
feelings about experiences in his own life. Such as: that he was
sexually abused as a child; and that after having an adulterous
affair with his wife's best friend (also a member of their church) he
and his wife were forced to leave the church in disgrace.
Young
says that "the shack" is a "metaphor" for a place
that is deep inside of him. And the story he tells shows how he was
"transformed" by the revelations of "God". But
sadly, Young's revelations are highly subjective in nature, and
clearly limited by the level of his own perceptions and understanding
of God.
In
brief, the storyline goes like this: The protagonist is a man named
Mackenzie Allen Phillips. During a family vacation, his young
daughter is abducted and subsequently raped and murdered by a serial
killer. Thus begins the "Great Sadness". Mackenzie,
otherwise known as Mack, is emotionally devastated and at a loss to
understand how to deal with or make sense of this tragedy, especially
from a spiritual or "Christian" perspective. His faith is
shattered, with nowhere to turn for answers.
The
body of his daughter, Missy, is not found, but the police finally do
track down a location where the murderer took Missy, an abandoned
shack deep in the woods, where they find the girl's bloody clothing.
Time
goes by, the Great Sadness seems only to get worse, but one day, a
few years later, Mack finds a note in his mailbox. The note, claiming
to be from God, is signed "Papa", and asks Mack to meet him
at "the shack" for one weekend. Mack wonders if the note
was sent by the killer, and can't believe it could really be from
God, but despite his suspicion, decides to accept the invitation.
Upon
arriving at the shack, to his great surprise, Mack is greeted by
three characters: A "large beaming African-American woman"
who introduces herself as "Papa" (otherwise known as
"Elouisa"); a middle eastern man with a large nose who is
"Jesus"; and a slender Asian woman named Sarayu.
It
soon becomes clear that these characters represent the "trinity":
"father", "son" and "holy spirit" (I
use no capital letters, for what will become obvious reasons). The
rest of the book tells the story of Mack's interactions with his new
friends, mostly through his conversations with them, in which they
dispense their spiritual wisdom for Mack's edification and
enlightenment, and which results in Mack's eventual "transformation".
The
conversations among the characters are reminiscent of a new age,
secular humanist group therapy session. The theology is similar to
that promoted in A Course in Miracles, claimed to have been
"channeled" by Helen Shucman, in which "Jesus" is
said to be speaking. Other new age manifestos also come to mind, such
as Neale Donald Walsch's Conversations with God.
Among
the most offensive false theology found in The Shack is Young's
"trinity", grossly misidentified, misrepresented and worst
of all, quoted AS IF what they are saying to Mack is the "gospel
truth".
To
put words in the mouth of God, Jesus Christ or the Holy Spirit is the
ultimate blasphemy. Because although the story is fiction, Young is
identifying these characters AS IF they comprise the "real"
Trinity. It's not as if Young is simply promoting his own beliefs or
ideas by having the protagonist, Mack, talk about his personal
perceptions of them. Rather, he has concocted specific quotes which
are not only false, but which contradict the actual sayings of Jesus
Christ and which deny and desecrate the most basic tenets of
Christianity itself.
So,
here's a guy who claims to be a Christian, who has the audacity to
"speak" for God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Son of God
and the Holy Spirit, through a fictional account purporting to spread
a message of "truth".
Just
as an example of how wrongful this is, imagine this: You are a real
person who during your life wrote a number of articles and letters in
areas of your expertise (what ever that may have been); you had a
number of conversations with your friends, family and colleagues
about your beliefs, your opinions, your view of the world. You spent
your life in service to your ideals and principles, and it was
important to you, as a person of integrity, that you made your
position clear to others, through your communications and non-fiction
written works.
Then
you pass away. After your death, someone decides that he is going to
write a biographical fiction novel about you, using your real name.
But instead of using actual quotes from you (from your articles,
letters or conversations) he decides he has the right to fabricate
things you never said, putting them in quotation marks, along with
your name. After all, he thinks, it is "only fiction". In
his novel, the author misrepresents you, everything you worked for,
everything you stood for. Your life is memorialized in a completely
false light. Would you be outraged? Damn right you would!
Imagine
doing something so outrageous, so flagrantly unjust, to a human
being. To falsely represent him, to put words in his mouth which he
never spoke. Now, imagine doing the same thing to God Almighty! And
whether William Paul Young knows it or not, Jesus LIVES. And I feel
sorry for Mr. Young to think what the consequences for his blasphemy
will be: bearing false witness against God, Jesus Christ and the Holy
Spirit.
In
THE SHACK, "God" is represented in the flesh, as a human
being. That Young chose a "large African-American woman"
makes it no more or less blasphemous than if he had chosen a more
conventional image: an old man with a long white beard. Because the
irrefutable fact is, God is spirit, NOT a human being.
True,
many Christians will anthropomorphize God in their mental imagery,
and to a point, maybe it can't be helped. From the perspective of
male-supremacist fundamentalists, God is seen as male, though in
truth, God, the Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth, cannot be
limited to a "gender"; even most of the fundamentalists,
when pressed, will admit to this.
God
is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in
truth.”
John
4:24
But
worst of all, by personifying God as a human being, a "created
being", the absolute majesty and glory of God are immeasurably
diminished. What Spirit-filled Christian could fall to his knees in
awe before such a "deity"?
Young's
personification of "Jesus" is similarly flawed. Reading
some of the lines spoken by him, I found myself wondering how Young
could possibly come up with such a twisted version of the message of
Christ's gospel clearly given in the New Testament. Jesus is
presented not as Son of God, but as some kind of goofy new age
hippie.
And
lastly, we have "Sarayu", the so-called "holy spirit".
Again, putting the Holy Spirit into a flesh body totally
misrepresents God's Truth. Can anyone imagine, for example, Isaiah or
Jeremiah being "inspired" to prophecy by such a a creature?
The very thought is ludicrous.
Now,
let's take a look at some of the conversations of this "trinity"
with Mack.
"Papa"
to Mack:
"Mackenzie,
we have no concept of final authority among us, only unity. We are in
a circle of relationship, not a chain of command or "great chain
of being" as your ancestors termed it. What you’re seeing here
is relationship without any overlay of power. We don't need power
over the other because we are always looking out for the best.
Hierarchy would make no sense among us."
The
scriptures clearly state that Jesus was "sent" by the
Father.
Just
as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the
one who feeds on me will live because of me.
John
6:57
So,
if there is no hierarchy, how could God the Father have "sent"
Jesus, if there is only a "circle of relationship"? Why
wouldn't Jesus have just decided to make the journey on his own?
"Jesus"
to Mack:
"That’s
the beauty you see in my relationship with Abba [Father] and Sarayu.
We are indeed submitted to one another and have always been so and
will always be. Papa is as much submitted to me as I to him, or
Sarayu to me, or Papa to her. Submission is not about authority and
it is not obedience; it is all about relationships of love and
respect. In fact, we are submitted to you in the same way"
Mack:
"So
then we've been seduced with this preoccupation with authority?"
Lord
have mercy! Is he serious? To say that God "submits" to a
human being? Who does Young think God is? To say God has NO AUTHORITY
over His people? That submitting to God is not obedience?
If
God Almighty does not have authority, then who does? Throughout this
conversation, Young promotes the idea that there is really no
difference between God and human beings. No, we should all just
"submit" to each other, and everything will be fine and
dandy. Anything goes...
Papa
to Mack:
"We
carefully respect your choices, so we work within your systems even
while we seek to free you from them"
Again,
the idea that God would "work within" the systems of the
world of men. What about the fact that "God is no respecter of
persons"? How could anyone with even the slightest bit of
spiritual discernment ever believe something so stupid?
Papa
to Mack:
"I
don't need to punish people for sin. Sin is its own punishment,
devouring you from the inside. It's not my purpose to punish it; it's
my joy to cure it."
The
Lord tests the righteous and the wicked, and the one who loves
violence His soul hates.
Psalm
11:5
Not
everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of
heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will
say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your
name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your
name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart
from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
Matthew
7:21-23
Young's
"Jesus" says he does not want people to become Christians.
What then, does he want them to do? To become new age pagans,
worshipers of created things?
"Papa"
and Mack, discussing forgiving the man who murdered Mack's daughter:
"Mack,
for you to forgive this man is for you to release him to me and allow
me to redeem him."
So
now, God cannot "redeem" the murderer without Mack first
forgiving him? God needs Mack's permission to "allow" him
to redeem a sinner or bestow His grace? This takes the power from God
and puts it into Mack's hands. But who is Mack to usurp the power of
God? Again, God is diminished in his majesty and power, as if He were
dependent on the will of a mere man to forgive, redeem or administer
justice. But in Young's worldview, "justice" doesn't even
enter into the picture.
The
tale woven by Young, filled with sentimentality and syrupy-sweet
emotional projection, presents a "feel good" democratic
God, who does not punish sin; who needs the permission and
cooperation of human beings to redeem; who cares nothing for
righteousness; who does not administer justice—and is powerless to
rule His kingdom without human assistance, via the "circle of
relationship".
Does
God, through His sovereign grace, offer salvation to Christian
believers, covered by the blood of Christ? Or does a flesh creature
"god", who "submits" to created beings, offer
"transformation"?
As
for THE SHACK, it is the last place on earth (or in any other realms)
where any true believer in Jesus Christ and His gospel would ever
want to go.
KEEP
OUT of THE SHACK.
Barbara
Hartwell Percival
February
25, 2012
Do
not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test
everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.
1
Thessalonians 5:19-22
Then
I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth
and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for
them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the
throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the
book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as
recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and
death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person
was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were
thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.
Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was
thrown into the lake of fire.
Revelation
20:11-15
...that
we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about
with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning
craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love,
may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ
Ephesians
4:14-15
...but
whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but
is guilty of an eternal sin.
Mark
3:29
They
exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served
created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised.
Amen.
Romans
1:25
At
that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate
each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many
people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will
grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. . . . For
false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs
and miracles to deceive even the elect– if that were possible. See,
I have told you ahead of time.
Matthew
24:24
