Comments on: Some Thoughts on "The Shack"

By: Keith

Keith — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 13:46:07 +0000

Trevin, thank you for re-posting this for those of us who hadn’t yet found your blog at the time.
I read The Shack, and when someone objects to a critique of it because it’s just a novel, my reply is: “Yes, it’s a fictional story about a fictional god.”
And just a quick note about the tendency of some who try to pit God’s commandments against God’s love (“it’s not about rules, it’s about relationship,” etc). We do not have to choose between them. They are not in conflict; they are in perfect harmony, and you cannot have one without the other. “If you love Me, keep My commandments,” Jesus said (John 14:15). “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments” (1 John 5:3).

By: DBT

DBT — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 12:30:42 +0000

I’ve not read it, but my husband and many friends have. Something that bothers me about both The Shack and Da Vinci Code is that I have encountered believers who think The Shack to be non-fiction (memoir), and unbelievers who likewise think Da Vinci Code to be non-fiction (history!). Muddies the waters when trying to relate to others about the Lord.

By: RJ

RJ — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:08:57 +0000

@ Denny:
Have you ever drunk a cup of arsenic? Probably not! Yet you know not to because you have heard or read enough from reputable sources that it would be fatal. Same with the things we feed our mind and soul . . . rather than wasting our time with “poison”, we can get good input from reputable sources to know what to avoid. Just because you don’t agree with my insight doesn’t give you a right on an open forum to tell me I should remain silent. I have enough information from various sources to not spend my time reading the actual manuscript. You could start your own blog where only invited guests are allowed to voice parroted comments. If in doubt, read Laura’s comments. Great perspective.

By: Denny

Denny — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 06:10:56 +0000

You said that you haven’t read the book. So you shouldn’t be posting or re-posting any comments about the book because you don’t personally know how well the comments portray the book. It’s like writing a review about a car that you’ve never driven. Because you never drove it you can’t say first hand how it corners and accelerates. Maybe the person who did drive it has personal distaste for something that is actually quite good.

I personally just got done reading the book over the last few days. It had some very good points, but also some that read to be theological trouble. It seems to be a good read for fiction, but as with all fiction the reader needs to be careful what they apply to their own life. Along with that be careful who you seek out for commentary, you don’t want to miss a book that could be beneficial for you and deepen YOUR personal relationship with Jesus.

By: Joyce Noble

Joyce Noble — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 06:39:23 +0000

Laura,

Well said.
Joyce

By: Joyce Noble

Joyce Noble — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 06:38:49 +0000

Laura,
Well said.
Joyce

By: laura

laura — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:48:56 +0000

Thank you Trevin for your review.

I tried to get through the Shack but I couldn’t. It was very irreverent. My God does not giggle and make remarks along the lines of “don’t look at me like you filled your pants”.

The reason that so many are being fooled by this book is that we lack discernment. We all profess to love the Bible but we don’t study it. The Shack will lead many into a false view of God – even though HE has gone to great lengths to accurately depict HIS pure, holy, loving, just, righteous character in the Word. Let’s start reading it!

By: Terry Chapman

Terry Chapman — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 22:28:46 +0000

Trevin, I did not read The Shack, nor do I ever intend to but I find the comments almost as interesting as your critique. If God gave us His Holy Word so that we could know Him, His attributes, character, and nature, why in the world would I read a fiction book to understand His forgiveness, etc? I prefer to go to the source. Fiction has it’s place but not the place of learning about my God. Thank you for your honesty with the pro and con.
Terry Chapman

By: Allen

Allen — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 06:19:31 +0000

Dear Kim,

I would have liked to tell more of our story about the encounter with The Shack, but suffice it to say that 18 years after the loss of our daughter God used this book to open the door for Him to lift the Great Sadness from our home.

I would like to aim this at your last comment. You might like it, too.

Some years ago I was stunned (because it cracked my theology) and ultimately comforted by hearing an explanation of the statement Jesus made on the cross where He quotes the first verse of Psalm 22. A messianic rabbi – one studied in the times, culture and traditions of Jewish culture in the first century – referred us to look to verse 24 (I’ll let you discover it), and then made us aware that the term “Psalm 22″ was not in place at the time of Christ.

Jews would refer to a portion of scripture not by a number but by the first portion of that scripture. Where we would refer to Psalm 23 and thereby bring to mind it’s imagery, first century Jews would refer to “The Lord is my Shephard” and the same thing would be communicated.

It turns out Jesus was not crying out as a forsaken son, He was crying out to the scribes, Pharisees, leaders and all who knew the scripture – calling them to recall and recognize the prophetic passage as it was being fulfilled in their site. From the cross He was still offering them love, mercy and forgiveness.

Father, Abba – or Papa – NEVER hid His face or abandoned His child, even when Jesus became ALL of Sin. There is NO exception to His love. Neither will He ever leave us alone. It’s not in His nature – - and His nature is now IN you.

My2sense
I’ve also found that God is often found waiting for me on the other side of offence.

By: Corey

Corey — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:07:10 +0000

I found the biggest impact i have recieved from the book is judgement and forgiveness. The most of the comments on this page are all judgement good, bad, real, fiction, personal attacks.
The Shack i think acurately pointed out that humans are not in a position to judge. The do have the choice to forgive. Does anyone feel like they could be a judge of what a piece of someones heart and the reletionships that are portrayed will not be a benifit to someone and bring them closer to God? It may not be biblically correct and it is definatly fiction but i know when i read this book it did stir my soul. It cause me to look at the one true book and look for answers. It also caused me to look at my daily life and try a little harder to put God as the focal point. I dont read often but this book has opened my eyes a little wider to be open to a daily relationship with God. I think that is a good thing. I think we can point out all the faults and what they “may” do. I would like to see all the good things and what people have recieved from this book and how it has helped them grow in thier journey. This was the first Shack review i read when i finished the book. I am glad that i didnt read it before i started.

I hope all of you grow closer to God, have a daily relationship with him and live to find your purpose and path with his guideance.

God Bless you all!

Corey