THE SHACK

							                                    THE SHACK
    “Everyone who has ever felt a great sadness, or who knows someone who has, can relate
to The Shack. This NOVEL is about Great Sadness…” (Roger E. Ohlson). The author of
this book deals with The Shack’s main theme—Where is God when strategy strikes? Is that
a relevant subject today? We will study The Shack, its main theme, but also its sub-themes
and then compare them with the Bible. “…its purpose, beyond spinning an amazingly good
yarn, seems to be to correct certain popular notions about God and point readers toward
other ideas about God. There is no doubt that William Young (author) is theologically
trained, but he hides most of that well. The reader isn’t assaulted by heavy theological jargon
but is sweetly seduced into some profound theological thinking” (Ohlson).

The Plot
      The book begins with a personal history of a man named Mack, who was raised in an
abusive home, but whose father, a very religious man, abused him severely. Later, he
attended seminary, but didn’t relate to what they taught, one of which the doctrine of sola
scriptora (Scripture only). Mack married his childhood sweetheart Nan, and they lived in
Oregon and had five beautiful children together, the youngest Missy, who was especially
precious to Mack. He takes them on a camping trip where Missy disappears, and the
authorities never find her body, just her blood stained clothes in an old shack near the lake.
    Great sadness and depression descends on Mack at which time he is tempted to blame
God for allowing this to happen, at which time he finds a note in his mailbox which says,
“…I’ve missed you. I’ll be at the shack next weekend if you want to get together—signed, Papa,” his
wife’s favorite name for God. Without telling anyone, Mack goes to the shack both out of
curiosity and desperation. While there he enters into a 4th dimension like state where he
meets the Trinity of God, in the physical persons of: a large, jolly, black woman called Papa
[Father]; Jesus portrayed as a carefree, friendly, Jewish carpenter; a young female called
Sarayu [Holy Spirit]. Together these three discuss with Mack Missy’s murder and God’s role
in such things. The experience includes Mack being given a glimpse of Missy though he
cannot communicate with her, but he does encounter his once abusive father where Mack
forgives him. The heaven like state ends with the discovery of Missy’s body as it is lies in a
beautiful casket built by Jesus where Mack finds forgiveness and the great sadness is lifted
from his shoulders. Then he returns to his previous life and tells the events to his wife.

                                Themes & Sub-themes

Why Suffering? Why Evil?
      Many struggle with the Christian faith because God allows evil to exist. The Shack
portrays evil through a hideous murder of a child, and Mack is consumed in grief and his
struggle with God. This is resolved while he is at The Shack and the three try to explain it to
him verbally. Most would rather God sit down with us and explain such things face to face,
but that’s the reason for the Bible (2Tim.3:16;2Cor.5:7). The origin of evil, and its place in
the human condition is all explained in His Word. Lucifer’s jealousy & pride (Isa.14:12-
14;Ezek.28:13-18) led to sin, which was introduced from Satan through the serpent into
Adam & Eve (Gen.3:6), and then into the whole human race (Rom.5:12).

  The origin lies in Satan, but man is the conduit for sin being in the world
A Human Trinity
   Perhaps the first eye catcher in The Shack is the portrayal of the three individuals (two
women & one man) as the Trinity of God. The author’s intent is obviously to make God
manifested in three Persons accessible to man, but therein is the problem. Though God
desires to have a personal relationship with man (Jn.1:14), Young’s version seems extreme,
and unbiblical. The Father is in Spiritual form (Jn.1:18;4:24), as also the Holy Spirit is
invisible (Jn.3:5-8). Should we put human bodies to the Father & Holy Spirit when the Bible
doesn’t? To do so is to try to humanize God, and bring Him down to our level (P.90).

Religion and Institutions
    On page 181, Mack said, “You’re not too fond of religion and institutions?” and Jesus
replied, “I don’t create institutions—never have, never will…So no, I’m not too big on
religion, and not very fond of politics or economics either.” He goes on to say that it is ALL
ABOUT an individual relationship with God. Young’s emphasis is individualism—You &
God, and while that is true (Col.2:6), there is more. From the beginning, God has dealt with
individuals at the same time they are part of institutions, e.g. marriage, family, race, nations,
human government, in a variety of economic systems (Gen.1:28;9:6,7; Acts4: 32;1Tim.5:8).
    As far as religions, didn’t God give Israel one (Exo.19:5,6;Gal.1:13,14;Jas.1:26,27)? Didn’t
Christ commission Paul to set up local churches (Acts13:23) where believers today are to
grow spiritually? Isn’t much of the doctrine of grace about the corporate BODY OF
CHRIST (1Cor.12:13,27) whose members have been given gifts so that the BODY can
function effectively (1Cor.12:14-24)?

Many Roads
   There’s a confusing discussion about Christ not being “Christian” (P.184), which then
leads into a discussion about salvation – “Those who love me have come from every system
that exists…Buddhists or Mormons, Baptists or Muslims…Most roads don’t lead
anywhere…I will travel any road to find you” (P.184). The Bible is clear that there are no
other roads to the Father but through the Son (Jn.14:6), which was further delineated by
Paul to include having faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (1Cor.15:1-4).

Universalism
      This belief is that every human being will eventually be saved. Is The Shack teaching
that because God’s love is supreme everyone will be saved in the end? Will man not be held
accountable for sin (Rev.20:11-15)? “God has already forgiven everyone of everything, and
He absolves everyone of guilt and shame…But it’s hard to think the author of The Shack
wants us to believe everyone will be in heaven” (Finding God In The Shack, p.101). Are there
no absolutes—holiness of God, sinfulness of man? Then why did Jesus die on a cross?

One Person’s Opinion

   “It opened with a great story line and seemed innocent enough, but when I got to the
      mailbox episode, red flags flew up…I saw Young’s perception of God was not
 biblical…I was noting some New Age euphuisms, but then I came to the presentation of
 the Trinity, and that to me was nothing short of blasphemy…It’s all a good thermometer
          of the spiritual climate in America today…Below zero!” -- Les Feldick