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 enlarge | Author: William P. Young
Publisher: Windblown Media
Category: Book
List Price: $14.99
Buy New: $7.10
You Save: $7.89 (53%)
New (86) Used (45) Collectible (1) from $7.10
Avg. Customer Rating:  1886 reviews
Sales Rank: 8
Media: Paperback
Edition: 1st
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 256
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.8 x 5.2 x 0.8
ISBN: 0964729237
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.6
EAN: 9780964729230
Publication Date: July 1, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: 100% BRAND NEW, ships fast, 100% of proceeds benefit public library
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| Customer Reviews:
 In pursuing a closer relationship with God--read as a novel.. July 2, 2008
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
Like others have said--this book is a novel! It's a man's compelling fictional account of his conversations with God. Are there things that might not specifically address all attributes of God--of course. But this is not a commentary, not a study book on the trinity--nothing like that. And since we are made in image of God; we don't know how God looks.
I grew up in a legalistic, fundamentalist Baptist church--with lots of rules, but no love. I would much rather my unsaved friends and family meet the God of love, then learn about the rest of Him. READ the stories in the Bible. Many folks came from many different walks of life and situations to meet God. I believe that is what is communicated in this book.
God works in people today, just like in the Old Testament days, Reformation, and any other time. I found some points in this book to touch me and move me--but it doesn't replace my Bible. I think this book points out that we can't "keep God in a box;" that we don't fully understand Him, and we won't know until Heaven. But God created us for personal, loving relationship with Him and that's what he wants us to pursue--to make a difference in His Kingdom!
An amazing journey September 10, 2007
15 out of 17 found this review helpful
What an incredible story! I wasn't sure what to expect but was drawn right in and unable to stop until the last page. Young introduces you to Mack and you find yourself "feeling" his personal crisis and wanting to walk through it with him. Mack's journey takes you from anger at God , questioning and denial until he gets to the other side of the wall and realizes the beauty that he has been missing.
If you have ever walked through a personal crisis that made you question your faith..this is the book for you!
Now the #1 Best Seller--for good reason June 18, 2008
26 out of 32 found this review helpful
By habit, I am suspicious of books that are popular, especially in the Christian market. I read The Shack guardedly expecting for Oprah's New Age type religion/philosophy.
I was pleasantly surprised with this stirring and unforgettable story about God's love and spiritual healing.
This is a fiction book. Missy's death is a metaphor for an ugly, dark place hidden so deep that it seemed beyond God's healing reach. Mack spends the two and a half days with the Trinity learning about himself and God and relationships in the shack which is transformed into a mansion in an Eden-like garden for the weekend.
I smiled, cried, pondered, prayed, and repented as I read this over two days. The main focus of this book is on God's love, God's mercy, and the importance of us loving and forgiving others. I came away from the book refreshed.
Once I felt comfortable the author believed in salvation by faith through grace and that Jesus being the only way, I let down my guard and basked in this well written book full of hidden treasures. This is a novel you read with a highlighter.
Those who view Christianity only as a religion with rules to follow will learn that faith and love don't come from theology or rules they flow from a relationship with God.
Why is The Shack so Popular?
Young approaches the popular topic the love of God and human suffering in a story. Jesus taught in parables and object lessons becasue we learn well from stories. Young's story is an attempt describe a God's character to his children. But God's character is essentially indescribable. We can only understand a part of God's characteristics by what we know and experience in human relationships.
People in our culture have a need to connect with God as a personal God beyond the holy and omnipotent. Our reverence and wonder about the presence of God make hard to grasp God in terms of intimate family relationships such as God as Papa (instead of an unseen force or an abstract will).
Young presents an easy to relate to version of the trinity of three persons with unique personalities spending a few days casual friendly folksy conversation and home cooked comfort meals. Easy enough for a child to understand, loving, warm and rich.
If you have been hurt in your life through church or religion or experienced the pain of legalism or rejection of judgmental attitudes this book will especially touch you. I have been hurt a lot in churches so I was profoundly impacted.
There is such a chasm between God's holy being and our imperfect world that it is simply hard to understand God's mercy and loving actions with unworthy man. The Shack gives us a grasp of the depth of the love of God and it is beyond comforting, it is exhilarating!
The Controversy
Any book that includes conversations with God is bound to receive criticism. How can anyone put words in God's mouth? But the critics seem to forget the book is a fiction story by a man telling a story about God's love to his children, not a book on theology. It is Young's perception of God.
I was not in total agreement with The Shack (I am not in total agreement with several of my favorite authors). I don't expect any book but the Bible to be perfect. Books are like watermelons; you have to be willing to spit out a few seeds.
I read many of the heresy hunters posts and some of them say some things that just are not true. The article "Is the Shack Heresy?" by Wayne Jacobson addresses each of the problems the critics bring up.
The predestination folks (particularly Tim Challies) seem to have the most problems with the book (the teachings in The Shack--God loves everyone-- do not agree with predestination. See the video series for a full explanation).
A Feminine God?
I imagine the hardest part for Christians to grasp is God being first presented to Mack as a female. Its easy to understand a knee jerk reaction. I was cautious when I read this but not completely turned off I have a limited understanding of the masculine and feminine parts of the image of God(becasue of my studies in Hebrew roots). When Adam was first made, he was both male and female, formed in the image of God (Genesis 1:27).
The Shack is not trying to reinvent God as a female, but revealing that God is beyond race and gender. The main character in the story Mack was abused by his father so the author presents a comforting mother type at first, later in the book (once the earthly father issues are solved) God is presented as the Father. Harper's Bible Dictionary explains the Bible uses both male and femal imagery to show the charter of God:
Although masculine images for God dominate (e.g., king, judge, father, brother, shepherd, etc.), it must be recognized that feminine images are also frequently used to describe God's activity. Among these are images related to feminine anatomy (e.g., womb and breasts) and feminine function (e.g., conception, pregnancy, childbirth, maternal nurture, etc.).
In the story, Papa explains that there is no hierarchy in the holy trinity--there is no need becasue each serves each other. It is a thought provoking description and my jury is still out on this section. But I have no problem questioning this and gleaning from the rest of the story.
Turkey Bacon
I was very disappointed that God served bacon for breakfast. My 30 year old son helped me with this. When we discussed it he said (tongue in cheek) "Hey mom, it is probably the same turkey bacon you serve." I was enjoying the story so much I didn't want this part to ruin it. So in my mind--it is turkey bacon.
Christians can agree to disagree in non-salvation issues and still love each other.
To fairly critique the book I would ask the question: What did Mack learn from his weekend with God?
The Shack is not about theology or religion, but about the sweetness of an intimate relationship with God through Christ.
Mack is reminded of basic truths found in God's word that he allowed forgot during his great sadness. The truths are given in an unconditional casual conversation format that may make some people uncomfortable.
Mack learns that he doesn't really trust God and "Trust is the fruit of a relationship where you know you are loved" (p 126).
Mack discovers that God's desires an intimate love relationship with each of us. He learns God wants him to spend time with Him and intimately communicate with Him, to enjoy fellowship with Him, to trust and follow Him, and to give his life meaning and purpose. He learns that God can use all things, even sin and evil to develop this relationship for good (Romans 8:28).
Mack discovers the depth of God's grace (Ephesians 2:4-5) . He learns that he can not be self-sufficient and realizes he has been made acceptable through Jesus Christ and Him alone. He learns he will not find God through guilt or condemnation. He understands God is lovingly and patiently waiting on Him to submit (1 Peter 5:7).
Mack is reminded of the two most important commands--to love God and love others (john 13:35). Mack already knows he must forgive others as Christ forgave Him but in the shack he is helped through the process.
Mack learns God works through everything including our brokenness and sadness (Philippians 3:8). When we are separated from our prideful flesh (the carnal, corrupted life) through grace and allow the Holy Spirit to work in us He will gradually bring us to the restful place of humble dependence, wherein we can consistently receive the grace that leads to intimacy. Beautiful, loving intimacy!
Mack learns God wants us to be made complete in Christ (John 6:44-45). God wants us to be of one mind with Him. God wants us to make His ways our ways, His thoughts our thoughts.
I came away from the book feeling loved and secure with a strong desire to cultivate my relationship with God through His Word. How can that be a bad thing?
A journey of questions with incredible answers August 28, 2007
16 out of 19 found this review helpful
This book takes the reader on a journey of questions for which there are the most amazing answers. Thought provoking with the potentical of changing your image and relationship with God forever. You be the judge of that. It is a book that you will both want to, and need to, read more than once to capture all that it contains. I've never read anything like it before. I've already purchased several copies and given them out to good friends. I could not recommend it more highly.
A Wonder and a Surprise September 6, 2007
12 out of 14 found this review helpful
Before the book even made it to the bookstores, I knew some people who bought a whole case to give to people. Never heard of anything like it.
When it was my turn to read it, I had a different reaction than I expected. The book was different than what I thought, but not bad--just different. [...]
This book gets round our earthly relational issues to help us see into the true heart of God. I never recommend books, don't read fiction much, and think most theological writings are all wet. But I'll recommend this one.
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