"The Shack: Where Tragedy Confronts Eternity by William P. Young (Wind Blown Media, 2007, 264 pp) is a New York Times best seller with well over a million copies in print. Literally hundreds of thousands have been blessed by its message, but its message is precisely what calls for scrutiny. Responses to The Shack range from eulogy to heresy..."Full Review by Norman Geisler here.
5 comments :
Thanks, I was looking for some biblical, scholarly reviews I could trust on this book. I know I have used several of Geisler's books at MBI, so I appreciate what he had to say about The Shack.
After hearing of all the attention this book was getting, I read it for myself. I found myself heartily agreeing with Geisler's point of view.
The Shack had no scripture in it, and emphasized personal experience over written revelation. Seminary education was portrayed as useless and even harmful. The portrayal of God and the dialogue attributed to Him were cringeworthy.
I think the success of this book shows the lack of discernment among the church, yet does reveal a true hunger for a relationship that is beyond just dry orthodoxy. It is unfortunate that when people reject dry liturgy, their pendulum tends to swing so far in the other direction.
It is too bad that Norman Geisler is unable to see and interpret things outside of the grid he is trapped inside of. Whether or not Norman worships the God of the Bible is unclear to me, but what seems perfectly clear is that Norman worships the Bible. The single biggest idol in the history of the Christian faith is the Bible. God is not a genie trapped inside that book, with shackles and puffy pants, waiting to answer every question with a Bible verse.
The book explained the trinity and human and God relationship in a simple and down to earth way with out all the techno language that turns young people off - using a story that quite frankly I loved. I know some who have never cracked a bible who are now looking deeper. Why throw cold water on a book that could lead millions to search for a deeper understanding who may turn to the bible after reading this book? Makes me think of these "technical scholars" a lot like Jesus did in Matthew 23:13 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to."
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