RE: "The Shack" (Full Version)

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.Pammy -> RE: "The Shack" (4/23/2008 11:01:14 AM)

quote:

-- Are we not allowed to explore, to discuss, to embrace, to reach, to probe, to do all in our power to grasp for a greater understanding and relationship with Almighty God?--

What do you mean by this?


I don't understand the question. Maybe it's time I bow out of this discussion.



CoeurdeLeon_ -> RE: "The Shack" (4/23/2008 11:15:26 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: jazzact13


--Our minds are God-given, and as such are to be used. Imagination is God-given, and as such is to to be used. I have seen Christians afraid to use both, and they don't need to be.--

Oh, please, can we do without the cheap shots at Christians in general? I've known plenty of Christians who think and use their imaginations.

That was far from a cheap shot. It was merely an observation about some Christians. Of course, there are Christians who think and use their imaginations. Some of us are participating in this thread.[;)]



groovymovieman -> RE: "The Shack" (4/23/2008 7:44:26 PM)

How a discussion about a beautiful novel that expresses the love of Father for His children so wonderfully can degenerate into a nasty label sticking fight is beyond me. I want to bring this back to the positive. This book grapples with the long asked question that torments believers, "Where is God when bad things happen?" I've had my share of tragedies, as I'm sure many on this board have. For one, my sister and I lost our Dad to the irresponsibility of a drunk driver. After I read "The Shack," I thought it would encourage my sister. So I sent her a copy for Christmas. Well, it blessed her so much she asked for two more copies to give to my cousins. She specifically said it helped her in working through the loss of our Dad. Also it did some mending in our relationship with each other regarding areas where we placed expectations on each other. I've seen the Spirit of God work through this book over and over again. And I rejoice in that. No it's not "The Holy Grail" of literature. But it's a good book. And when I see art I like to admire it.



techne -> RE: "The Shack" (5/20/2008 9:04:04 AM)

hmmm...

a review

marketing the shack (virally, that is)

...personally, i'm suspicious (or at least wary)



Soxfan -> RE: "The Shack" (5/20/2008 3:08:41 PM)

Hearing Christians rave about books like The Shack, The Secret, Purpose Driven Life, You're Best Life Now brings to mind Spurgeon's quote in my sig below.



earthless -> RE: "The Shack" (5/20/2008 6:02:42 PM)

Some of you may be interested in reading the following from Greg Albrecht (Plain Truth Ministries):

Response piece 1

Response Piece 2

By posting the above I am not endorsing or condemning the book. Simply providing some perspectives from a defense angle.



semperfidelis -> RE: "The Shack" (5/21/2008 11:15:08 PM)

Currently reading this book. Was skeptical because of what I'd heard about it and various things endorsing it, and also a review that really pounded it. However, now that I'm reading the book -- I have agree with the response pieces earthless posted links to.

What gets problematic is when we try to explain something from The Shack without the other person knowing the context of what we are saying. The same thing happens when discussing the same concepts from the Bible... and even more basic ones.



blue1914 -> RE: "The Shack" (5/27/2008 10:16:05 AM)

I am reading it now. The only thing that I can say about it is the fact that it's a clear exposition of a lot of things that the Lord is currently showing me about Himself-I just never had it in black and white (in this manner) before.



lexie -> RE: "The Shack" (6/1/2008 8:32:28 AM)

Well, I get what the author was trying to do, but it just didn't work for me. I don't hate the book. I don't think it was awful, but it just didn't work for me.

I think there were some great points throughout. I especially loved what the author wrote about giving up our rights, as well as the part on submission. It's a great reminder that God never leaves us.

It's not something to take as another gospel, but definitely worth a read If you are strong in what you believe and your understanding. I'm not sure I would recommend it for a new Christian, and I wouldn't recommend it for a non-Christian.



peacebringer -> RE: "The Shack" (7/25/2008 1:11:57 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: earthless

Some of you may be interested in reading the following from Greg Albrecht (Plain Truth Ministries):

Response piece 1

Response Piece 2

By posting the above I am not endorsing or condemning the book. Simply providing some perspectives from a defense angle.

actually it really doesn't do much defending of the book...



awaken -> RE: "The Shack" (8/4/2008 11:00:52 AM)

I just got through with the book...I read it in two days...could not put it down! I loved how they portrayed God in that he does not judge, He is interested in healing...I loved it! Recommend it to everyone!



FolkSingerBlues -> RE: "The Shack" (8/4/2008 12:14:02 PM)

I read the book last month. I've bought and given away about 5 copies of it so far.
I was skeptical of reading it. My skepticism was largely due to the female characterization of God and the Holy Spirit. After discussing the book with two trusted friends who had read it, they recommended that I read it. Part of that recommendation was made because they know how analytical I am.

I stomached through to the last page and found myself enjoying many of the "scenes" and comments that were exchanged in it's pages. I really felt the reconciliation of why the female likeness's were assigned were well resolved.

My issue isn't with The Shack. It is amazing to me that people will try to translate the Bible by The Shack as opposed to trying to understand The Shack through the lens of the Bible. If people are going to be distorted by a book that although IS Christian but is found in the FICTION section that says something about the individual. The Shack did a great job of taking the "superstitiousness" out of Christianity and emphasizing the "relationship" aspect of it.

Did The Shack contain flaws in comparison to the Bible. Of course it did. William Young doesn't hold a monopoly over writing Christian books that contain errors. Charles Spurgeon, John Calvin, Augustine, Martin Luther, C.S. Lewis and a multitude of others have done the same. Some of them penned such books under the category of fiction, others apologetics, still others theology.

I have yet to find a book that interests me that can keep me from sharpening myself in the Word of God. Anyone searching for theological lessons, a deeper understanding of God, or Truth must use the Bible for that source. Everything else is just a tool that can help us study God's Word as our final authority.



peace2008 -> RE: "The Shack" (8/5/2008 1:12:43 PM)

Hi,
Not only would I recommend it..I bought copies and gave them to some friends and family.

It simply reinforced his love for us in a FICTIONAL story. I think people are overlooking the fact that this is a novel. An uplifting way to think of our Father when life seems so very unfair. I have also read Dragon Keepers and other christian fiction and although there were some areas I would not necessarily agree with, the stories were entertaining an uplifting.

If this book encourages anyone to stray from the faith or misunderstand the WORD, there must be/have been some really serious doubts to begin with.

One of the people I gave the book is someone who was just gone on The Secret. I have been witnessing to her and praying for here almost daily. I gave her the book to read. The book encouraged her to begin to attend church and to find out about the Lord herself. She said after reading the book, if this is what it is like to be a child of God, the Love and compassion, then I want some. Still in church, and planning to join.

The Shack didn't save her soul, but it gave her a vision of what we Christians witness about so ineffectively, at least me, his love and sacrifice for us. She knows it's fiction, she knows it is one persons interpertation of his experience or understanding.

Yet, it lead her to the church, the bible and prayerfully to a real relationship with the Father.

Great Discussion by the way,
Peace



joy2give2u -> RE: "The Shack" (8/9/2008 5:07:05 PM)

I was skeptical when I first began reading the book.

The first few chapters, after arriving at the shack to visit Papa, were interesting but did not really speak to or touch me.

There was no major change in my paradigm of how I see God.

Much of what I read was comfortable since it was similar to how I relate and see the Lord.

Since I trusted the opinion of the person who recommended the book to me and had observed how profoundly it had touched her I decided I needed to take some time to pray before reading the rest.

I went to the Lord and asked Him to speak to me through the book. I asked Him to remove any mindsets or preconceived perceptions which were keeping me personally from hearing what God wanted to speak to me through the book.

I finished it and can only say one word. Beautiful.

I would and will highly recommend the book to all. I would also recommend reading it several times asking the Lord to speak through the book the things he wants each to gleam from it.

As for the posted who are concerned with how Jesus, God and the Holy spirit are betrayed physically.

I would recommend reading the book and paying attention to the section which explains that Father is a verb not a noun.

This book prompts questions which, if you allow yourself to meditate on the questions, can lead to an amazing encounter with the Lord.

If you haven't read it. I pray you will.

Joy



TammyIsBlessed -> RE: "The Shack" (8/30/2008 5:34:21 PM)

From pg 93

quote:

I am neither male nor female, even though both genders are derived from my nature. If I choose to appear to you as a man or a woman, it's because I love you. For me to appear to you as a woman and suggest that you call me Papa is simply to mix metaphors, to help you keep from falling so easily back into your religious conditioning......... Hasn't it always been a problem for you to embrace me as your father? And after what you've been through, you couldn't very well handle a father right now, could you?


From pg 94

quote:

Why is there such an emphasis on you being a Father? I mean, it seems to be the way you most reveal yourself.

there are many reasons for that, and some of them go very deep. Let me say for now that we knew once the Creation was broken, true fathering would be much more lacking than mothering. Don't misunderstand me, both are needed - but an emphasis on fathering is necessary because of the enormity of its absence.



FolkSingerBlues -> RE: "The Shack" (8/30/2008 8:35:04 PM)

I distinctly remember these paragraphs.
Do you have a comment on them?



TammyIsBlessed -> RE: "The Shack" (8/31/2008 12:02:38 AM)

I just posted those particular quotes because of the whole controversy of God "being" a woman. The book was quite clear that God is not a woman OR a man and simply appeared to this particular individual as a woman because that is how he would understand the depth of God's love for him. God can appear as whomever/whatever He wants to if it suits His purpose..... the wind, a still small voice, a cloud, or even a woman.

One thing I was a bit confused by. According to the forward it sounds like this is supposed to be a true story. So, is it fiction or non-fiction?



FolkSingerBlues -> RE: "The Shack" (9/1/2008 10:30:59 PM)

It is a work of fiction...no doubt. No "I lived this" slant in reality. The "non-fiction" slant is similar to how they made the Blair Witch Project so successful.



Hatfield -> RE: "The Shack" (9/21/2008 6:25:29 PM)

I've read it, and I enjoyed it! Borrowed it from our local library.

I don't have an issue with the gender depiction thing, indeed I've yet to hear anyone comment that Jesus wasn't depicted as most people imagine Him to look like. Most paintings of Jesus or in movies have him looking like Jim Caviezel in Passion of the Christ. The book described him looking more like the actor from the TV series Crossing Jordan who played the character Bug (Ravi Kapoor). But no one seems to have any issues with that! Why?

Me personally, I found the book to be thought provoking. As I think the author said somewhere, no, this isn't a book to answer all your questions about your faith. It is simply a look at a question that has plagued Christianity from the days of the first martyred saints, "Why do bad things happen to good people?"

True, the early part of the book (before the visit to the shack) dragged a little. But it was all made clear in the story. By the time I finished the book, I was very glad for having read it.



bettymackII -> RE: "The Shack" (9/22/2008 12:36:14 PM)

I read the whole book and agree completely with Dr. Al Mohler.
Yes, this is a fiction book.
I believe, God is love and He is the final judge.

In this book there is mentioned a
fourth person included in the God-
head. Do you think it is okay to
take Bible doctrines and make
a novel interpretation since your
book is labeled fiction? I welcome
your thoughts.



TammyIsBlessed -> RE: "The Shack" (9/22/2008 11:47:21 PM)

I didn't feel they made Wisdom a fourth "person" in the Godhead. I just felt like they gave Wisdom a "face" for lack of a better word.



Tea-Tea -> RE: "The Shack" (9/23/2008 9:56:32 AM)

I finished the book over the weekend. I enjoyed it very much and actually gained a lot from reading it. Both of my bookclubs chose this book for our Oct. meetings...I'm looking forward to the discussions!



Talon3 -> RE: "The Shack" (9/23/2008 10:54:06 AM)

I just started reading the Shack yesterday after trying to decide for a couple of weeks if I wanted to. I haven't gotten too far, and I don't want to put a spoiler up here unless that is ok. However, it was hard for me to read what happened to Mack and family that caused him to go back to the shack 3 or so years later. I have a 7 year old daughter, and I shudder to think if anything happened to her.

I read until Mack got back to the shack and had his first encounter with God. I plan to finish it tomorrow and will wait to post more of what I thought until then.



Talon3 -> RE: "The Shack" (9/29/2008 12:23:44 PM)

I finished The Shack last Wednesday. I'm glad I listened to the friend that loaned me the book and read it.

I really have no trouble with how God presented himself at all. As was pointed out in the book and a previous post, God can appear to us however he chooses. I thought the author handled that very well, and it was neat how the three interacted with each other and Mack.



Rebecca1965 -> RE: "The Shack" (9/29/2008 2:38:32 PM)

[:)]I have read the book and really enjoyed it.... I was leary of the portrayal of the Trinity. As was I of the light that represented the souls because that reminds me of the charkra mentality .... the thing that I got out of it was that God allows us to choose.... those choices are what causes some of the strife in this life.... When we choose God to take over our life a sense of relief comes over us b/c we are not putting ourselves in the position to be God... and that God is more than the best that we can be which is how a lot of people judge others by ......Also forgivness is the key... with that we harbor bitterness and enable God to work thru our life.... I am glad to realize that we do not have to solve all the problems b/c God is there for that....



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