Jim - I think your comments are great. So here’s another “long post”.
Wayne Jacobsen ( www.lifestream.org ), author of “He Loves Me” (a solid theological book and a “must read” after The Shack) and other works was the editor/publisher of The Shack and the one who encouraged Paul to publish The Shack. Wayne is a good friend of mine, and with Wayne and others I had the joy of spending a day with Paul Young, Wayne, and Brad Cummings who also helped edit The Shack.
I saw an interview of Paul where he clearly disavowed believing in universal salvation/no hell. Wayne has stayed in our home several times, the last one when we had literally hundreds gathering to discuss the “issues” that critics had with the book. Wayne is solid theologically and quite well answered every issue. The questions were quite pointed, especially as one time we were using the facilities of an SBC church near us and the pastor was firing questions at Wayne in every area. Wayne so well explained things that this pastor asked him to come back and speak in the future.
The Shack does have “issues”, but people miss the point. The point is the incredible depth, width, height and breadth of God’s love and His redemptive sovereignty over all that happens to us in our damaged lives. Having served in ministry for over 40 years, I know of no other book that has drawn damaged, hurting people back into the grace of God, loving and walking with Him than The Shack.
I brought the main message at the memorial service for Rachael Hill ( www.rachaelhill.org ) - one of the kids killed at the Virginia Tech shootings, as I have been close with her family all of her life. She has played my wife’s Yamaha grand piano many times.
After reading The Shack, I strongly felt led to give a copy to Rachael’s father. I wrestled with this for about a month. “How can I give a man whose daughter has just been murdered a book about a man whose daughter is murdered?!?!” Eventually, I did it.
Rachael’s father - a man of God who knows scripture well - called me every day to say only one word: “Wow!” until he finished the book, when he said, “This is the best book I’ve ever read other than the Bible.” He has since given away hundreds of copies, and led many to Christ - many who otherwise would have no contact with any church. He has seen many deeply-hurting people come into rest and comfort and trust in God.
So have I. It’s the only book I know in my life where most readers don’t recommend it to their friends. They go buy copies and give them away.
No, we cannot get theology from the book, and should not. I have been one to strongly oppose all “Christian” novels. But this one changed my mind. I have seen too many brought to Christ, and too many who totally rejected the “Christian religion” come back to a walk and trust in God - and who continue in it today.
Thanks for your post.
arlis
I hope you're right about Young and "universal salvation." I saw some taped interviews with Young that left me wondering, but I don't see this as "dispositive" to the book itself.
“Having served in ministry for over 40 years, I know of no other book that has drawn damaged, hurting people back into the grace of God, loving and walking with Him than The Shack.”
The Word of God will always out-perform any pulp-fiction “best seller”.