Wednesday, February 06, 2008
A POWERFUL BOOK
You should read The Shack by William P. Young. This short novel may be one of the best and most challenging books of theology you ever read. Echoing Eugene Peterson's recommendation, it may become the Pilgrim's Progress for the post-modern age. I, for one, will confess that I bogged down in the Pilgrim's Progress and never finished reading it. It was powerful in its time, but I am not of its time.
The Shack is a simple tragic story in which a devastated individual encounters God in the midst of his hurt, pain and questions. The course of their encounter ranges over the big issues of life: the true meaning of love, freedom, forgiveness, sacrifice, relationships, justice, judgment, suffering, deception, power, how God can "allow" evil to take place in the world, and even the nature of "trinity."
You will have "aha" moments, touching moments, "wait a minute" moments, and discussions about it with others. There are some powerful statements that will bless a marriage if a couple will chew on them together.
If you have ever thought about how it would be to see the world and life through the eyes of God, this novel will give you a credible shot at it. But, like the protagonist in the novel, you will have to wrestle with how to retain that glimpse at work on Monday morning. Yet, there is a good chance your life will be changed by this book.
The reason this work resonates in our post-modern age is that the messages are embedded in a concrete story. We feel the struggle. This is not a systematic theology textbook with bullet points. I suspect most (I say most because some of us are still "modern" in our thinking) who read it will have a friend or family member whom they think will be challenged and blessed by the book. It has the potential to deepen "average" faith or possibly start a person on a journey of faith. The book touches the heart while challenging the head.
I suppose I should include the disclaimer that, of course, there are places to quibble and gaps in what is said. It is not a complete theology of the biblical principles. But I am confident you will find the protagonist saying things you have thought and said in your journey of faith. And some of the answers will be very satisfying.
The Shack is a simple tragic story in which a devastated individual encounters God in the midst of his hurt, pain and questions. The course of their encounter ranges over the big issues of life: the true meaning of love, freedom, forgiveness, sacrifice, relationships, justice, judgment, suffering, deception, power, how God can "allow" evil to take place in the world, and even the nature of "trinity."
You will have "aha" moments, touching moments, "wait a minute" moments, and discussions about it with others. There are some powerful statements that will bless a marriage if a couple will chew on them together.
If you have ever thought about how it would be to see the world and life through the eyes of God, this novel will give you a credible shot at it. But, like the protagonist in the novel, you will have to wrestle with how to retain that glimpse at work on Monday morning. Yet, there is a good chance your life will be changed by this book.
The reason this work resonates in our post-modern age is that the messages are embedded in a concrete story. We feel the struggle. This is not a systematic theology textbook with bullet points. I suspect most (I say most because some of us are still "modern" in our thinking) who read it will have a friend or family member whom they think will be challenged and blessed by the book. It has the potential to deepen "average" faith or possibly start a person on a journey of faith. The book touches the heart while challenging the head.
I suppose I should include the disclaimer that, of course, there are places to quibble and gaps in what is said. It is not a complete theology of the biblical principles. But I am confident you will find the protagonist saying things you have thought and said in your journey of faith. And some of the answers will be very satisfying.
