I was so glad to read a review of “The Shack” from a former coworker of Tony’s and find another person recognizing the theological assaults this book delivers.  I was shocked when this book was recommended by someone I respect in the homeschooling community.  I ended up reading the book so I could verify the reservations I was having based on reviews.  It was so highly offensive I had to put it down several times.  The writer is so slick in his deception that I’m afraid he is pulling the wool over the eyes of what I thought were grounded Christians.

After pouring over comments from reviews of the book and visiting the Shack community I became deeply disturbed at how quickly people are embracing the theology in this book.  People are saying this book has transformed their relationship with God.  People are calling God “Papa” which I think is Scriptural but in their mind they mean the “Papa” in the Shack which is a large black female (I could also go on about the ridiculous stereo types in the book!)  When people in the forums and reviews talk of the Holy Spirit they refer to Sarayu, an Asian female!  Though this book is fiction people are having “life changing” experiences with God through reading this book.  The God of the Bible is referred to as a male.  We as females possess His qualities since we are made in His image but He has never been a female!

The big premise of this book tries to dispel “performance” religion which I totally agree is worthless and leads to bondage.  But if one is trying to “work” their way to God or to work to earn His favor then they are not following what the Bible says a person must do to be saved.  I would question if they know the Biblical gospel which offers salvation through repentance of our sins and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.  People are saying this book has freed them from running on the performance treadmill of pleasing others and God.  Those who have been soundly saved respond out of love towards God in wanting to live their life for Him.  They shouldn’t be concerned with pleasing others, only pleasing God.

I wish that people would get their theology and revelations from reading the Word.  God’s love, care, direction and eventual judgment of mankind are all written down and there for discovery in His beautiful Word.  It was a great review!

I have never been so highly offended by reading a “Christian” book. Its supporters try to excuse the heresy by stating that it’s only fiction. But demeaning the very person and character of God whether in fiction or or not, is offensive to a Holy God. What if the book included all kinds of moral perversions in it as well? Would it then still be regarded as ‘ok’ since it’s only fiction? I think not. Many Christians seem to take more offense at moral evils than theological evils that disparage God Himself. I think both are an abomination to the Lord.