Movie Monday - The Shack

It's not a movie, yet... I'm anticipating that someone will make The Shack into a movie within the next five years, so I'm making an exception and reviewing my recent reading material for Movie Monday. However, I'm hesitant to share much of the storyline if there are any of my readers who are still planning to read the book.

Daniel and I each read the book, as we have many times, to create our own sort of book club. (It's our meager attempt to give us something to discuss aside from rantings about colleagues or current political issues.) We were wandering around Barnes & Noble on a rare datenight in January when we picked up the book that had been highly recommended by family members. And, I had read a few worthy recommendations by respected friends from college. Although it is a fiction novel, it has been marketed as a life transforming literary piece. And, I had been told by more than one person, "It is life changing."

With that in mind, I couldn't help but read it with a Biblically discerning eye, and I did not like what I read. There were many parts of The Shack that were thought-provoking but I couldn't get past the idea that someone was putting words into the mouth of not just the Holy Spirit and Jesus, but GOD! I know, I know, it's a novel. But, it has been marketed as a spiritual book. If the publishers want to play in that realm, they must present a worthy book. In fact, I was so bothered by the character of Jesus, that I made a mental note to read it as "Hay-sus" instead of the English translation I have been hearing my whole life. I just couldn't get past the heresy the author committed by putting words into my savior's mouth. 

Another disturbing issue I found was each time the main character, Mack, questioned Papa, the character of God, about instances in the Bible, and Papa brushed them off as if they were just man-made creations. Again, I know these are just characters in a fiction novel, but I don't take lightly to any disparaging views of the word I believe is God's word. 

I think it's interesting to find such a relational view of God that would be a wonderful witness to share with anyone. However, I find that the discrepancies are too strong that it is more dangerous than discipling.

I don't want to go further into revealing more of the book in case you're planning to read it. There were parts that were captivating and did not bother me, but overall, I would not recommend it to anyone. Has anyone else read The Shack? I'm intrigued to hear what you thought of the book.