Recently, I’ve been in a discussion with one of my friends about William Young’s book The Shack.
My bottom line is that I question our embracing the book.
One of my arguments has been that Young crosses the line in how he describes both God and the cross. Granted, there’s a certain amount of leeway when engaging in allegory and fiction, but I think some of his descriptions stray into “heeeeyyyy….that’s another Jesus entirely” territory.
Anyway, as I was driving tonight, I thought of a possible pushback to what I’ve been saying. It goes something like this:
“Well…God appeared to Moses in the form of a burning bush, didn’t He? If anything was a stretch, that’s it, but there God is, assuming that form. If He can appear as a burning bush to communicate something about Himself to Moses, shouldn’t it be ok for us to allegorize God as a life-size Aunt Jemima?”
While this doesn’t touch upon my most fervent concerns (ex: what Young does to the cross and the attitude he takes to the Church), it raises a great question: when describing God in *any* genre (fiction or otherwise): where’s the line?
I suppose there does come a point when we’ve overstepped our literary license. Where is that point? I have no interest in splitting hairs and finding *exactly* where the line is, as if I’d use that knowledge in trying to get as close to the line as possible. Nor is this a useless speculative question, like “how many angels can dance on the head of a pin?” This is about God’s very character…that’s pretty central.
I have no answer to this question. I mean, I have hunches and inclinations, but nothing solid.
So I put the question to you: what do you think?
Is it ok, in fiction, to describe God as, say, a lion? How about a surly, moody teenager? A drunk Pittsburgh steel worker? A repressive, white, grumpy, old man? A 29 year old conservative blogger from California with a chip on his shoulder? ( 
) An effeminate Asian?…a large, matronly, black woman who loves to cook waffles?
I’m pretty sure some of those are way out of bounds, and I bring them up only for comedic effect. But the bottom line question I don’t have a solid answer on.
One thing for sure: our answer should not be, “we can describe God however we like as long as it benefits us.”
If that’s our answer, our priorities are hopelessly backwards.
BTW, I view conversations like this as incredibly important. Hey, I might be wrong and need to adjust who I think God is. I might need to adjust my approach to several other things (i.e., talking with people I disagree with)…that’s one reason. Plus, we’re not talking about personal preference here, like me trying to discuss someone’s preference for Michigan over Ohio State. This is about eternal things, so it matters.
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The Shack should not be accepted by anyone claiming the name of Christ, nor should it be sold in so-called Christian book stores. I have read many, many reviews by solid apologetics ministries and I have been appalled at what I’ve found people sluffing off as “just fiction.” I suggest you see my short review at
http://watchmansbagpipes.blogspot.com/2008/09/shack-junk-theology.html
and then look at all the links I provide on that article.
I don’t know how to respond.
I agree there should be a line, but I don’t know where it should be!
I have opined simply that I did not like it. For my opinion I have been called names. I just didn’t like it! I am not objecting on theological principles, like Glenn ,above, although they are valid. I have been told it brought a healing, well god can speak from a donkey.
Is it OK to say I don’t like it? The all inclusive liberal Christians are all inclusive till you voice a contrary opinion.
Glenn sounds Scottish, Irishman’s blog and now a Welshman, this is a great group so far.
I have not read “The Shack” so I’m not privy to all the problems.
However, the character of God is defined in the Bible and that should be the standard we measure everything about God, his Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit by.
Fiction that tries to expand our understanding about God can be helpful if it doesn’t violate that character and standard. If it does than discernment is in order.
From my perspective, one can be challenged by a book like The Shack to actually get back to the scripture and see what rings true and what doesn’t.
Glenn,
While I do have some concerns about the book, I wouldn’t go that far…
Rich, have you had a chance to read it yet? It’s been recommended to me recently, yet, last year, I read a review on crossroad.to that strongly warned that it presented a ‘counterfeit Jesus.’ The review mentioned that according to the book, there is ‘no real need for Biblical repentance.’ If I do decide to read it, I plan to do as Dr D. says and go back to the primary source document (the Bible) and do some comparison.
For Rich, I’d ask, “How far” should I go? The book is rife with false teachings and is heretical. Why should it not be exposed as such? Oh, it makes you feel good, sure, but false teachings do that all the time. Just listen to Joel Osteen or Robert Schuller and you get that. Did you look at the reviews I link to on my site? If so, I wonder how you would question that I say it is something no Christian should countenance?
For Margaret, I’d say, why waste time reading a book full of unbiblical, aberrant and even heretical teachings? Is that something a Christian should be filling their mind with (unless it’s for research)?
Margaret,
I’m in the process…
Rich,
I read the book last summer on the recommendation of a christian friend. On a purely literary level I was not impressed, I found it to be very manipulative.
I also struggle with the depictions of God in the book. I’m not sure where the line is, but I would allow someone a fair amount of leeway, as long as the depiction points back to a Biblical picture of God. I’m not sure that the Shack does.
I would however recommend reading if for exactly the reasons pointed out here. This book has become very popular and we need to know how to respond to people who have read it. I think that it could very well point people toward God, it could also point people away. This is a downfall of “christian fiction”, too many people mistake it for theology.
So, read with caution.