shack novel,,,my review

Overall Response to the book "The Shack" Introduction Shack is one of the most controversial fictional Christian books of recent years. It has a way to convey message in an indirect, non-threatening yet powerful way leaving the reader craving for the presence of God. However, given its popularity, there is a need to take a close look. What determines the value of a Christian fiction book it is its close adherence to the Holy Scripture. It is on these bases that we measure review this controversial yet bestselling book. The plot is developed around the abduction and murder of a young beloved girl. The young girl’s father, who was a Christian begins living a period of great sadness until one day when he receives a mail from Mack requiring him to go meet God at the trinity at the shack where his daughter was murdered. God is portrayed to have appeared in three forms representing a trinity which takes human form in the novel; Father, referred to as Papa throughout the novel, Holy Spirit is referred to as Sarayu and Jesus portrayed as a middle aged man. They all meet Mack over a weekend and enlighten him about life, pain, tragedy and his life with one voice as god and from that point; he goes home a new man. The question is, ‘does the novel relate closely to the scripture teachings without missing out on religious doctrines? Let us derive the answer by reviewing the novel Shack core message This book centers on salvation and trinity, passionately rejecting the cessations view on scripture which Mack was taught at the seminary. Mack had been taught that God stopped communication with the humans; all He wanted was for them to read and follow his Scripture. This book argues that God voice cannot be reduced to paper and be moderated and deciphered by the proper authorities and intellects. That equals to putting God in a box. The author speaks of a God who speaks with us in our thoughts rather than paper, for instance the bible. This revelation is subjective, that the reason why the author goes ahead to assure us that human should learn to recognize and understand the Holy Spirit as we grow in our Christian life. The Holy Spirit relationship with human should always come first before adherence to the written scriptures. The author has little regard to the church and other institutions. He explains this by his character Mack who in spite of being in the seminary, he had little understanding of God which contributed to his living in sadness following his daughter murder. The Church Church activities is depicted in a negative light with the author being certain that he has not yet meet a church that the Jesus loves which is all about relationship between an individual and the trinity and not about sitting on meetings and gatherings and staring at peoples backs and heads, people he didn’t even know. For instance, Sunday schools for children and family devotions. This creates a great uncertainty which leaves one in awesome in an attempt to know God and His intent on his Holy church. Salvation When Mack asks Jesus how he can become a member of the church in the novel, Jesus answers that all he needs is start sharing life. When Mack asks God what Jesus accomplished by dying, he says he reconciled the world. God says repeatedly that he is fond of his people. The author thus doesn’t give an exact answer buts creates an impression of a God who is fond of all his people not just the believers and thus he is not involved in punishing his people. He says sin is its own punishment devouring an individual from within. This is in sharp contrast on the Scripture message on salvation which portrays God being actively in punishment of sin. Relationships The central push of the novel is understanding connection between God and humanity. Humans are to be in a relationship with God. How mankind comes to a relationship with God is a mystery according to the author. Presentation of the trinity is equally confusing in this novel. Author understanding of God purely contradicts biblical teachings. First, the depiction of God and Holy Spirit in human form is forbidden in the first two commandments. This is the heart of idolatry and is prohibited in the Holy Word. Conclusion The very essence of God is questioned when the author declares God to be a verb and not a noun. Holy Spirit is depicted to be an action yet in the scriptures the Spirit, Father and Son are one and they are a person not an action. This book clearly denies the truth about God by moving from biblical understanding of God to the Eastern understanding of God which is personal. There is no point in time God will become one in creation as human being.