Comments on: Author of “The Shack” to appear at Family Fest

By: Jim2

Jim2 — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 14:42:57 +0000

J.D.
You’re right, it’s not all bad. But what percentage of poison would be acceptable in your bottled water?
For an excellent review, read Tim Challies on Amazon – it is ALL covered there.

By: J.D.

J.D. — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 17:34:44 +0000

I am reading the book right now and find it fascinating. Controversial? Sure. Relevant to today? Absolutely. It has sparked such an interest iin the name of ‘Christianity’ that I as a Christian wanted to read it to be able to know the scoop. Eugene Peterson and Michael W. Smith wrote reviews on the cover – can’t be all bad.

By: Amy

Amy — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 21:21:21 +0000

Interesting that you would associate an author of a fictional book to a “false prophet”….Being of the pentecostal background, there are many books written today, some that are not considered fictional, in which I don’t necessarily agree with the doctrine…but to accuse those authors “false prophets” is not something I would gather to be appropriate.

By: Steve K

Steve K — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 00:47:02 +0000

Well, He is longsuffering but He is also the Judge of this world. The Bible warns us of false prophets and we are to expose them…even in the world of fiction.

By: Amy

Amy — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 18:34:46 +0000

Those that complain the most, are those that have never experienced the most. I find that to be true.

From most of your comments here, you’d think God is this great big JUDGE who sits in his bench seat and waits for us to slip up or make a mistake.

This book in MY OPINION…is the total opposite of this. Which in turn makes me wonder if you’ve ever experienced the DEEP love of God…not as a God but as a Father who loves his child.

I read the book, and though I realize it was fiction, I couldn’t help but have my heart stirred by several aspects of the book. i.e. the scene where “the judge” told Mac to start judging, in order for him to see the true hardship/difficulty of judging those you love, or the scene where God describe to Mac the real meaning of “Love” – it’s not a verb it’s an action, or even at the beginning when Mac is frantically asking God why did this tragedy happen to him??. Haven’t we all struggled with that question from one time or another?

I for one choose not to partake in the believing that God is a scornful judge, who sits on the edge of his bench chair waiting to find the mistake or two, or three, that we are going to make today. I don’t believe His word is meant to “scare” us into believing He’s real. I believe His word is meant to “love” us into believing He’s real.

Maybe I’m a bit more open-minded b/c I was raised to have an open mind. I was raised to NOT believe what my parents/grandparents told me to believe but more what I have knowledge of and what I KNOW is real in my life.

Sometimes, we’re of so heavenly minded that we’re of no earthly good. EVEN if Mr. Young is not a self-proclaimed Christian, the fact that his book as touched so many lives in such a spiritual way, reminds me that what the devil means for harm God turns to good.

I wish we could be as adamant about the winning of our families/friends to Jesus as we are about whether or not a man who may/may not be a Christian wrote a book that we do/don’t want to read.

By: steve k

steve k — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 07:28:31 +0000

I haven’t read it, but there are people that I trust that have told me to stay away from and that’s enough for me.

And why would any Christian read the DiVinci Code? I don’t care if it is fiction and the author claims the events weren’t true – I am not reading a book saying my Jesus was married. Sorry friend, but I don’t want anyone turning my Redeemer’s life into a work of fiction. He is holy and perfect, He is God and I’ll be dead before I touch a book that messes with who He really is.

By: DJPhil

DJPhil — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 20:11:53 +0000

Hmmm, I don’t remember saying that William Young doesn’t actually consider him a Christian…I think that Joshua said that. But I vaguely remember reading something to that effect several months ago myself, but I’m not sure.
Here is a link that goes into more depth about the book and also to William Youngs Universalist background. The title at this link is very perceptive, The Death of Discernment
– How The Shack Became the #1 Bestseller in Christianity
http://www.worldviewtimes.com/article.php/articleid-4236/Brannon-Howse/Eric-Barger
For myself, if Dr. Albert Mohler pegged it , “blatant heresy”, Chuck Colson says, “stay out of the shack” and other Godly people I trust like Dr. Michael Youssef, Janet Parshall are critical of the book, it is something I want to stay away from. Somehow I think a Holy God that values His word GREATLY, would not want anybody, much less Christians reading books that change the scripture.

By: Chris Unthank

Chris Unthank — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 18:51:52 +0000

DJPhil – do you mind providing proof that William Young doesn’t actually consider him a Christian?

I’ve not heard this and would like to see a quote or something backing this up before I believe it.

Thanks!

By: Paul the Concert Guy

Paul the Concert Guy — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 13:44:13 +0000

I think the purpose of THE SHACK is not to give us information about God, but a new way to see that information (from what I have been told). I am plan to read this book as soon as I get a copy. Just keep in mind…This is FICTION!

By: Cathy

Cathy — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 13:22:18 +0000

I haven’t read the book, but I have read many reviews–both pro and con. I feel I have a good general idea of the subject matter. I’m opposed to the depictions of God in the book as well as to the theology implied by the storyline. Christians should be very careful to get their information about God from His source and from no other place. Who God is and what His purposes are is a topic of utmost importance! People may like the book or not for various reasons, but given the importance of the topic I believe it’s a mistake to have the author invited to Family Fest as a featured speaker. It’s a sign of caving to the whims of popular culture. Are there not enough gospel singers to give their testimony? Are there not enough gospel authors to speak? Why a person who has written such a disputed book??? Should we now expect to hear gospel songs extolling the characters of the Shack? This is a poor decision on the part of the Family Fest organizers.