Prediction: I’ve got money hidden in my rain coat that says that I will be getting some hate mail as a result of this review.
—
Since the debut of this blockbuster book, I’ve received two kinds of emails from Christians.
The first sounds like this: “Have you read The Shack? So much of what you have written and spoken on the life and fellowship of the Trinity and the grace of God is in this book. Only these truths are put into a story.”
The second sounds like this: “How can you speak at a conference with William Paul Young, the author of The Shack? He is a heretic, and his book is pure heresy! I just don’t get it.”
[Editor’s Note: I’ve defanged the second sort of email considerably. Many of them weren’t that kind.]
Back in February 2007, Wayne Jacobsen graciously sent me a pdf file of The Shack. This was before it was published. To my mind, Wayne proved himself to be a genius when he read the manuscript and discerned the enormous impact it would have. Paul Young is a friend of mine, and I’m glad he didn’t send me a copy of the manuscript because I don’t think I would have shown the same sort of discernment that Wayne did. (That being interpreted means: if you are an aspiring author, you’d be wise not to send me your manuscript J )
Okay, so now I’m going to get out on a limb and begin sawing hard.
Very simply: The Shack is a brilliant book. And God is using it to touch the lives of scores of people, both Christian and non-Christian.
Paul Young is not only a great guy, but he’s an exceptional fiction writer. And he is dead on: there is no hierarchy within the Godhead. This has been the orthodox Christian position from the beginning.
I’m not much of a fiction reader. When it comes to books, I virtually only read non-fiction. But when it comes to movies, I much prefer fiction. My brain is just wired this way. Why is anyone’s guess.
In my opinion, Francine Rivers is among the best in the field of Christian fiction. But Young’s pen is right up there with hers. He has crafted a remarkably engaging narrative in The Shack.
Both of my blog readers know that I’ve written a little on the favor of God recently. And God’s favor is on this brother – plain and simple.
Not long after I began receiving hate mail about The Shack, I discovered that most of the people who had written me stinging emails about the book had never read it for themselves. (Interestingly, the same was true for Pagan Christianity. See this spoof video if you haven’t already - http://youtube.com/watch?v=hslswIal9u4.)
Evaluating a book by second-hand testimonies, no matter who they come from, is never a wise thing to do. That bears repeating. (Just read the sentence again so I don’t have to type it out another time, eh?)
All told: I will shamelessly throw my hat in the ring with those who are giving unqualified praise for The Shack.
I believe that this book will make history in more ways than one. And as I’ve told Paul myself, I can’t wait until it trumps “The Purpose Driven Life.” At the present rate the book is selling, it won’t be too long for that to happen.
Thank you, Paul Young, for writing this monumental work. The Kingdom of God is better off for it.
