First of all the comments about the book were overwhelmingly positive and the majority of comments I received were from professing Christians. Some of the comments were as follows, "this book has changed the way I think about God", and "I now see God in a whole new way", even comments like this, "after reading this book, I now truly understand who God is".
Wow, what an impact The Shack has made on believers, I am now intrigued more than ever to find out what this life changing book is all about, especially since the faith of so many in our current society seems to be a little on the squishy side.
Could the writer of this book have found a way to connect to Christians in a way that deepens their faith in Christ? I'm definitely curious now, so I decided to check it out for myself.
After a little web browsing I located a site that would allow me to read the entire first chapter, I thought any book that could generate so many positive comments from Christians would surely draw me in quickly, after all, I too am a Christian and as Christians we should have a very similar understanding when it comes to scripture right?
After reading the first chapter I can truly say I was disappointed that so many people actually said this book changed their life. How could this book of fiction actually change the thinking of born again believers in Christ? I learned how this had happened fairly quickly, a few true concepts were aparently all it took for some to gobble down the heresy that was not so subtly hidden within it's pages.
In chapter one it was clear as crystal that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit had been grossly misrepresented, from gender to His attributes. I was disgusted that the Lord God was portrayed in such a way. Moreover, I could not understand how so many who have been called out of darkness could simply overlook such a mangling of scriptural truth. It seems that false stories and fairy tales have greater impact on the lives of people than actual truth.
I must confess that I read no further than the first chapter, and after the train wreck contained within the first few pages I had no desire to be subjected to any additional silliness.
Is the word of God no longer interesting enough that we must add to and take away from it in order to make it more appealing? Adding our own thoughts, ideas, and scenarios into scripture is a very dangerous thing to do, especially when the intended meaning is forsaken altogether. This book goes way farther than just simplifying words and phrases as someone would do in order for children to understand what is being said, which is surely acceptable as long as the true meaning remains intact.
When essential doctrine of scripture is discarded even in allegorical writings it is heresy and that is what it should be called. There are many deceptive ways used by [satan] the ruler of this world to distract those who follow Christ and we should not be so easily divided by his ways, rather we should daily fill our minds with the truth of scripture, hide it in our hearts so that we may not sin against God and be ready to give an answer for the hope that is within us.
When someone asks you, be ready to answer the hard questions of life with the truths contained in the Bible, the sugar coating of scripture only allows for confusion and misinterpretation.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
2 Timothy 4:3-5
Let's us encourage one another to stand firmly on the truth of God's Word without apology. We need not worry how we will be able to defend the Word of God, it can defend itself. Speak the words of truth and let God do the transforming.
