I just finished reading The Shack
When I started reading The Shack
I picked it up again about 2 days ago and continued reading knowing a little more of what I was getting into this time. This second time I picked it up I really struggled with it. The writing style felt a little clunking (which is understandable since this is the authors first book), but really the sometimes awkwardness of the writing just added to the rawness of the story. It felt painful to read – the hurt was so raw and real. Then God showed up and I could feel myself really fighting the picture of intimate love that the author used to portray God – I found myself asking what about justice? What about wrath? What about holiness? And otherness? And an appropriate distance between the God who is other and sinful creation? But, slowly I was drawn in… I was touched and moved, often to tears, at the picture of God I saw here.
I am still processing this book. I’m not really sure what I thought of some parts of it, but I know that overall it really touched me. I would be very curious to know what others thought of this book. If you’ve read it please feel free to tell me about your thoughts on it and your experience with it in the comments.
Rejoicing in the journey -
Beth Stedman
A lot of other people are writing about this book. Here are a few other reviews of the book that you might find interesting:
Here is a review about the Shack which I thought made some great points and raised some good concerns.
Mark Peterson wrote his thoughts on The Shack here and here.
There’s a review on Promomusings here with a lot of interesting comments as well.
Andrew Jones writes his thoughts about the book here.
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Ok, had a written a couple of really good verses but they got blown away, so I’ll just wing it. Your phrase “AN APPROPRIATE DISTANCE” really caught my attention. Because as I’m assuming you know, that when Jesus died, the curtain which lead into the Most Holy Place was torn from the top to the bottom. The Most Holy Place was were God’s glory dwelled and where God’s voice was heard by the High Priest only once a year. When the ultimate sacrafice was made, the tearing of the veal into the Most Holy Place was symbolic of God allowing those who received his mercy into His wonderful presence. The New Testament discusses how now we can enter boldly into the throne-room of God. So what are you waiting for Girlfriend?
In the Holy Place were WE CAN ENTER IN
By the blood of Jesus Christ
He has given us atonement for our sin
and a love gift sacrafice
Girl, you gotta put an edit option in to save me from my embarrasing spelling mistakes! Veil not veal. The deer had nothing to do with it!
I read this book while in Hawaii, which was a wonderful time, as I was rested and had no distractions other than being in a beautiful place.
I found myself fully engaged right away. The story was captivating and held my interest as it was very relatable and evoked laughter as well as many tears.
The picture that the author painted of God was touching as well as thought provoking. I found myself thinking about what I read well after I finished and was glad I was surrounded by people who had also read it as it brought about many a lively discussions.
I highly recommend it.