The Shack,
by William P. Young

a review by Kevin Binkley

William P. Young wrote a controversial book about his brokenness and how God reached into that pain and pulled him out. Since no publisher would take it, Young formed Windblown Media Company with a $300.00 budget and self published The Shack in 2007.

The book was not an overnight success, but after a slow start, advertised largely by word of mouth, The Shack made it to the New York Times bestseller list for paperback trade fiction, and has stayed there for nearly a year. Christian publishers apparently thought it was too controversial. Secular publishers passed because the content put it clearly in the ‘Christian’ marketplace.

Christian, secular, or otherwise, Shack reader’s opinions are usually passionate, and rarely consistent. The books polarizing effect is not uncommon in Christian or religious writing. One reader said, “I read and wept and slept and read again. Your work is a masterpiece! There are tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat.” Another wrote, “I got to the point where God is a woman, and I quit reading.”

William P. Young, who goes by Paul, said he wrote The Shack as a gift for his six children. A 12 year old girl said “This is my most favorite book that I have ever read,” others say “If you haven’t read the book, don’t.” One national commentator says “Stay out of the Shack.”

I admit I read the book mostly because of the controversy. I think Young is a good writer, and a not so good theologian. But, in his defense, I am not sure that he was trying to be a good theologian. If the book is a metaphor, as Young calls it, then it is a metaphor of his personal Christian experience. The book may be an accurate recounting of his experience, even if his experience contains theological inaccuracies. Some of Young’s analogies are helpful in understanding a relationship with God, others I think are not, because they do not echo the words and heart of God from the Bible.

My purpose here is not to discuss the doctrinal discussions common to reviews of the book, although I think I could make some defendable arguments. I wrote because I am fascinated by the controversy! The bloggers, the polarization, the debate over the book (even by some who haven’t read it) intrigues me. Windblown Media’s website even has their response to “Is the book heresy?” I want to suggest four truths we can learn, not from the book, but from the controversy about it.

First, faith matters. There is a general sense among many that faith is an important issue, and what I decide about faith does indeed matter. A book written as a metaphor of the best fast food french fries available would gather little debate, even if you hate the fries the author likes, because french fries are not significant enough to argue about. But faith is. The truth claims of most religions are considered to determine the eternal destiny of a soul, or a person. The passionate polarizing debate over a book like The Shack reminds us of the seriousness of faith related issues, and that faith does indeed matter.

Second, discernment matters. A book cannot be the best book about God and the worst book about God at the same time. The claims are simply contradictory. But to say the book contains some helpful truths about God, and the book contains some potentially harmful errors about God at the same time is not a contradiction. The way to know the difference between the two is discernment—that is, the ability to sort out and recognize the difference between truth and error. Truth is not what you decide is true, truth is what actually is true. The reading of any book requires discernment, and especially regarding issues as important as God.

Third, the Bible matters. The Bible is the best book ever written about God and the Bible is the best book I’ve ever read about God. The Shack is not. While some will certainly argue, the general consensus among Christians is that the Bible is the truth about God for man. The Bible reveals what God has done, what he is doing, what he plans to do and often why he does it. Those who argue against the Bible’s incredible claims have a hard time producing a more credible option. The primary source of information about God comes from the Bible, and Young certainly gathered some of his knowledge of God from the Bible. The Christian Bible is the best book ever written about God. The closer another book about God comes to echoing the truth in the Bible, the better that book becomes.

Fourth and last, popularity does not matter. The popularity of a book or a truth claim does not make it true. Simple history alone is enough to prove that entire populations have proposed and embraced serious error. The popularity of a book may have little to do with the accuracy or benefit of it. Christianity has historically understood that truth is usually unpopular. Jesus, the savior and model in the Christian faith, was unpopular enough to be hated by evil men who plotted and effected his death. The religion that is popular with all men is more likely to be false than true. One preacher said, “You cannot be faithful [true] and popular at the same time, you have to choose.” Whether or not The Shack is popular, does not determine its credibility.

So, what about the polarizing effect of The Shack? Jesus certainly polarized his audience. Many loved him. Many hated him. Polarization in religious circles can result from truth or error. Jesus’ audience was polarized by the eternal seriousness of his message, and he was the real deal. He was truth. Is The Shack polarizing its readers because it is true? Or because it is contains error? Discerning readers will have to decide. And remember, because faith matters, your conclusion matters, but the popularity of that conclusion does not.