Job Didn't Go To The Shack

After hearing Chris' discernment sermon about William P. Young's "The Shack", I couldn't stop myself from reading it.  It took me two days to read the book and as I sit here typing this I'm still working on a set of written thoughts in relationship to “The Shack”.  I suppose I would have been done sooner but there were so many times that I was reading the book that I sat back and simply said, “Wow….”  I, in no way, mean that in a positive manner.  I was stunned by some of the things I read in “The Shack”.  Stunned in the sense that I couldn’t believe this work was being endorsed by many notable people in the Christian community.  People such as Eugene Peterson, the man who spearheaded “The Message” translation of the Bible.  To say that I was shocked and appalled by this book is a mild understatement.  As to why I feel that way…let me just say that the answer to that question is an incredibly long explanation that I’m still trying to fit into a lesser amounts of words.  In the meantime I wanted to pass along a thought that hit me for readers, or even potential readers, of “The Shack”. 

After reading “The Shack” I couldn’t help but think about Job.  “The Shack” and Job share a few things in common.

1. Both Mack and Job experience great tragedy.
2. Both Mack and Job suffer greatly because of the tragedies that have befallen them. 
3. Both Mack and Job….well honestly I guess that’s about where the similarities end. 

What I find interesting about Job is that God in no way deals with him as the so called “god” of “The Shack” deals with Mack.  It’s an interesting compare and contrast between the God of the Bible and the god of the “The Shack”.  I recommend that people who are reading “The Shack” also read Job.  Read them together…or read Job before “The Shack”…or read Job after “The Shack”.  I think it will really challenge the perception that William P. Young asserts about the god of “The Shack”.  The God of Job is really very different.  You read them both and tell me what you think. 

Comments

[Chris]

Chad, what a great comparison and example of where the story fall short of the Scriptures.

[Kenny]

I just want to say that I want the title of this post put on a T Shirt.