The Shack

[micah7:9]

I am sure that many of this forum have read "The Shack" when it first came out several years ago; would it be possible to lead me to the posts or if it had not been discussed(ha ha) I would like to read some of thoughts on the book. I personally found the book a good read. Thanks :bigGrin:

[Quaesitor]

I'd say that "the shack" is the beginning of God walking me to UR.
I started reading it at the same time as my first daughter was born and at that moment I was struggling with the possibility that she could die in her sleep at any moment.
I kept questionning God of how He could let that happen because I knew that even if I prayed for her everyday she could still die...why?
The story was so on target.
In fact it was so much God that I had received 2 copies of the book at my birthday, one in french and one in english. I was sure it was of God.
Well through my reading of it, God taught me that He loved me...
Funny because I had been a christian ALL MY LIFE and I had NEVER believed that He loved me and that He loves my daughter MORE than I could ever love her.
From that day, love became a priority in my life and it led me to UR because true agape LOVE will not torture people in hell, it will save and restore the broken hearted!
Love that book but I realize it was but a tool used by God.

[CHB]

Hi,

You know, I have never read this book, didn't know any thing about it until I read the name on this forum. I did see it on a shelf at the book store but didn't know what it was about. Is it about the salvation of all or is it more about the love of God, to me both are about the same thing if you know what I mean?

CHB

[Quaesitor]

I don't think the author believes in UR but he sure has been accused of that.

It's more about knowing God than everything else.

[WhiteWings]

True Q,

http://windblownmedia.com/about-wbm/is-the-shack-heresy.html

[bushy]

Does the book promote universalism?

Some people can find a universalist under every bush.  This book flatly states that all roads do not lead to Jesus, while it affirms that Jesus can find his followers wherever they may have wandered into sin or false beliefs.  Just because he can find followers in the most unlikely places, does not validate those places. I don't know how we could have been clearer, but people will quote portions out of that context and draw a false conclusion.

It sounds to me like he does believe in UR, just not the wrong idea it seems way too many people have that universalists believe all roads lead to God.

[WhiteWings]

Exactly Bushy.

Just because he can find followers in the most unlikely places, does not validate those places.

Flawed reasoning.
Followers by definition follow their leader. If they are in 'unlikely places' they are not followers (anymore).
The Shepherd searches for the ones that do not follow.

[PaoloNuevo]

Flawed reasoning.
Followers by definition follow their leader. If they are in 'unlikely places' they are not followers (anymore).
The Shepherd searches for the ones that do not follow.

:thumbsup:

Read it, there's a part when Papa (God the Father) says that He has already reconciled all to Himself, even those that do not believe... lines up with what we believe in here and Gary A. saying "in the Father's mind, all are already saved.."

But there's so much lambasting of hierarchy and "churchianity" in the book. Haha, it's something UR's have rancor against, but I guess that is so because of the ungrace being shown by the churchian congregations...  I like how W.M. Paul Young doesn't use any Scriptural quotations at all - it seems he wanted to veer totally away from gospel fundamentalism and present His view of the loving and saving God.

But I really liked it, it was refreshing, inspirational - and even if we might have doctrinal issues with some of the dialogue in the story, I really think it spells the love of Jesus all over.

[WhiteWings]

That guy seems to have conflicting feelings. He finds a lot of 'love verses' he believes in. But because his denomonation says so it isn't true.

I see it a bit like this courtroom scene.
The lawyer states his client Ted Bundy is  a good guy. After that he start he start giving a long list of crims his client commited.
At the end the judge asks: So you think your client is guilty.
No you honor, I clarly stated Ted is a good guy.
A judge will judge Ted by his fruits. His fruits are criminal.

Same goes for the Shack. All good fruit but the conclusion is bad fruit :dontknow: