Mack Phillips finds a note in his mailbox asking him to come to the shack for the weekend. The note is signed “Papa”, his wife's name for God. Mack decides to go. On the way he recalls the abduction and murder of his eight-year-old daughter, Missy while camping in northeastern Oregon. After a search by the FBI only the bloody remains of Missy’s dress are found in an old abandoned shack. A great sadness descends on Mack. Not sure what he will find, Mack arrives at the shack to find it empty. As he starts to leave he is astonished when the shack is transformed into a well-tended house. He returns to the porch and is greeted by a large African-American woman who invites him in. So begins Mack’s visit with “Papa”. For the next two days, Mack learns about life, relationship, and forgiveness as he interacts with the personages of “Papa”, “Jesus” and “Sarayu”. The encounter leaves Mack a changed man, physically, emotionally and spiritually.
The Knowledge of Good and Evil
The Shack is a creative story about life, evil and love. The author’s view of God challenges our preconceived notions of who we think God is, and his portrayal of God in multi-ethnic personas reveals equality of God regardless of color, race or gender. The story asks why does God allow evil to occur? The answer according to Papa has to do with people choosing to trust in themselves rather than in God. By trusting in themselves, people define what is good and evil by how the actions of others affect them. This self-centered belief of what is good and evil results in fear, hatred and violence. God does not stop acts of evil, because doing so would eliminate His blessing for people to make their own decisions. Papa explains, that He intervened by sending Jesus so that mankind could turn from their independence and choose to be dependent on God.
Relationship and Religion
The story deals with other issues as well, such as relationship instead of religion. There's no hierarchy with God, explains Jesus, Father, Son and Spirit are equal and one does not control the other. They love and serve each other in relationship, each submissive to each other. Submission speaks of trust rather than control. Institutions such as religion, politics and economics are seen from the perspective as man-made systems of control that ultimately fail. God is not a Christian, Jew, Muslim, Buddhist, Liberal or Conservative and is not concerned with religion. No roads lead to God, because they are all made by man and nothing man-made will reach God, However God will travel any road to have an encounter with man. In tackling these subjects, the author creates a dynamic picture of God by which he shows Jesus as transcending all religions.
Forgiveness and Criticism
The Shack also deals with forgiveness, even of those who have done horrendous things. The story speaks of God’s love for everyone, regardless of what they’ve done. The author portrays forgiveness as healing the forgiver than the one forgiven. It is not about forgetting the hurt or trusting the offender. It is removing yourself as the judge over someone else’s life. The Shack is an engaging story; with insights into God that come from the author’s own experiences. The characters are well rounded and while the dialogue feels a little thin in some areas, it does not detract from the story or the message. The book however, is not without its critics. Some evangelical leaders have come out against the book. Many have stated that it is scripturally wrong, while one even calls it heretical. The story either resonates with readers or it won't. While no scriptures are quoted in the story, those with biblical knowledge may be reminded of certain parables or scripture passages in the way the dialogue unfolds between the main characters. Overall, it is a good story and is very relevant for our time.
About Wm. Paul Young
Wm. Paul Young resides with his family in the Pacific Northwest. The Shack is his first published novel. Originally written as a Christmas gift for his children, the novel was self-published in 2007. In June of 2008 the book became a USA Today Bestseller and was #1 on the New York Times Bestseller List for Paperback Trade Fiction. Today the book is still on the list at #3.
Young Paul, Wm. The Shack, Windblown Media, 2007. ISBN 978-0-9647292-3-0
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