Controversy!

•  having 'the potential to do for our generation what John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress did for his. It's that good!" (Eugene Peterson)

•  "...the greatest deception foisted on the church in the last 200 years"  (Professor of NT language and literature James B. DeYoung.) 

• "...a life-changer, a transformer"

• "..it hides false doctrines in a feel-good story.."

• "..spiritually profound, theologically enlightening and life impacting"

• "..will leave you craving for the presence of God" (Michael W. Smith)

While sitting in the theatre a couple of weeks back, the trailer for  The Shack played.  I had read this book written by  W. Paul Young when it came out almost 10 years ago and I remember being riveted while reading the first few chapters but then my interest flagged a little as I continued on.  Maybe I just wasn't that interested in the book at that time, or I wondered if it was just too weird for me. Perhaps, this was just not the right time to read it. I am going to delve into it again before I view the movie.

The Shack is a fictional story about a grieving man who receives a mysterious letter inviting him to meet with God at a cabin in the Oregon woods, the location of his greatest pain. This leads to a weekend long encounter with three people - in fact, the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). Mack, the main character, wrestles with his faith, and is transformed through this weekend encounter.

Apparently the upcoming movie has rekindled people's strong and polarized opinions about the book. Is it heresy? Is it a true picture of God's love? Is it harmful or helpful?

I sat beside an acquaintance/friend at a hockey game last night and we began chatting about church and change and.. then The Shack came up. He didn't mince words as he told me about a blog he read listing out the 12 heresies coming from this book that will lead people astray. Why would we want our friends to watch it?  he pondered.  I didn't say too much but interjected that it, at least, would be an interesting movie to watch, and make people think.

Honestly, I want to reread the book and watch the movie and then decide whether or not I think this book is promoting false teachings or even harmful ones. Or perhaps it's really a great picture of God's unconditional love and care for the world.

And since I'm not one to enjoy conflict, I won't be debating this publicly with anyone!

But a conversation about the book would be interesting. I would like to know whether you've read the book, if you plan to, and if you are going to see the movie. I'd like to know your thoughts on the movie, too (it's coming out in early March).