(By R. Albert Mohler Jr) The publishing world sees very few books reach blockbuster status, but William Paul Young’s “The Shack” has now exceeded even that. The book, originally self-published by Young and two friends, has now sold more than 10 million copies and has been translated into over thirty languages. It is now one of the best-selling paperback books of all time, and its readers are enthusiastic.
According to Young, the book was originally written for his own children. In essence, it can be described as a narrative theodicy — an attempt to answer the question of evil and the character of God by means of a story. In this story, the main character is grieving the brutal kidnapping and murder of his 7-year-old daughter when he receives what turns out to be a summons from God to meet him in the very shack where the man’s daughter had been murdered. READ MORE
You know, some of the doctrine may have been off, but I viewed this movie as a picture of my own life. I had a twin sister murdered and, to watch how this story unfolded to see a healed man on the other side of this tragedy, was exactly what God did with me. I was able to sit down and come up with a page full of notes that showed me who God is and what He is capable of doing in a hurting heart. I didn’t sit in judgment of the movie, critiquing every word spoken and every action made, but that does not mean I lack discernment. You put yourself on that Judgment Seat and now many people won’t see this movie because you put such a negative light on it. It is still a very encouraging movie whether you liked it or not.