The Joy of the Truth

This book review will is published in parts on the blog. Click here to see the entire review

Despite some of the heavy criticisms from the Evangelical community, I did not find the God presented in The Shack to be a major divergence from the God presented by most evangelicals. Of course, this means that Catholics are going to have some theological problems with this book.

The Trinity

First of all, the Trinity is presented very well in this book. William Young does not fall into modalism (seeing the three Persons of the Trinity as three different ways that God relates to us). He presents the Trinity as three distinct Persons who share so intimately in each other’s lives that they interpenetrate each other so that Mack cannot have a conversation with one of them without the other two knowing what was discussed. Here is a key passage:

“But what difference does it make that there are three of you, and you are all one God. Did I say that right?”

“Right enough.” She grinned. “Mackenzie, it makes all the difference in the world!” She seemed to be enjoying this. “We are not three gods, and we are not talking about one god with three attitudes, like a man who is a husband, father and owrker. I am on God and I am three persons, and each of the three is fully and entirely one.”

The “huh?” Mack had been suppressing finally surfaced in all its glory.

“Never mind that,” she continued. “What’s important is this: If I were simply One God and only One Person, then you would find yourself in this Creation without something wonderful, wihtout something essential even. And I would be utterly other than I am.”

“And we would be without . . .?” Mack didn’t even know how to finish the question.

"Love and relationship. All love and relationship is possible for you only because it already exists within Me, within God myself. Love is not the limitation; love is the flying. I am love" (101).

Young stops short of Theology of the Body, but this is a pretty good understanding of the Image of God.

Love and Forgiveness

Building on this good foundation, The Shack also does a fairly good job discussing love and forgiveness. Young differentiates between feelings and choices in these two areas. Mack is able to forgive the murderer of his daughteer even while he still feels anger toward him. Forgiveness is seen as giving up the judgment of someone else, not necessarily as reconciling a relationship or feeling at peace about someone. In the same way, God’s love for Mackenzie doesn’t softstep the reality of suffering and struggle, but even shows the necessity of hardship in forging true love.

Related posts:

1. Catholic Book Review: The Shack (Part 1: Literary Review) This book review will is published in parts on the...
2. Catholic Book Review: The Shack (part 2: Criticisms of the Shack) This book review will is published in parts on the...
3. Catholic Book Review: The Shack (Part 4: Theological Problem with God as Father) This book review will is published in parts on the...
4. Catholic Book Review: The Shack (Part 6 – Rejection of Religion & Final Recommendations) Rejection of Religion The largest problem with The Shack lies...
5. Catholic Book Review: The Shack (Part 5: Theological Problem – Understanding of the Incarnation) The Shack does fall into major theological error in its...

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