“Here's an opportunity to show good faith—to Christ, his church, and her teachings; to authors and their work; and to readers who rejoice in learning they are not alone”
—Derek R. Keefe (1)

Endorsements

Derek R. Keefe, an assistant editor at Christianity Today, a contemporary Christian magazine, writes a review that acknowledges some of the complaints that others have about the theological issues presented in the novel, but recommends a reading of the novel as a story about an individual spiritual journey, rather than as a truly theological doctrine. He praises the novel for its clear ability to reach people.

Ben Witherington, a Professor of New Testament Interpretation at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky, endorses Young’s work in his blog, but has some theological concerns, such as the hierarchy between the elements of the Trinity that Young seems to impose in his work. But as an overall impression of the novel, Witherington states: “I am thankful for this novel, and its strong stress on the relational and deeply personal nature of our God. I am equally thankful for the message that God is much greater than we could ever think or imagine. I like as well the emphasis on love and freedom, rightly understood, as well as its admission that not all roads lead to God, for Jesus is the way” (2), indicating that Young got the most important aspects of God right.

Criticisms

Dr. John Stackhouse, a professor, scholar and public communicator who analyzes multiple intersections of contemporary religion and society, sets out with specific complaints about the theological arguments and statements that Young puts forth in his novel. Stackhouse says that Young is very anti-institutional, and takes an unrealistic approach to the role of the church in people’s lives. In addition, Stackhouse criticizes Young for portraying God as very anti-institutional, calling religion, economics and politics threats to His nature. Stackhouse argues that a true relationship with God is not mutually exclusive to these institutions and in fact, these institutions are a necessary part of one’s relationship with God (3).

Mark, from Here I Blog, a popular Christian online blog, criticizes the way that people have read The Shack rather than the book itself. He says that “It seems to me that a more critical reading is required of The Shack than a secular work of fiction because the author creates characters that purport to speak as God and to guide Mack on his spiritual journey. The fictional story becomes a device to have characters representing the Godhead explain a particular theology. As believers, our spiritual antennas should be fully deployed when we approach such a book” (4). Mark, who has a Certificate of Study in Christian Apologetics from Biola University and has been through a Pastoral Theology class, says that, with a critical reading, Christians will undoubtedly find the theology of Young very problematic. Mark’s criticisms largely have to do with the fact that Young basically speaks for the elements of the Trinity and characterizes them based on his own experiences rather than on what is actually presented in the bible. He challenges specific portions of the book as going against the Bible.