David Hawkins says:

This book does not give anyone a better understanding of God. It gives them a DIFFERENT understanding of God -- different from the Bible. Three major differences jump out: 1) The author makes not one but three graven images of God, which the God of the Bible said not to do. 2) It says there's no hierarchy among the Trinity, but Scripture says there is -- Jesus and the Spirit are sent by the Father -- they submit to the Father's authority. 3) Though God created us male & female -- both in His image -- still He chose to represent Himself as male; Jesus prayed, "Our Father, in Heaven" not "Our Mother in the Shack"!

There's no sense to the argument that the author's not trying to teach theology, so we shouldn't criticize the theology of the book. He most certainly IS trying to teach people a different way of looking at God (that is, theology). And that way is unbiblical. Do some people have a wrong view of God? Yes, of course. But the answer is not to replace that with a different wrong view of God. The answer is to point them to the God of the Bible and let them choose whether to believe in Him as He really is.

Some like to complain that Christians are judgmental, but Jesus said, "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment." So we ARE commanded to judge. And in the case of this book, while it APPEARS interesting and provocative and multi-cultural and all that nonsense, righteous judgment requires us to say that more than anything else, it's unbiblical. If you haven't read it, don't. Stick to God's Word. #

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says:

Great explanatory/exploratory book. This book will help people to understand that all the 3 in 1 wants and has ever wanted is a living, vibrant personal relationship with YOU, and paid the highest price ever to get it through Jesus Christ! I would not recommend it for new believers right away. But, as soon as you have founded them solidly in the Word, then by all means they should all read it and discuss it, as we are doing in our Bible Studies.(We bought several copies so the whole church could read it) And it has done nothing but strengthen people's relationship with God! Do I agree with everything? Of course not. There is no book but the Bible that I can agree 100% with. But Young has done an admirable job of bringing God out of the closet. So many people have a warped idea of who and what God is and it keeps them out of church. We believers know that "He" is a Spirit: Neither male nor female--but both are contained in "His" nature. You want the Word on that? Just read Genesis, "In the image of God He created THEM, both male and female He created them." God the Father is not some giant old man with a long gray bread sitting on a huge gold chair with a scowl on His face and a huge baseball bat in His hand, waiting for people to mess up so He can beat them down. But, that's the image most people have of Father God. Mean, Judgmental, Critical etc...I wonder where they get that idea?--Sadly the Church and us preachers. This book destroys that falsehood and opens the door of discussion to really get down deep into Who God really is. For that reason alone I would recommend this book. There is nothing to fear; Just keep the Word FIRST, and "The Shack" 2nd, and you'll be fine. Young didn't write this book to be used in teaching theology. Although if I was a seminary prof. I would make every one of my students read it. I can only imagine the glorious critique's and questions that would come forth,opening up a true discussion on Who and What God REALLY is! Read It! But, Remember, read your Bible too!
Dr. Mark S. Hicks-Pastor #

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Kurt Henrichs says:

By far the worst "Christian" book I have ever read/heard. The theology is lacking, it down plays the Bible, I would venture to call it idolatry - making a god to our own liking and promoting it as the real God of the Bible. Stay away! #

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