I once heard Brian Zahnd say that although a pastor by vocation, he is actually paid to read and not preach. For myself, I do not believe that there is a more accurate description of my own life in full-time vocational ministry. I read. I study. I think and ponder. I pray, and then pray some more. Then I start over. And then I teach (or preach if you will, but I have always thought myself more of a teacher than a preacher…). Anyways, I thought that it would be interesting to share with everyone the books that are part of my life, or those that are challenging me and ministering to me. So periodically I will be posting comments on the books that I am reading and some incite into them. I hope everyone will join in and together we can help encourage one another to turn off the TV, computer, and play-station and engage a book.
So for my first review I thought I would post on the new big book in Christianity, The Shack, by William P. Young. I am not much of a fiction reader but I was told that I had to read this book – it would transform me. So I sat down and within 24hours I had completed my assigned task. To start I will say that the book is very well written and the story line is truly gut wrenching. The story revolves around the main character, Mack, and he pain that he is living with after his daughter (around the age of 7) is kidnapped and murdered. In the end, Mack blames God and begins to develop a hatred for Him. Then Mack has an encounter with the Trinity. -I will stop there as not to give the book away- Again very gripping story-line, but I would not recommend it. Here’s why…
When it came to solid theology, The Shack, failed to deliver. The way that the Trinity was represented was borderline heretical and there where places in Mack’s experience that left the reader with more questions than answers and at times, although it did not come to this conclusion, it could be taken down a Universalistic path. The book is also written as though the story actually took place with Mr. Young taking a part in the story referred to as, Willie. No acknowledgment that the story is fictional. Which makes me worry that people will not see it as such. But will rather begin to build their theology on it, or at least be theologically influenced by it. If you disagree, I challenge you to ask yourself or someone else regarding “end times” and you will most like get a quote from the Left Behind series. Many of us are more influenced by “Christian Fiction” than we are the actual Word of God.
So if you have read Young’s fictional work, The Shack, or intend to, I encourage you to read it as such, a fictional book that was written to entertain and not be a theological commentary.
Shalom!
Brent
Brent- I completely agree that you need to have the proper perspective and mindset when reading Christian fiction because it can so sneakily become a part of your theology. That’s funny that you mention the Left Behind series, because that’s exactly what happened to me with those books. I am a very visual person, so when I read I form a lot of pictures in my mind, and for the longest time whenever someone would mention something about the end times, I would almost subconsciously reference the mental images I had stored away from the Left Behind series. It wasn’t until after I began being taught about the end times and reading what the Bible itself had to say about it, which should be my source, that I realized I had allowed those books and the opinions and choices that those authors had made about the theological issues concerned to speak into my life as absolute truth simply because it was Christian fiction. While some Christian fiction is good and can be encouraging and biblically sound, it was definitely a good reminder that I should check everything by the Word, and that only the Word of God is truly the Word of God, and to keep all this in mind while I read.
Regarding Christian fiction, I stay as far away from it as possible for that very reason: It is not God’s Word. Granted, I do not have time to read a lot of fiction being a full time student and working 30 hours a week, but if I did, it would not be something I would go to Zondevan to get.
I am not knocking those of you who read Christian fiction, but when that is all you read you miss SO MUCH that is out there that is truly brilliant writing. I’ll give To Kill a Mockingbird as an example. It is an unbelievably intriguing book about a topic that is very applicable to today’s society: race. Also, it is told through the eyes of a child, making it very unique in it’s prose and style. It is not a Christian book, but it is one of the best novels out there. The same can be said about many works of fiction.
The same can be said about music. We, as Christians should not be listening to death metal or anything that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. But if I only listen to artists on Christian labels, I will miss out on a lot of brilliant artists such as U2, John Mayer, Coldplay,The Fray, Mutemath, and on and on and on. Again, I am not knocking those of you who only listen to “Christian” music, but you’re missing out on a lot.
In closing, try something new, test it with the Word, and if it passes, allow yourself to enjoy it!!! Staying within a little Christian bubble where everything is safe and easy is not what Jesus told us to do in The Great Commission. If you’re completely naive as to what is going on in the world, you cannot communicate with the world.
Mike-
I completely agree, just because it has a Christian label on it does not mean that it is good, and just because it has a secular label on it does not make it bad, but we need to “test the spirits” and “see who they are from.” We need to be taking in what will edify our soul and what will help draw us closer to Jesus.
Shalom!
Brent
ps… John Mayer? Who’s that?