HAVE YOU READ THE SHACK? by Larry Stout
HAVE YOU READ THE SHACK? by Larry Stout
For the record, I have not read the novel, The Shack, by William Young. My wife, however, has read it, and has asked the question quoted in my article title to almost every Christian she meets. The book has even been written about in the New York Times, so be assured, if you have not yet heard of this book – you will.
What I find even more fascinating than the popularity of this one particular Christian novel, is the fact that there are currently fourteen books centered on Christianity that are currently on the New York Times bestseller list. This is the highest number to have ever occurred on this prestigious list. Of course, the anti-Christian tomes written by Christopher Hitchens (God is Not Great) and Richard Dawkins (The God Delusion) also hit number one on the NYT list. And, if we add Ophrah’s latest endorsement, Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth, a New Age spiritual guide – we begin to see a pattern.
Spiritual issues are on the radar screen of the reading public, at least in North America. This does not necessarily signal a revival, but it certainly would appear that individuals are hungering for the transcendent in their lives. The question might arise – why now?
A book that has helped answer this question for me is N. T. Wright’s, Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense (Harper, 2006). Wright’s intention was to write a C. S. Lewis Mere Christianity for the 21st century. For my money – he succeeded. Wright shows how there is a universal longing for justice in the world, spirituality (the awareness of that which is beyond us), relationships with one another, and appreciating the beauty of the earth.
Though Wright does not state this in his book, I believe it is because of the increased prosperity of society has led to these deepening hungers to be accentuated. The battles of the 20th century over capitalism and communism are over – capitalism has won. Even nations like Cuba and China recognize that. But having more money does not solve all the problems like everyone thought it would. Instead, there are still longings for that which money cannot buy.
And the best news of all, is that the Christian world seems to be rising to the challenge. Though The Shack may not represent the best theology possible (again, I am speaking from ignorance), it is speaking to people that might never have been reached any other way. Light and salt can take many forms, and we should be open to them.
For the record, I have not read the novel, The Shack, by William Young. My wife, however, has read it, and has asked the question quoted in my article title to almost every Christian she meets. The book has even been written about in the New York Times, so be assured, if you have not yet heard of this book – you will.
What I find even more fascinating than the popularity of this one particular Christian novel, is the fact that there are currently fourteen books centered on Christianity that are currently on the New York Times bestseller list. This is the highest number to have ever occurred on this prestigious list. Of course, the anti-Christian tomes written by Christopher Hitchens (God is Not Great) and Richard Dawkins (The God Delusion) also hit number one on the NYT list. And, if we add Ophrah’s latest endorsement, Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth, a New Age spiritual guide – we begin to see a pattern.
Spiritual issues are on the radar screen of the reading public, at least in North America. This does not necessarily signal a revival, but it certainly would appear that individuals are hungering for the transcendent in their lives. The question might arise – why now?
A book that has helped answer this question for me is N. T. Wright’s, Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense (Harper, 2006). Wright’s intention was to write a C. S. Lewis Mere Christianity for the 21st century. For my money – he succeeded. Wright shows how there is a universal longing for justice in the world, spirituality (the awareness of that which is beyond us), relationships with one another, and appreciating the beauty of the earth.
Though Wright does not state this in his book, I believe it is because of the increased prosperity of society has led to these deepening hungers to be accentuated. The battles of the 20th century over capitalism and communism are over – capitalism has won. Even nations like Cuba and China recognize that. But having more money does not solve all the problems like everyone thought it would. Instead, there are still longings for that which money cannot buy.
And the best news of all, is that the Christian world seems to be rising to the challenge. Though The Shack may not represent the best theology possible (again, I am speaking from ignorance), it is speaking to people that might never have been reached any other way. Light and salt can take many forms, and we should be open to them.
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