What’s up with the book “The Shack” flying of bookshelves and ranked high on iTunes for downloads? A friend of mine, James-Micheal Smith, first blogged about it a couple of months ago. “Great read.” Then another friend cornered me and told me I needed to read it. The next day I’m at Borders. Brand new display in the front of the store showcasing the William P. Young book. Alright, I guess I should get it. Then a woman in line told me how her husband loved and made her read it. Okay! I get the point. I’ll read it.

Not a big reader, I was glad to see it was very short. I should be able to knock it off in a month or two. Well, actually I was able to in a week. It’s a very interesting concept of using a fictional story to bring about some theological truths. But, because of that, I need to give it two reviews.

As a fiction novel the book has some very emotional qualities about it. As a father of two girls, I just about had to put the book down several times and think about something else (ever seen “Gone Baby Gone?”) I don’t want give anything away, in case you’re one of the few that HASN’T read it, but the general plot goes like this (it’s on the book jacket.) A couple’s little girl is kidnapped and never found. Three years later, the little girl’s father has an encounter, face to face, with God and has it out with Him. And God with the father. Decent plot. A couple of great twists. And a great ending. But, a lot of the dialogue, characters and scenarios did seem a little strange and far-fetched, at times.

But, that’s not what the book was about. Like I said, it was a theological lesson, disguised as a fictional tale. And from that view, thumbs up. This is why the book is so popular and this is why it should be apart of anyone’s library. Young spends two-thirds of the book spelling out the very accurate and biblical character of God, and is a great reminder of the wonderful gift to be able to be called his heirs (like the plug?)

I think my favorite part was when the question of “disappointment” came up. In C.S. Lewis style, Young took common sense philosophy and answered it in an extremely comforting way. Simply put, If God knows everything you’ve done, are doing and will ever do, then there is nothing you can do to disappoint him. Disappointed is a feeling that requires one to NOT know the outcome. What a liberating thought. And no, this doesn’t give us free reign to just go do as we please. But, it does unshackle us from being so worried about doing right that we ultimately think of ourselves as failures. Remember, we failed at birth. It’s done. There’s nothing we can do to right it. Hence the small sacrifice of a guy named Jesus.

This is what the book is about. A real life discussion of the love of God and his wanting a relationship with us. Not a great track record. Not perfect attendance at church. But, a relationship. The fictional side of the book wasn’t as great as a lot of people told me. But, after reading it, I don’t think they were even talking about the fiction. They were talking about the non-fiction, the truth of the book. The on-going truth that started in vacant garden a long time ago. The truth that God created us in His image so that He could be with us and that we could be with Him. Thanks William, I keep forgetting. Have you read it. What did you think?