“The Shack” by William P. Young is a popular book - a top seller on Amazon.com and unfortunately a book that many young evangelicals are racing to often with support within the Evangelical church.  We seem to see a lack of Biblical discernment within the church - often from leadership.  Just like Rob Bell, Young’s book attracts the young crowd and just because “everyone is reading it” does not make it a Biblically sound book.  “The Shack” has some serious theological problems that include promoting a false view of the Trinity and a heretical concept called modalism.

As I scour the reviews of this book I am amazed at the diverse support for it.  There are the so called “heresy-hunters” that most on the liberal front consider “armed and dangerous” with solid doctrine and then there are those on the other end who say, “it’s just a book”.

Some have even be so bold as to compare this book with Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress” for its symbolic imagery.  I must disagree with this comparison as the teachings (whether intentional or not) are clearly wrong.  William Young’s intentions are probably very noble in his book but that does not excuse the clear theological error the book illuminates.  Today’s youth (especially in the evangelical church) are starving for truth and since the church visible seems to refuse to give them solid truth they will turn to popular books like this.

Of all the Christian book reviewers out there I must say Tim Challies always gives a solid, Biblical approach to his reviews.  His review of “The Shack” is long and detailed and clearly covers the problems in this book.

Tim Challie’s in his excellent review of this book writes

Overall, I had to conclude that Young has an inadequate and often-unbiblical understanding of the Trinity. While granting that the Trinity is a very difficult topic to understand and one that we cannot know fully, there are several indications that he often blurs the distinct persons of the Trinity along with their roles and their unique attributes. Combined with his novel but unsupported conjectures, this is a serious concern.

If anything, the popularity of this book inside the church shows a constant lack of discernment and the lack of knowledge of core Biblical theology.  It is so sad that we do not read our Bibles enough nor do American churches focus on good doctrine so as to equip their flocks to properly discern heresy when they see or read it.

Challies continues:

Because of the sheer volume of error and because of the importance of the doctrines reinvented by the author, I would encourage Christians, and especially young Christians, to decline this invitation to meet with God in The Shack. It is not worth reading for the story and certainly not worth reading for the theology.

Please take a moment to read Tim Challie’s full review of “The Shack”.

It’s time the church was more discerning in what they hear, read and see.  There are those out there that will intentionally try and lead people down the wrong path and there are those that unintentionally do.  I personally believe that “The Shack” falls into the latter group.  But regardless of the intent, bad doctrine is bad doctrine and when it comes to essential doctrinal teachings there is no middle ground.