The movie The Shack has reunited a wave of debate, hand-wringing, defensiveness and condemnation in some circles. The book and the subsequent movie has been called dangerous, subversive and heretical by many critics. I didn’t know any of this when a friend told me that he really enjoyed the book and I should read it many years ago. Since I have a book addiction I soon was in possession. I finished The Shack and I thought it was a good read. I was challenged and touched by parts of the story.  And, to be honest, I was a bit unsettled by some of it. After finishing the book I did some research to find out what others were saying about the book. Some of the critiques were thoughtful. These writers pointed out where the book deviated from scripture. Some of the orthodox theological missteps were outlined in clear detail. I will stay away from the theological debate because that has been discussed by so many. I am not endorsing the movie or the book. Instead I want to offer a few gentle propositions to consider for my fellow followers of Jesus as the discussion heats up.

1. Be careful about disparaging The Shack’s author, William P Young. Please be cautious about assigning motives to a person you don’t know from Adam and Eve’s first house cat. I know that I have been called things that were really surprising by my brothers and sisters in the faith simply because they disagreed with something I wrote. Mr. Young apparently was deeply wounded by Christians who should have protected him. I don’t believe Mr.Young set out to write a book that would rock the evangelical community. Apparently he didn’t even write the book with the thought of being published. It was originally written for family members to help them deal with their pain. It doesn’t seem that he set out with sinister motives to undermine theological orthodoxy when he wrote The Shack. When his theology is nonorthodox I am suggesting that we gracefully discuss those areas and don’t attack Mr. Young. Defending truth with grace is always the most effective tactic. But our passion for truth too often makes grace the first thing we jettison.
2. Be careful how you share your concerns with others. When I read comments like “are these people just blind to heresy?” I cringe. Because you reinforce the feelings of so many people that are moved by this book and movie. They have experienced a Christianity that is judgmental and sometimes downright mean. If your heart is to be a guardian of truth you will damage that worthy desire by harsh criticism of those who are touched by The Shack.
3. Be prayerful about why this book and movie has connected so surprisingly with millions. I think I know some reasons why it is resonating with so many. Those of us raised in the desert of legalism are desperate for the cool, refreshing waters of grace. Those of us who have been wounded by other Christians want more than anything to believe that Jesus does love us and our experience is not how it should be in the church. We need guardians of the truth of God’s Word but we also need those guardians to be shepherds that care and not just condemn. Some of the articles have been so stern that I felt like I would be sent to after school detention just for enjoying the book. That doesn’t help a wounded believer. Jesus said to both feed and take care of His sheep.
4. Don’t automatically decide you won’t see the movie. Why should you consider doing that if you believe the theology is off base? Because of a principle that I harp on over and over. When people open spiritual doors we should have enough sense to go through them. Instead we tend to slam those doors and then go knock loudly on doors that are closed. Obviously this book and movie is connecting. There is a deep spiritual hunger in America. If a fellow believer or seeker comments on the movie it will do little good to look down our spiritual nose and let them know the theology is all wrong. You will be able to get through some pretty intimate doors that this story opens and have a great discussion of truth and grace.
5. Be aware that God is doing just fine. I have seen some pretty dire warnings about this book and movie. One of the critiques that I read often is that the book makes God small. Aren’t we also making God small by being so concerned about the possible damage done by this story? God can, will and is using this movie. The truth is that The Shack is causing many people to think about things they have never considered. Some are willing to try again after being deeply wounded. Shouldn’t we be praying that God will use us to come alongside these souls as they search and seek the truth?
6. Acknowledge that there are the things this movie does well. When you go negative it causes people to get defensive. It does more harm to make people who feel abandoned or hurt by the church feel “stupid” because they don’t know as much theology as you do. If you know that much theology don’t forget the grace sections.
7. Recognize the hunger in the body of Christ. We have done a poor job of teaching (or understanding) some of the key teachings of Scripture. Most of us get salvation. We could not be reconciled to a Holy God on our own. But then it seems to get a bit spotty. Too many of us don’t understand key theological truths like who we are in Christ, who God says we are and who God says He is. We know truth but don’t trust it. What is in our head doesn’t invade our heart. The Shack has touched the hearts of millions. The door is open for a thoughtful and real discussion about God. I pray that we don’t blow it.

 Instead of taking readers of The Shack to the woodshed let’s take them to the room of grace.

Check out my newest book on Grace, Identity and Faith entitled Waking Up Slowly..