The Shack

I have not been so moved by a fiction until I recently read this book by William Young. No wonder Eugene Peterson said that " ... This book has the potential to do for our generation what John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress did for his. It’s that good!". I was immediately captured by the story line in the beginning, but right after that, I thought that this book may degenerate into just a book on Christian doctrines disguised within a story. I wasn't really looking forward to that since if I had wanted doctrines, I could easily turn to one of my reference books and get a good download. I did not need a story devoted to illustrating some Christian doctrines. But the book surprised me! It moved me beyong my wildest imaginations. I started the book on Thursday afternoon, and on Friday morning, I could not resist from finishing it. So before I got to work, I had to stop by a Starbucks to finish it. As I was almost to the end of the book, I just could not stop sobbing and my nose started to run. Yes, it was that good!

Anyway, the book does contain Christian doctrines, but it is packaged in such a way that it combines a story and doctrines to show how the Holy Trinity ministers to the characters in the story. It is extra-biblical but consistent with biblical principles and doctrines. I like how the book leaves it open whether it is really fiction or factual, or a bit of both. I would not be surprised that most of it is factual. I believe the way William describes how the Holy Trinity works is consistent with my beliefs on how the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit work in my life and in the lives of others. It is not a complete story but it surely gives a good glimpse of our triune God!