A controversial book

I recently finished reading the novel "The Shack" by Wm Paul Young. I had heard of it a few months ago, but did not get round to it until a friend gave me a copy for Christmas. I am glad I read it before another friend told me about the very negative review found at the Christianity Today website. Among Christians, it is a controversial book. After all, if one comes to it with any hint of conservative and orthodox Christian theology, that person would be "scandalized". For example, the images of the Trinity do not 'fit' anything we have come to believe from the pages of Scripture. In fact, they seem to be, should I say, 'distortions' of what we have come to imagine (if we have imagined what God 'looks' like, after all). This makes it difficult to read such a book- if our theology keeps getting in the way of enjoying a novel.

I chose to ignore those difficulties, as I wanted to read and enjoy it as a novel. I didn't get caught up with the images that did not seem comfortable for me. Instead, I focused on the relationships portrayed in the book - both among the members of the Trinity and between them and human beings. That was much more helpful. I could understand the kind of God the author was trying to portray. He wanted very much to portray a "God of relationship", rather than one who rules sovereign and distant and whose judgments humans have to "accept" with unquestioning submission. There is room for questions, for doubts, for dialogue - for relationship between God and humans. This invitation of faith is very much what I have come to believe and embrace. In relationships, things are dynamic - there is room for questions, for grappling, for doubting even, as long as this does not break the relationship, but is brought right into it. I believe God is inviting that with us, his beloved creatures. And on our part are we willing to engage in that dynamic bond of friendship? Or would we rather stay on more formal terms? Jesus invited us to be "friends", even while remaining disciples and servants. Are we ready to meet him where he longs to connect with us? We want to work for Christ - but would we first "be with" him, getting to really know his values, his desires and true mission. The Great Commission is general - we need to ask him how to contextualize that in each of our individual lives, and then corporately as his Body.