Stacy O. (stacyo) reviewed Burning Down 'The Shack': How the 'Christian' Bestseller is Deceiving Millions on + 15 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
One of the popular books in Christian bookstores today is Ed Youngs tale, The Shack, which describes a journey of faith and discovery. In Burning Down The Shack, James De Young approaches the story from a biblical standpoint. It is De Youngs belief that The Shack rests not on a concrete foundation but on wooden pillars that are rotted and insect-infested and in time will fail (p. 220). De Young bases his criticism on a long-term acquaintance and working relationship with Ed Young and allows us to see into the making of The Shack.
According to De Young, the course of Ed Youngs thinking shifted dramatically several years prior to the writing of The Shack. It was a dramatic shift towards the theology of universal reconciliation that prompted Young to rethink much of his own beliefs and eventually led to the loosely autobiographical story under discussion. De Young was part of the sphere of influence around Ed Young at this time and the book goes into great detail outlining the position taken both privately prior to the books release and now publicly since it has been published. What De Young ably does is present a point-by-point critique of The Shack from a biblical basis.
De Young proceeds through his dissection of The Shack chapter by chapter, outlining both the good and the troublesome points. Where differences occur, related biblical passages are brought out and examined to shed light on the issue. In this regard, De Young does very well to let Scripture be its own defense. Throughout the book, De Young does not present his personal view as much as he allows both Young and the Bible to say what they will about the subject material. As it turns out, Scripture is more than capable of defending its own position.
De Youngs largest concern is the Universalism flavor permeating the primeval setting of the tale. While Young does not claim to be a Universalist, he holds to universalistic reconciliation that God allows all to dwell in heaven with Him. According to this belief, all sin is eventually purged away, sometimes through hell fire, so that man and God can be united forever. The key phrase of this belief is mercy triumphs over justice because of love a quote from The Shack and a misquotation of James 2:13.
De Young takes careful and deliberate steps to show how placing any one of Gods characteristics in subservience to any other character quality diminishes the whole and creates a being who is no longer God. A Universalist desire to be free from institutions is not a biblical position, nor is it a godly one. Indeed, it is God Himself who ordained families, government, and the church three critical institutions that universalism seeks to destroy subtly and surreptitiously.
For those who have read The Shack, this book presents a great counterpoint to the arguments for relationship over truth and is well worth reading. For those who have not read The Shack, this book would be a great help to digest its teachings and would adequately prepare one to discuss it on a competent level.
According to De Young, the course of Ed Youngs thinking shifted dramatically several years prior to the writing of The Shack. It was a dramatic shift towards the theology of universal reconciliation that prompted Young to rethink much of his own beliefs and eventually led to the loosely autobiographical story under discussion. De Young was part of the sphere of influence around Ed Young at this time and the book goes into great detail outlining the position taken both privately prior to the books release and now publicly since it has been published. What De Young ably does is present a point-by-point critique of The Shack from a biblical basis.
De Young proceeds through his dissection of The Shack chapter by chapter, outlining both the good and the troublesome points. Where differences occur, related biblical passages are brought out and examined to shed light on the issue. In this regard, De Young does very well to let Scripture be its own defense. Throughout the book, De Young does not present his personal view as much as he allows both Young and the Bible to say what they will about the subject material. As it turns out, Scripture is more than capable of defending its own position.
De Youngs largest concern is the Universalism flavor permeating the primeval setting of the tale. While Young does not claim to be a Universalist, he holds to universalistic reconciliation that God allows all to dwell in heaven with Him. According to this belief, all sin is eventually purged away, sometimes through hell fire, so that man and God can be united forever. The key phrase of this belief is mercy triumphs over justice because of love a quote from The Shack and a misquotation of James 2:13.
De Young takes careful and deliberate steps to show how placing any one of Gods characteristics in subservience to any other character quality diminishes the whole and creates a being who is no longer God. A Universalist desire to be free from institutions is not a biblical position, nor is it a godly one. Indeed, it is God Himself who ordained families, government, and the church three critical institutions that universalism seeks to destroy subtly and surreptitiously.
For those who have read The Shack, this book presents a great counterpoint to the arguments for relationship over truth and is well worth reading. For those who have not read The Shack, this book would be a great help to digest its teachings and would adequately prepare one to discuss it on a competent level.
