Michael Spencer on “The Shack”

Spencer writes:

Finding God in the Shack: Seeking Truth in a Story of Evil and Redemption by Roger Olson (IVP). Olson is one of the most vigorous theological authors willing to take on the reformed intelligensia, as can be seen in his books Arminian Theology: Myths And Realities and Reformed and Always Reforming. In this book, Olson takes a measured, but overall positive view of William Young’s theological novel.

Olson’s book is already garnering negative reviews from those who are convinced The Shack is a theological threat to Christians who aren’t paying sufficient attention to the Bible’s prohibitions on creative writing. (I assume C.S. Lewis’s The Great Divorce is in for a beat down in the near future.)

Where does Olson come out? A balanced, moderate, intelligent, appreciative and overall positive view. Don’t start a ministry on it. Don’t confuse imagery with heresy. Appreciate the personal core of the story that is touching so many. (Olson collates Young’s story of Mack with his own struggles with a pastor father.) Use it as a discussion starter. Be fair and realistic about the overall effect of the book. A fine response to the three-alarm fires that have dominated the internet.

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