Findng God in the Shack
Randal Rauser
Reviewed by Teresa Konopka
Randal Rauser’s “Finding God in the Shack” is a thought-provoking
journey. It relays the remarkable story of William Young‘s “The
Shack.” Whether readers have read the book, never heard of it, or
are
just aware of its existence through word of mouth, Rauser’s book fills
all gaps and ties up loose ends. There is enough information so
readers that never read “The Shack” are informed, but there is not so
much as to bore those who already know the story.
Basically,
a man named Mack loses his little daughter Missy. The girl goes
missing for over four years. One day, the man receives a letter
from
God, telling him to go to a shack. There, Mack finds the deceased
body
of his child. He also encounters the members of the Christian
church.
This is where the real bulk of the theology comes in. Due to the
ambiguity and distortions at certain parts of “The Shack,” much debate
arises.
For one, God is portrayed as a flamboyant African
American woman. The Holy Ghost is characterized by a young Asian
lady. Lastly, Jesus is cast as a meager-looking, modern day Jew
(with
no divine appearance). All three laugh together and converse with
Mack
as he tries to unravel the mystery of why Missy was raped and murdered
by a mad man--something he never quite understands.
While
dissecting the anatomy of the best selling “The Shack,” the book
divulges often to clear up theological points. So, even if a
non-Christian picks up Rauser’s book, they won’t be too lost since
they’ll learn the meaning of the Cross, the Trinity, the Atonement, and
so on. Cleverly, Rauser does not discredit certain
ideologies. Often
times, he leaves questions open and unanswered, even prompting readers
to decide for themselves. Although, as for certain doctrinal
truths
(God is omnipotent, loving, one, etc. ), he does take a clear stand.
“Finding
God in the Shack” is as entertaining as it is philosophical.
Readers
are catapulted into a modern drama that they can relate to.
Unlike the
plagues of the Bible, a little girl being murdered is more likely to
happen in contemporary times. Also, Rauser brings up points that
strike deep chords in modern readers. He discusses the notion of
priests harassing youngsters in a revealing way full of hope.
Most
remarkably, he makes the connection that God comes down on our
level.
That is why, as Rauser claims, God appeared to Mack as a woman instead
of a father that he would associate with traumatic events of his
childhood.