The Shack: Tim Challies Review

Moderately helpful for proper discernment, but mostly like critiquing the ‘imperfections’ in a Monet landscape because the edges are blurry when you get too close.

The beauty of impressionism is not in exacting replication of reality on canvas, but rather in creating the impression of moments as dynamic and fluid.

Perhaps I’m naïve, but my feeling is that Young wrote this book in the spirit of ‘Impressionistic Theology’. It is not meant to be a literal blueprint for our understanding of proper theology. Rather it is helpful as a refreshing, beautiful and dynamic challenge to the pinhole perspective we often have of God’s character.

Don’t build your ‘theology house’ on the Shack, but try painting a few walls with it. The color will do you some good.

Humbly,
Aaron