"But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it." Jesus in Matthew 13:16-17
The parables of Jesus are fascinating! Simple yet profound. Open but secret. Plain yet puzzling. Apparent but obscure. Transparent yet hazy.
How could the religiously educated, the scholars and teachers of the day, miss it?
Humility. They lacked humility!
The weak, the poor, the simple, the outcasts, the sinners--they knew they needed what Jesus had to offer. The world's systems had no place for them. In fact, in the eyes of the pious they deserved their condition--they or their father's had sinned against God and they were reaping the windfall of their transgressions. The humble desired to participate in the message and the Kingdom Jesus had to offer. The parable served as a simple door for which they could enter.
The religious desired to debate, discuss, and denounce Jesus and His teachings. And they were unable to open the door of the Kingdom.
I finally finished The Shack. As with any human illustration, there are times when it breaks down and fails to coordinate with every aspect of truth. If you would like a critical evaluation, see http://www.normangeisler.net/theshack.html.
I was able to recognize The Shack as a wounded man's attempt to discover God's beauty. How does one gain a greater understanding of a God who is Spirit, omnipotent, all-knowing, immutable, and a perfect mixture of love and justice? We can make a theologically resume for God with all His qualities listed nice and tidy, but can we really know Him through a list?
The Shack seems to be an honest struggle to understand more God's nature and character. I did not feel manipulated. I felt no hidden agenda with this book. I laughed, I cried, became angry, and celebrated. Like a parable in Jesus' day, for those who want to have conversations about God, the story is opaque. For those who will look and listen and pray, the story becomes a means for participation in the life of faith (Eugene Peterson thoughts on parables). For me, The Shack was just that.
Young (the author) opened up his heart to us through this book and allowed us to journey with him through the redemption process of dealing with his own hurts and frustrations inflicted upon him by life. Does this book have flaws-sure. Is it humble-definitely. I don't know William P. Young, but from reading this book and hearing about his story he appears to be a serious seeker of the Truth.
I trust God enough to rise above our frail attempts to understanding Him and allow His glorious, beauty and power to draw all people to Jesus Christ!
I want eyes to see and ears to hear the mysteries of God and His Kingdom.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
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