Real Worship

"The Shack" by William P Young

Over the last few months, a growing number of friends have been asking, “Have you read The Shack yet?”  Well, now I have!  (Actually I’ve “listened” to the shack – having downloaded the audiobook.)

Without wishing to divulge too much of the plot, the story follows a man called Mack who, after experiencing a tragedy, gets an invite to meet with “Pappa” (his wife’s name for God) at the shack.  Though the setting and storyline are ficticious, the author (Wm Paul Young) has drawn on his own experiences and the questions & conversations that occur are, in his words, “very real”.

It is a beautifully written piece of literature that takes the reader on a rollercoaster ride through a myriad of emotions.  It is an allegory, a modern-day parable that explores and reveals the nature and heart of God.  It isn’t systematic theology (and doesn’t pretend to be), but it isn’t afraid to ask the hard questions like, “Where were You in all of this…?”

There have been few books that have impacted  me like this one has.  I found myself gripped – not wanting to stop listening and excitedly looking forward to each opportunity to listen some more.  It has not only had a profound impact on me, but on every person I’ve spoken to who has read it – spawning hours of conversation and debate.

It has been an uncannily timely “coincidence” that this book should come across my path at this juncture.  As a church, we have spent at least the last year rediscovering God, His love and His grace.  He has been systematically dismantling our preconceptions about the way in which we relate to Him (& others); unearthing and dealing with our religion and revealing His heart for relationship.

You may ask yourself why I would wish to write about this book here;  I mean, it isn’t about worship… is it?  All I can say is that reading The Shack has acted like a catalyst – rekindling a passion long forgotten, renewing a first love experience and causing a growing desire to know, by experience, so much more of God.  After all, worship is expressed in and through relationship, not through rituals and ceremony.

If you have not yet read “The Shack”, I would encourage you to either click here (or the picture above) and read excerpts from the book; then, go out and buy yourself a copy.  For those who have read the book, I would love to hear your thoughts about it.  What has it meant to you?  How did it make you feel?  Do you have any stories to tell as a result?

Please, feel free to comment…