'Heretical' bestseller basis of new 'devotional'

A best-selling novel dubbed by at least one respected Christian theologian, a former colleague of the author, as "heretical" for its depictions of the personalities of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit is about to be turned into a "devotional" by the publisher.

The publisher of the novel "The Shack," which has sold nearly 10 million copies in the United States, with 18 million in print worldwide, is releasing a daily devotional this fall called "The Shack: Reflections for Every Day of the Year."

But James De Young, author of "Burning Down 'The Shack,'" published by WND Books in 2010, calls William Paul Young's runaway bestseller "the greatest deception to blindside the church in the last 200 years" and a book that "strikes a dagger into the heart of the gospel."

De Young isn't only a New Testament language and literature professor at Western Seminary in Portland, Ore., he holds multiple degrees from respected seminaries including Dallas Seminary, Talbot Theological Seminary and Moody Bible Institute. In addition, and possibly most important, De Young and Young were his Portland-area neighbors when Young wrote "The Shack" and the two once co-founded a Christian think tank.

"The Shack" publisher Hachette Book Group announced the devotional project at the same time it announced the release date of Young's followup to "The Shack" – a novel called "Cross Roads," which will come out Nov. 13.

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Expect a major marketing campaign by Hachette's FaithWords imprint, including print, television, radio, online advertising, outreach to churches and a 20-city book tour.

"In the tradition of 'The Shack,' Paul Young has written a wonderfully creative and provocative story that will certainly stir imaginations and hearts," said publisher Rolf Zettersten. "It entrenches Paul's reputation as a major novelist of our time."

In "Cross Roads," Young tells the story of a driven man who falls into a coma and experiences relational entanglements that allow him to revisit choices he made during his life.

"Because each human being is a story, we resonate with story," the author said. "I am thrilled that Cross Roads has coalesced as another unique and deeply moving human story, complete with humor and suffering, beauty and brokenness, and grace filling up the spaces in-between."

"The Shack" spent 50 weeks at No. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list and has been translated into 41 languages. It was far and away the biggest selling "Christian" title of 2008 and 2009, but De Young insists it's not Christian at all.

"Burning Down 'The Shack,'" challenges readers to consider the perilous religious beliefs of the author.

While writing "The Shack," Young, a victim of child molestation, had recently embraced "universal reconciliation" – a belief identified as far back as the sixth century as heresy – which emphasizes that Jesus' loving nature renders him incapable of eternally damning anyone.

"Burning Down 'The Shack'" is a hard-hitting, no-holds-barred biblical critique of the book by someone who knew author Paul Young well and understands what's behind its strange theology.

"It's often said that one can understand a book better by knowing the author," says De Young.

In 1997, De Young and Young co-founded a Christian think tank, called M3 Forum, and for the next seven years they discussed and probed topics, doctrine and problems facing the church as it approached the new millennium. Then, in April 2004, Young submitted a surprising 103-page paper in which he embraced universal reconciliation and said, "He was putting aside his earlier evangelical paradigm."

Less than two years later, Young asked friends to read the early draft of a novel he was writing as a Christmas gift for his children. Though highly impressed by the manuscript's potential, the friends were opposed to the universal reconciliation they found in it and acknowledged publicly that they spent over a year trying to remove that message. Mainline Christian publishers declined interest in publishing what became "The Shack," so Young and his friends formed their own publishing company to self-publish.

"When I carefully read 'The Shack' in January 2008, I was dismayed to find universalism still embedded, deeply and subtly, in it," De Young recalls.

In "Burning Down 'The Shack,'" De Young delivers a chapter-by-chapter evaluation of more than 15 heresies within "The Shack." Chief among the errors is what Young left out.

"Burning Down 'The Shack,'" challenges readers to consider the perilous religious beliefs of the author.

While writing "The Shack," Young, a victim of child molestation, had recently embraced "universal reconciliation" – a belief identified as far back as the sixth century as heresy – which emphasizes that Jesus' loving nature renders him incapable of eternally damning anyone.

De Young not only faces down the biblical falsehoods in "The Shack," but he also takes unique creative license and shows readers powerful Scripture that would have helped his old friend's fictional character, Mack, find the forgiveness and restoration he so desperately sought – but was not offered.

In confronting "The Shack," De Young says he feels a little like David, with stone and slingshot in hand, taking on the nine-foot success of the book. Even much of the American church has bowed to its message of grace without repentance – though subtle but not insignificant recognition is surfacing of its potential to spark a split among believers. In some cases, Christian bookstores sell it with a disclaimer warning: "This book may contain thoughts, ideas, or concepts that could be considered inconsistent with historical evangelical theology."

Get "Burning Down 'The Shack'" autographed by author and Professor James De Young.

Media wishing to interview author James B. De Young should email here.