Unshackled: Facing Suffering With the Real Jesus and Not the Shack or Pop-culture Christianity Paperback – Import, 3 April 2017

There are two parts to this book. The first is a critique of the theological underpinnings of The Shack. This is done very well with clear biblical arguments, demonstrating the theological deficiencies of The Shack.In the second part the author presents an alternative approach to dealing with suffering in general and grief in particular. This is all done from a clear biblical perspective and a heart of compassion. The author draws from his experiences, both as an individual and many years of pastoring.I have never been part of “The Shack is wonderful brigade”, not being a fan of emotional mush, so I personally found the second part the much more valuable. However, if you have read The Shack, or have seen the film I would strongly encourage you to read this excellent book. Even if you have no real interest in the Shack but want to know what all the fuss is about, read this book, and get some very Biblical and helpful advice on grief and suffering into the bargain.

In Unshackled, Chase Thompson seeks to unpack the deceptions, scriptural untruths and many theological issues found in The Shack.Using a methodical approach, he clearly and sensitively approaches each issue presenting a clear case as to the severe errors of the Shack and why Christians should not see the book as reliable. This approach means this is a book that is scholarly, yet easy to read at the same time.Chase is uncompromising in his aim to shed light on the issues that arise from the book whilst not being afraid to highlight parts of the book he agrees with, or enjoyed.It is his deeper study of the theological background of The Shack's author that exposes the deep issues that led to such a deceptive ear tickling book as the Shack.This book is a must read for anyone who has read the shack, or who hasn't read it and simply wants to understand the issues surrounding it.

Easy and enjoyable read. There is a lot of Biblical explanation. Chase is able to explain the problems with the biblical accuracy of The Shack while not being harmful to the author. He makes it clear that he is a good writer and the story is very appealing-but there are reasons why it does not line up with scripture. It was great to have these things listed out. I knew the book The Shack bothered me, but I couldn't completely describe why. Now I feel like I could have a conversation about it.

UnSHACKLled met and exceeded all my expectations. Having not read The Shack but knowing of the controversy around it, this book fully explains why the controversy exists and responds with sound, Biblical evidence. It is easy to read and understand, explaining thoroughly the importance of not overlooking or glossing over false teaching. The book concludes with sound counsel on how to rest on Jesus during suffering and compassionately love others as they suffer as well.

I have known Chase Thompson for several years now. He is known for being very thoughtful in his writing and speaking. The problems with "Pop Culture Christianity" is something he regularly discusses, and he has developed many well-articulated theses on the topic. "Unshackled" is one such discussion that is a must read for Christians who wish to take Jesus' teaching seriously. This is why I give it 5 stars, and encourage all to read!