The thing with The Shack. I don't get hung up with the portrayal of God as a woman. I definitely agree that God has always been described in the masculine, but my take on the authors intent was this: In his story, God appeared as a woman simply to completely blow away this guy's preconceptions of Him. He wanted to knock him out of his spiritual sleep. I know we get into trouble when we start feminizing God, but since I believe this was the intent of God as portrayed by the author, I see it as the exception. And didn't he ultimately come to him as a man at the end? It's been a while since I read it.
Leaving out the judgment for sin is more of a problem to me. And I remember having this issue too that really jumped out at me: Didn't the author clearly state through one of the Trinity that Jesus did not poses the ability to perform miracles from His own power while on earth. I think it was "Papa" (God) who said He needed God to perform the miracles He was displaying. I tossed the book out of my hands when I got to that part. But I ended up finishing it so I could be informed on all the hype.
I agree with you overall, I just see a reason that God would present himself as a black, heavy-set woman.
Leaving out the judgment for sin is more of a problem to me. And I remember having this issue too that really jumped out at me: Didn't the author clearly state through one of the Trinity that Jesus did not poses the ability to perform miracles from His own power while on earth. I think it was "Papa" (God) who said He needed God to perform the miracles He was displaying. I tossed the book out of my hands when I got to that part. But I ended up finishing it so I could be informed on all the hype.
I agree with you overall, I just see a reason that God would present himself as a black, heavy-set woman.