The Shack Revisited by William Paul Young
Week 10: Chapter 9 — The Misery of the Orphaned Heart
Read Chapter 9 of The Shack Revisited. Primary Bible passages: Galatians 4:1-7; Romans 8:14-17; John 14:18.
Previewing Week 10 of The Shack Revisited
Read 3 of 7 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 14-week guide when you’re ready.
Kruger now gives a name to the deep disease the book has been diagnosing: the orphaned heart — the experience of living as though we have no Father, no secure place in the universe, no one watching for us to come home. This week may be the most personally searching of the study.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Kruger describes the "orphaned heart" as the fundamental human condition east of Eden — not necessarily that we doubt God exists, but that we live functionally as though we are on our own. What does an orphaned heart look like in everyday behavior? What are its telltale signs?
2.Mack's orphaned heart is visible in his inability to receive comfort, his compulsive self-sufficiency, and his deep suspicion that he is ultimately alone even when surrounded by people who love him. Do you see any of those patterns in yourself? Which one is most familiar?
a.How does self-sufficiency function as a defense mechanism against disappointment?
b.What would it take for you to begin to lower that defense?
3.Kruger argues that the orphaned heart produces specific spiritual dysfunctions: performance-based religion, chronic anxiety, the compulsive need for approval, and an inability to rest. Which of these do you most recognize in yourself or in the people you love?