Wild at Heart: Essential Reading or "Junk Food of the Soul" - Ministry Exchange (MX)

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Wild at Heart: Essential Reading or Junk Food of the SoulŽ? Book Review
WildatHeart: Essential Reading or "Junk Food of the Soul"?
byJohnEldredge(NelsonBooks2001)
Reviewed by BrynnCamery-Hoggatt&NealsonMunn
Itseemsadiscussionofmasculinitycanscarcelycommenceat
today'schurchdesperatelyneedtohear.Numerousreaderstestify
Gordon College without mention of John Eldredge's Wild at
thatEldredgehaschal engedthemto"fantheflame"ofthenatural
Heart,abookenthusiasticallyendorsedbyChristiansnationwide.
masculinityGodintendedwiththecreationofAdam.
Many would agree with writer Charles Swindoll, who calls
But, while Eldredge is right to decry the alienation of men
Wild at Heart "the best, most insightful book I have read in
from contemporary church life, his solution to this problem
at least the last five years" (Eldredge, i). Eldredge's immense
seems to be flawed. Indeed, Wild at Heart is a book that the
popularity, however, must not be allowed to disguise the fact
integratedChristianoughttoobjectto,foritsvisionofGodly
that his suggestions are often incongruent with the teachings
manhoodandwomanhoodisaspeciousoneatbest.
of Jesus. Although the author's premise may
Eldredge's gender stereotypes present
be valid (men are bored with contemporary
masculinity and femininity in a way that
churchlife;changemustbemadeinaneffort
is incomplete, culturally dictated, and old-
toaddressthisproblem),hiscorollaryideasare
fashioned. He exalts clichéd Hollywood
bothuntrueandharmful.Thus,Wild at Heart
portrayals of masculinity. He categorically
isanessentiallyunhelpfulcontributiontothe
insists that male Christians should be
thought life of both Gordon College and the
pursuers while failing to mention that men
churchasawhole.
arethemselvestheobjectofChrist'spursuit,
ThethesisofWild at Heartistwo-fold.First,
thattheytooare"theBrideofChrist."Gordon
Godhasplacedwithintheheartofeveryman
College Junior Brian Heiss found Wild at
an overpowering desire for three things--"a
Heart difficult to read because of Eldredge's
battle to fight, an adventure to live, and a
narrow characterization of men: "He writes
beautytorescue"(9).Second,thechurchisnot
thatmenshouldfitacertainmanlyimageand
fulfillingthesedesiresbecauseitfailstodiscern
putstheminabox.Hecan'tsay`manisthis'
thetruenatureofmasculinityanddefinesthe
or`manshouldbethis.'Allmenaredifferent.
idealChristianmanasmerely"aNiceGuy"(7).
All people are different. These emotionally
Asaresult,menarealienatedfromchurchlife
charged stereotypes don't reflect the unique
anddismissiveoftheirwives'religiosity:"The
diversity of humankind." Additionally,
churchwagsitsheadandwonderswhyitcan't
Eldredge's limited view of manhood ignores
getmorementosignupforitsprograms,"observesEldredge.
thetenderaspectsofthepsychemodeledbyeverymemberofthe
"Theanswerissimplythis:Wehavenotinvitedamantoknow
Trinity(e.g.,Father:Isa.6:13,4:1314,49:1415;Son:Matt.3:37,
andlivefromhisdeepheart"(8).Theauthorpresentshisbook
Luke13:34;HolySpirit:Gen.1:,Deut.3:11).
asaninvitation.
Eldredge claims that the domineering male ego was
WewouldberemisstoignorethemanyyoungChristianswhom
God's original design, and that "the core of a man's heart is
Wild at Heart hasinspiredtoabandonananemicfaithinfavorof
undomesticated and that is good" (4). He writes, "The whole
an adventurous relationship with Jesus. Eldredge urges passion
crisisinmasculinitytodayhascomebecausewenolongerlivein
and courage instead of complacency--a message that men in
awarriorculture,aplaceformentolearntofightlikemen"(175).
BRYNN CAMERY-HOGGATT grew up in Southern
NEALSON MUNN was born in Lexington, Kentucky
California. Currently, she is a senior at Gordon College,
in 1985. He spent most of his childhood and adoles-
where she is double majoring in English and Biblical
cence in New England, relocating occasionally due
Studies. In her spare time, Brynn enjoys reading, writing,
to his parents' ministry as Salvation Army officers. He
and playing her harp for weddings and other special
enrolled at Gordon College in 2003 and is currently
events.
in his third year of undergraduate study, majoring in
English and Philosophy. He hopes to one day become
a successful writer, scholar, and marathon runner.
4 · Priscilla PapersVol.19,No.4Autumn005

It is a wonder, then, that God did not choose muscle-bound
home"?),hesucceedsinissuingagenuinelyinspiringcallfora
GoliathtoruleIsraelinsteadofthepsalmistDavid.According
rediscoveryofadventurewithinthechurch.Unhappily,however,
to Eldredge's logic, Jesus himself would have struggled with
the author's credibility is once again marred by selecting poor
masculinity. He did not "fight like a man" when the Roman
role models. Although he gamely quotes Augustine, Oswald
soldiersattackedhim--instead,hetellsus,"Ifsomeonestrikes
Chambers, C.S. Lewis, and Dallas Willard (among others), it
youontherightcheek,turntohimtheotheralso"(Matt.5:38).
isapparentthatEldredgeismostenthusedbyviolentfictional
Eldredge,meanwhile,suggestschildrenretaliateagainstbullies,
characters such as Indiana Jones--"a swashbuckling hero who
because"youcannotteachaboytousehisstrengthbystripping
can handle ancient history, beautiful women, and a forty-five
him of it" (79). Such instructions flagrantly contradict Christ's
withease"(10).
commands--e.g., "Love your enemies and pray for those who
Thefinalcomponentoftheauthor'stroika--everymandesires
persecuteyou"(Matt.5:44).
"abeautytorescue"--isbothfalseanddegrading.Truetohisown
What, according to John Eldredge, does a fulfilled man of
ideals,Eldredgewriteswithboldness:thefirstchapterofWild at
God look like? Consider part one of the writer's triumvirate
Heartseekstoexplaininjustfourparagraphsthesubtlemysteries
of masculine core desires: every man needs "a battle to fight."
of "The Feminine Heart." Such passages lend verisimilitude to
Furthermore, we are told, "Every man wants to play the hero.
BertrandRussell'sassertionthatwomenhavebeenthesubject
Everyman needstoknowthatheispowerful"(11).Thislatter
of more "intellectual rubbish" than any other topic; it is here,
notioneffectivelydivorcesEldredge'sthinkingfromtheChristian
also,thatthemoralvisionofWild at Heartismostgrievously
traditionandplaceshiminthecompanyofFriedrichNietzsche,
skewed. Eldredge's characterization of true femininity appears
whoproclaimed,"Alivingthingseeksabovealltodischargeits
tobeinfluencedmorebyMiddleEnglishheroicsagasthanby
strength--life itself is Will to Power." (Jesus commanded--in
theteachingsoftheNewTestament.Ofwomankindtheauthor
placeofpower--suchvirtuesashumility,meekness,mercy,and
proclaims,"Herchildhooddreamsofaknightinshiningarmor
peacemaking.)TounderstandEldredge'sdefectiveprototypeof
comingtorescueherarenotgirlishfantasies;theyarethecore
masculinity,oneneedlooknofurtherthanthepopcultureicons
ofthefeminineheartandthelifesheknowsshewasmadefor"
heminesforinspiration--e.g.,singerssuchasGeorgeThorogood
(16).Moreover,"Everywoman...wantsanadventuretoshare.A
("IDrinkAlone")andahostofblockbusterfilms,includingTop
womandoesn'twanttobetheadventure;shewantstobecaught
Gun, Braveheart, Saving Private Ryan, and Gladiator. After
upintosomethinggreaterthanherself"(16).
pointing out that predominantly male audiences make these
Eldredge used similarly broad strokes to paint his image of
violentmoviessuccessful,Eldredgetrenchantlyobserves,"Likeit
manhood(everymanwantsthis;thisiseveryman'sdesire).When
ornot,thereissomethingfierceintheheartofeveryman"(11).
applied to womanhood, however, such generalizations seem
Perhaps--butisitwiseorcorrecttoequatethatsomethingwith
patentlyfallacious.ThismayresultfromthefactthatEldredgeis
Russell Crowe's unceremonious disembowelment of a helpless
notawoman,oritmaybeduetothedisempowermentimplied
adversaryinGladiator?
in the stereotypes themselves, "a beauty to rescue," Eldredge's
Thereare,ofcourse,storiesinwhichJesususesforcetoprove
termforthekindofwomaneverymansupposedlydesires.This
apoint.John:15,forinstance,hasChristfashionawhipin
woman'sonlyqualifications,itseems,arehergoodlooksandher
order to drive thieves and merchants from the temple courts.
helplessness--athleticism, artistic ability, erudition, and moral
However, it is critical to differentiate between defending a
virtuearenottakenintoconsideration."Idon'tthinkthatwomen
causeandseekingretribution.AndwhileScripturedoesassure
feeltheyneedtoberescued,"suggestsGordonsophomoreLaura
ChristiansthatGodgrantsa"spiritofpower"andnota"spirit
Fyfe."Maybe`rescued'isjustthewrongword.Theword`rescue'
of timidity," we must be mindful that this comes through the
hastheconnotationthatthegirlispassive."
Holy Ghost rather than from the self. Spiritual power is to be
Infact,thispassivitycouldbeexactlywhatEldredgehasinmind
moderatedby"loveandofself-discipline"(Tim.1:7).Hence,
whenhedeclares,"Theworldkil sawoman'sheartwhenittel s
"wildness" is conspicuously absent from Paul's list of fruits of
hertobetough,efficient,andindependent"(17).Theonlyarea
the Spirit, while self-control and gentleness are included (Gal.
ofendeavorinwhichthemodelWild at Heartwomanisgranted
5:1). Has Eldredge minimized the cost of discipleship by
proactivity, apparently, is sex; even Christ-like Servanthood is
invitingmentoembracetheirinstincts?
deemedunfitforalady."I'mtel ingyouthatthechurchhasreal y
The second of Eldredge's essential masculine needs, "an
crippledwomenwhenittel sthemthattheirbeautyisvainand
adventuretolive,"isperhapsthemostusefulofthethree.The
they are at their feminine best when they are `serving others,'"
authorarguesforalifestylecharacterizedbyrisk-taking:"Iwant
writes Eldredge. "A woman is at her best when she is being a
tolovewithmuchmoreabandonandstopwaitingforothersto
woman"(19).Nevermindthatthenotionsofbeautybeingvain
lovemefirst,"hewrites,"Iwanttohurlmyselfintoacreativework
and service being preeminent are entirely scriptural (see Prov.
worthyofGod"(199).WhileEldredgegoesawryinconfininghis
31:30andMark10:4445,respectively)--beyondthis,theauthor's
exhortationstoanexclusivelymaleaudience(Cannotwomenbe
conception of "being a woman" is almost criminal y unjust.
"wildatheart"too?Oristheirlotinlifemerelytobe"wildat
WhereastheWild at Heartmanisencouragedtopursueprivate
Priscilla PapersVol.19,No.4Autumn005 · 5

adventures (his erstwhile damsel-in-distress, now a conjugal
prop, is only along for the ride), a woman's capabilities are
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