Journal: Priscilla Papers
Volume: PP 19:4 (Autumn 2005)
Article: "Wild at Heart:" Essential Reading or “Junk Food of the Soul”?
Author: Brynn Camery-Hoggatt

PP 19:4 (Autumn 2005) p. 24

Wild at Heart: Essential Reading or “Junk Food of the Soul”?

John Eldredge

(Nelson Books 2001)

Reviewed by

Brynn Camery-Hoggatt

&

Nealson Munn

BRYNN CAMERY-HOGGATT grew up in Southern California. Currently, she is a senior at Gordon College, where she is double majoring in English and Biblical Studies. In her spare time, Brynn enjoys reading, writing, and playing her harp for weddings and other special events.

NEALSON MUNN was born in Lexington, Kentucky in 1985. He spent most of his childhood and adolescence in New England, relocating occasionally due to his parents’ ministry as Salvation Army officers. He enrolled at Gordon College in 2003 and is currently 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.

It seems a discussion of masculinity can scarcely commence at Gordon College without mention of John Eldredge’s Wild at Heart, a book enthusiastically endorsed by Christians nationwide. Many would agree with writer Charles Swindoll, who calls Wild at Heart “the best, most insightful book I have read in at least the last five years” (Eldredge, i). Eldredge’s immense popularity, however, must not be allowed to disguise the fact that his suggestions are often incongruent with the teachings of Jesus. Although the author’s premise may be valid (men are bored with contemporary church life; change must be made in an effort to address this problem), his corollary ideas are both untrue and harmful. Thus, Wild at Heart is an essentially unhelpful contribution to the thought life of both Gordon College and the church as a whole.

The thesis of Wild at Heart is two-fold. First, God has placed within the heart of every man an overpowering desire for three things—“a battle to fight, an adventure to live, and a beauty to rescue” (9). Second, the church is not fulfilling these desires because it fails to discern the true nature of masculinity and defines the ideal Christian man as merely “a Nice Guy” (7). As a result, men are alienated from church life and dismissive of their wives’ religiosity: “The church wags its head and wonders why it can’t get more men to sign up for its programs,” observes Eldredge. “The answer is simply this: We have not invited a man to know and live from his deep heart” (8). The author presents his book as an invitation.

We would be remiss to ignore the many young Christians whom Wild at Heart has inspired to abandon an anemic faith in favor of an advent...