This is a post I’ve been planning for a few weeks, but hadn’t gotten around to it until now. I, like many other Christian men have read Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul by John Eldredge. So this is my obligatory post on a few gems I gleaned from this testosterone driven book. It was an enjoyable read, but I think Jollyblogger’s post John Eldredge - An Example of Reductionism is a great summary of the dangers of his theology.
One aspect that I enjoyed about this book was the charge to be a freedom fighter like William Wallace (Braveheart), respected like Maximus (Gladiator) and introspective and intelligent like Will Hunting (Good Will Hunting). Three great movies, all part of my DVD collection, and if for no other reason this book gave me cause to revisit these flix to see this new nuance in the storylines.
First of all, Eldredge helped me to see an aspect of man’s fall that I had not noticed before. Eve ate of the forbidden fruit before Adam did, so there was at least for a moment where she was fallen and he was not. Then Adam let his love for Eve come before his love for the Lord, and here we are today. This seems to explain so much about my own heart and how important Amy is to me. I would go to the depths of hell, as in “What Dreams May Come”, to save her if I could. There is an immense feeling of love and connectedness that we have that the thought of living without her is unbearable. Is it even worth questioning what would have happened if Adam hadn’t eaten and Eve did? No, because they were made for one another and their fates were always aligned.
There is no advocacy here to put the love of spouse above the love of our Lord because we can only experience that true agape love for another when we do put the Lord first. However, there is a very important reminder here to do just that and to remember that I was made for Amy and she was made for me. Our lives, our hearts, our futures are intertwined together and not even a temporal death changes that fact.
Secondly, for all Eldredge’s talk about the wound in our hearts and perhaps his unhealthy focus on this, he did touch on two key aspects of this Will Hunting phenomena. We must not let our fear of anything other than the Lord rule in our hearts, and we must shed the skin of our fake selves.
Have you ever been home alone and walking up the stairs after turning the lights off and just felt like someone was behind you? These “Sixth Sense” moments when we feel the chill on the back of our necks and start thinking that something is going to reach out and grab you can feel very real. Perhaps, if you believe in the existence of the super-natural, they are real. But someone whose life and faith is grounded in the fear of the Lord has nothing to fear in these situations. By the power, glory & blood of Christ, no one or nothing has hold of our souls but our very Savior himself. What then is there to fear in that situation or any situation when we remember that though Satan may have hurt Job physically, he had no control of the stronghold God had on his heart?!
Keeping this in mind and claiming yourself a new creation in Christ, removes the need to hide who you are. Not that who you are, is not sinful and that you will no longer struggle with this, and also remember that without Christ you are not worthy of salvation. These are very humbling reminders that cannot be forgotten. But you now have the glory of the Holy Spirit in your life; you must not hide that fact. Be comfortable with who you are, who God has made you to be and how he has redeemed you. Do not continue to put on masks, the facades of the disingenuous. Let people into your life and share your heart with them. We were created to be in relationship, so don’t set up road blocks to these treasures.
Finally, Eldredge reminded me of the need to explore God’s calling for my life and the responsibility we have for following this path. His own example of how this played out in his own life was like many other stories I’ve heard before. He was headed in one direction, changed course after being prompted by the Lord and he stepped out in faith. This is very easy to say when looking back at your life, but extremely hard to do within the situation.
I came to Christ, over 3 years ago and I am now 26 years old. This means I’ve been headed down my current career path since BC (before Christ), and I made these choices without seeking God’s counsel. I’m a network/database geek working on computers all day long, but is this the work ministry that God wants me to have? I’m not sure.
There are two directions that I feel a prompting to head in and I need to figure out how this plays into my life currently. Do I immediately step out in faith towards one of these other career choices or do I take more time to think, pray and prepare for that time? I’m in a holding pattern there with the second choice, but am reminded not to just fall into a comfort zone where I am.
I enjoy working with kids, I am involved with youth group at church and I already have this body of knowledge with computers. This lends itself very well to me possibly becoming a computer teacher in a middle/high school. A very different vocation then I am currently pursuing.
There is also a deep passion for politics in my heart that just doesn’t seem to go away. This has made me think about getting involved by supporting another candidate, running myself or getting involved in the national party of my choice.
These are very different paths from each other and from where I am today. I have no doubt in my mind that God will reveal the direction he is calling me in time. As long as my heart is focused on Him and my life continues to reflect His glory I cannot fail.
While I’m not sure I am wild at heart, I do think some secrets to my soul were revealed to me. Although there is nothing here that a faithful believer will not get from reading God’s word directly and of course meditating on it day and night (Psalm 1:2).
Posted by price at August 13, 2004 03:02 PMYou are incorrect in your statement that there was one point where Eve had fallen and Adam hadn't. Adam was given the task of guarding the garden; if he had not failed at this task, why was he standing right next to Eve allowing her to have a conversation with the serpent? His non-act - and his willingness to allow his wife to eat of the fruit dispite God's command - was the first sin of man - and as soon as she had eaten, they both fell.
God Bless,
Paul