I am not speaking here of his interpretations of Scripture. This is where I noticed the first major problem-Eldredge’s consistent mishandling of Scripture. It would be difficult to argue that this is not the central theme of the book. They need to learn to live according to the natural desires and motivations of that heart if they are to find true fulfillment-if they are to be all God intended them to be. Since the heart of man is “deep” and “elusive,” men need help understanding their hearts better. I now understood the relevance of Proverbs 20:5 (according to Eldredge). The answer is simply this: We have not invited a man to know and live from his own deep heart.” He has got to get his heart back.” And then on page 8-”The church wags its head and wonders why it can’t get more men to sign up for its programs. I am looking for my heart.” On page 6-”If a man is ever to find out who he is and what he is here for, he has got to take that journey for himself. something that can only be found through the help of wilderness. On page 3 he writes, “I am searching for an even more elusive prey. What men need, in Eldredge’s estimation, is to find their hearts. Chapter one opens with the following quotation from Proverbs 20 verse 5: “The heart of a man is like deep water. Within the first few pages it became abundantly clear. “They ignore what is deep and true to a man’s heart, his real passions, and simply try to shape him up through various forms of pressure.” Needless to say, I wondered what new message he was offering men. In his introduction Eldredge writes, “Most messages for men ultimately fail.” “The reason is simple,” he says. Problem #1: Recklessly Dividing the Word of Truth If I can demonstrate that these three problems characterize Wild at Heart, I will have done all I intended to do, and you will have something to think about. Third, the book conveys a degrading, humanistic, and even heretical view of God. Second, the central theme of the book is not consistent with the teaching of the Bible. Simply stated, the problems are as follows: First, John Eldredge mishandles Scripture badly. They not only appear throughout the book, they characterize the book. My purpose here is to address three major problems-ones for which no microscope was needed. Many popular books could be painted in a negative light under close scrutiny. My purpose is not to examine Wild at Heart under a microscope. From the one page introduction all the way through chapter 12, I found little to commend. But once these few footholds of common ground are established, we part company almost completely. I do not even disagree theologically with everything he says (for example, see section 2 where my own understanding of Scripture has changed since I wrote the original review). I commend his efforts to convince fathers to steer their boys in a more masculine direction. I believe, as he does, that men in America have become passive, passionless, and even feminized in some regards. But still, I want to begin by saying that I do not disagree with everything John Eldredge has to say. There would be no point in tempting you to read this entire review by leading you to believe otherwise. Swindoll endorsed as, “the best, most insightful book I have read in at least the last five years.”įrom the outset, you will undoubtedly notice that my review of Wild at Heart is overwhelmingly unfavorable. Partly out of respect for them, and partly out of my pastoral sense of obligation to “Test all things hold fast what is good,” I made the time to review what Charles R. John Eldredge’s book Wild at Heart was recommended to me by several different Christians. (Spirituality/Christian living 222 pages hardcover suggested retail price, $19.99) Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2001. (This book review was revised on 03 -30-10)Įldredge, John.
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